HOUSTON – A man was dining at an Upper Kirby restaurant while his car was being broken into out in the parking lot.
Collin Burwinkel was inside Mia's Table restaurant off Kirby Drive near Alabama Street during the evening earlier this week when it happened.
"We are on Kirby, a great neighborhood. You just don't think your car is going to get broken into," Burwinkel said.
Houston police have an officer who patrols that restaurant, but thieves were still able to hit two cars within just a few minutes and steal laptops and other valuables inside.
About a half mile away, thieves hit an apartment complex off Westheimer Road and Kirby.
Property managers sent out a note to residents:
"A vehicle window was broken and a laptop was stolen from someone's vehicle that was parked in the resident parking area of the garage."
But investigators aren't saying they are connected, even though they happened the same night.
According to HPD crime stats, there have been more than 40 burglaries and more than 40 car thefts in the central patrols area in just the month of January.
Meanwhile, car owners across the city are being warned to never leave items of any value in the car, try to park close to business entrances and park under a light.