GUILDERLAND — Guilderland Police are stepping up patrols in Westmere, following a series of thefts of loose coins and other items from unlocked cars in the Westmere neighborhood of Van Wie Terrace, Shephard Avenue, Dresden Court, and Barnard Avenue, according to Captain Daniel McNally.

Albany Police issued a Nixle alert on Nov. 28 advising city residents to lock their vehicles, after a series of similar incidents, in which spokesman Officer Steven Smith said that money and anything else of value was taken.

The Guilderland Police took at least seven reports in the span of a couple of days recently, McNally said on Nov. 30, noting, “The majority of the vehicles were unlocked.”

McNally advised, “Lock your cars. Don’t leave valuables — computers, phones, things like that — visible on your seats. Cover things up, or take them out of the cars.”

In the incident reports he had, McNally said, there didn’t seem to be any cases of electronics or other valuables being taken.

Smith said on Dec. 1 that the incidents in Albany occurred late at night or early in the morning and that it appears “the suspect or suspects are just pulling handles until they find a crime of opportunity and the doors are unlocked.”

Smith advised parking in a well-lit area. “Light is always the cheapest form of security,” he said.

People should take all their valuables — as well as accessories such as cords or GPS mounts — out of their cars, or tuck them away out of sight, he said; if thieves see cords, they may be tempted to break in to look for electronics.