Bartholomew County deputies recovered two stolen vehicles this week. One was running and one was burning.

The sheriff’s department reports that deputies were called to the scene of a reported grass fire just before 10 p.m. Wednesday evening.. That’s where they discovered two vehicles in the woods near South County Road 100W. A Honda Prelude that had been reported stolen in the Edinburgh area was on fire, while a Chevy truck stolen from Columbus was undamaged, but the engine was still running.

Last year there were 79 reported vehicle thefts in Bartholomew County and so far this year there have already been 25, according to statistics from teh sheriff’s department.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is warning you to make sure to keep your vehicles locked, especially if you have valuables inside. He said that even extends to garage door openers, which a thief could use to break into your home, even without keys. He says not to make it easy for a thief to take your belongings, whether your valuables or your vehicle itself.

The sheriff urges anyone who sees suspicious activity to report it. He says that suspicious activities include any circumstances which seem out of place in your neighborhood.

If you see something that looks wrong you can call the sheriff’s department tip line at 812-379-1712 or call the non-emergency number for the Bartholomew County dispatch center at 812-379-1689.