DAPHNE, Ala.—Within a seven-day period last week, the Daphne Police Department responded to at least 19 reported cases of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and many cases involved property theft.

“We made several arrests on car break-ins again from people who left their cars unlocked,” Police Chief David Carpenter said.

Daphne police arrested four individuals last week in connection with some of the car burglaries from recent weeks, but Carpenter said people still need to be cautious when leaving their vehicles.

The Jubilee City — now boasting more than 20,000 residents and maintaining its status as Baldwin County’s largest city in population — once combined its City Hall and jail in the small building behind present-day City Hall that now serves as Bay Rivers Art Guild. That was more than 40 years ago, and times have changed, police noted.

“We aren’t Mayberry anymore. We do encourage everybody to lock their vehicles,” Carpenter said.