By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster Police Department is looking to dispel rumors of widespread vehicle burglaries at the city’s largest shopping center, and is encouraging residents to always keep their car doors locked.

In a Jan. 18 post to the department’s Facebook page, officers said they have received “a few questions regarding vehicle break-ins at the (Propst) Promenade,” but said the department has received no reports of such activity at the shopping center in the past few weeks.

The department encouraged burglary victims to always report the crimes to police so officers can investigate the matter and work toward an arrest.

“If no report is filed, we often are unaware of the incident and have no opportunity to investigate the matter,” read the post.

Police have a regular presence at the Promenade, which is the largest in Shelby County, and several stores in the shopping center employ off-duty officers to provide extra security.

“We do our very best to deter crime throughout the city. But, unfortunately, we cannot prevent all crime,” read the post.

The police department encouraged residents to follow a few safety tips to prevent crimes:

-Always report suspicious situations or people to the police so officers can address the issue.

-Always lock vehicles, and never leave valuables in plain sight. The department sees “very few” locked cars broken into.

-Call police immediately if you are a victim of a crime. Police often can collect evidence to help with the investigation if the crime is reported early enough.

The Alabaster Police Department’s non-emergency number is 663-7401, and the emergency number is 911.