Police are investigating a rash of late-night car break-ins in the past three weeks throughout Southold, after thieves quietly worked their way through unlocked vehicles in Mattituck, Cutchogue, Peconic and Southold, rifling through cars and vanishing before dawn. Some of the incidents involved stolen items, and others simply rummaged-through vehicles. Authorities are issuing a renewed reminder to lock vehicles at night.

Southold Police Chief Steve Grattan said in an interview on Monday that detectives have pulled security footage from several victims. In many cases, no security cameras were present. The pattern, he noted, is familiar: the thief or thieves are targeting unlocked vehicles. “Anybody who has their car locked — the individual moves on,” Grattan said.

(The map above shows the locations of the vehicle break-ins in the past three weeks.)

It was also a week marked by an unusual mix of calls — from a 66-year-old man who reported a former co-worker allegedly “lunging” at him while he exercised on a rowing machine, to a 101-year-old homeowner who said two men posing as the sons of his driveway contractor collected an $1,110 check before doing shoddy work. Police also fielded reports involving nitrous oxide tanks found in Greenport, a mysterious gray suitcase left outside a post office, fireworks mistaken for gunshots at a Greenport RV park and a pre-dawn scare in Mattituck, where a woman’s doorbell kept ringing at 3:30 a.m., as her phone and security cameras went dark.

Nov. 10: A Waterview Drive resident in Southold contacted police to report that items were stolen from his vehicle overnight, the latest in a string of reported break-ins.

Shortly after 9 a.m., a 66-year-old Southold man arrived at police headquarters to document an incident in which he said he was on a rowing machine at a physical therapy center on Middle Road in Southold when a former co-worker “ran and lunged at him.” He said he turned toward the woman on the machine and heard a “click” in his back. The man said that he and the woman, 67, of Aquebogue, had been working out near each other for an hour “with zero contact.” He told police that the woman “didn’t like him” when they worked together at a local hospital, and was “confused as to [her] actions, and did not know if it was in a joking or serious manner.” When police later interviewed the woman, she told them she “does not recall going to the gym that day and/or even approaching” the Southold man, saying she has “not been in any contact with” him. However, she “confirmed that they did not have a great working relationship at [the hospital],” according to a police report. Both parties were advised to avoid each other in the future

Around 10 a.m., an Oregon Road resident contacted police to report that items had been stolen from her husband’s car overnight. The stolen items were not identified in the report.

Shortly before 11 a.m., an Albacore Drive resident reported being scammed. The homeowner, 101, said two young men identifying themselves as “Nick and Frank Delmaro” claimed to be the sons of his driveway contractor and said their father was in the hospital. After the man wrote a check for $1,110, the pair spread sealant on the driveway but did not fill cracks. When the homeowner learned his contractor was not hospitalized, he contacted police. An officer later spoke with a Shirley man with the same last name, who “claimed to be different people and referred police to their lawyer.”

Around 8 p.m., Carlos Valeriano Mejia, 33, of Southold was arrested for alleged driving while intoxicated with his children — ages 5, 7 and 12 — in the car. Police stopped his GMC Yukon after an eyewitness reported erratic driving. Mejia was “found to be under the influence,” according to a report. Leandra’s Law, enacted in New York in 2009, makes it a felony to drive while intoxicated with a child under 16 in the vehicle.

Nov. 11: Just before noon, an East Marion man reported finding three nitrous oxide tanks near North Road and Queen Street in Greenport West. Police secured the tanks.

Around 6 p.m., police arrested Gabriel Jiminez, 40, of Greenport West for alleged driving while intoxicated following a crash on Second Street. Police said Jiminez appeared unsteady on his feet and had bloodshot, glassy eyes. He was arrested after field sobriety tests.

Nov. 13: Around 10 a.m., two residents of Grand Avenue in Mattituck reported that their cars were rifled through overnight, though nothing appeared missing. Detectives are reviewing security footage.

Around 3:30 p.m., Courtney Zurek, 27, of Southold was arrested on an outstanding warrant. A search turned up “what appeared to be a crack pipe,” which was taken into evidence.

Nov. 14: Around 1 p.m., a local hospital contacted police because a patient in its detox program intended to leave in her vehicle while intoxicated. The woman, 48, of Shirley, ultimately took an Uber home.

Around 2:30 p.m., a postal employee reported an unattended gray suitcase left outside the post office. Police retrieved and inventoried it before securing it in the property room.

Nov. 15: Around 3:30 a.m., an Ole Jule Lane resident in Mattituck reported her doorbell ringing repeatedly while her home phone and security cameras were down. Officers determined the disturbance was related to nearby utility work. The homeowner was “content with the outcome,” according to a report.

Around 6 p.m., officers responded to an RV park on North Road in Greenport for reports of gunshots. The park manager said someone had been setting off fireworks.

Nov. 16: Around 6:30 p.m., a convenience store owner in Greenport reported a man sleeping in the parking lot. The man, 44, said he was feeling sick and requested transport to a hospital.

Around 8 p.m., police responded to Lighthouse Road in Southold for a report of a flare in the area. Officers canvassed the area but found no signs of distress.

All individuals named in police reports are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges may be reduced, dismissed or result in an acquittal.