Shotguns stolen from Cape cop cars

Two Cape Girardeau police cars that have been routinely parked along Kingshighway overnight by officers who live in Jackson, Mo., were broken into Thursday night and had shotguns stolen from them.

The perpetrators used what is known as a slim jim -- a long tool that unlocks cars -- to gain entry into the cars, said police Cpl. Rick Schmidt.

"They went through the cars, went through their briefcases and then got into the trunk," Schmidt said.

That's where they found and took one Remington 870, 12-gauge shotgun from each of the two cars, Schmidt said. The cars were parked at the Veterans Home at 2400 Veteran's Memorial Drive and at Ford's Custom Bikes at 2109 N. Kingshighway.

The officers parked the cars at these spots and then drove private vehicles home. They would pick the police cars up on their way back to work. Schmidt said the thefts have already caused Police Chief Steve Strong to decide to no longer allow that to happen.