The owners of three vehicles that were left unlocked became victims of crime earlier this week, Baltimore County police said.

One vehicle was rifled through; $5 in change was stolen from another, and the third vehicle—that had a set of spare keys inside—was stolen, said Lt. William Lally of the Pikesville precinct.

The vehicles were each parked in the 7500 block of Stream Crossing Road, he said. And all three had been left unlocked.

The crimes occurred in the Greenspring East community, in the 7500 block of Stream Crossing Road in Pikesville, according to police reports.

"It looks like someone just came (through the area) looking through vehicles," Lally said.

And it looks like that criminal who rifled through two unlocked cars finally got what he was looking for—a free ride.

Vehicle stolen

The owner of a 2009 Honda Odyssey van told police Wednesday that "his car had been taken without permission," according to a police report.

His car payments were all current, and that he had left the car unlocked, and that a spare set of keys were in the vehicle, it states.

That vehicle has not yet been recovered, and the Auto Theft Task Force is investigating, Lally said.

Coins missing

Another resident of that block reported that, between 5:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, $5 in change had been taken from another vehicle.

His vehicle had been unlocked and parked in his own driveway, a police report states.

Car ransacked

Also in that block, another vehicle was reportedly ransacked between 8 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday—also while it was parked in the driveway of the owner's home.

Prevent crime

All three incidents were crimes of opportunity—each owner had left their vehicles unlocked, Lally said.

"It's a continuing trend," for burglars to check an area for unlocked cars, he said.

For example, also in that area last summer, just across Greenspring Avenue in the Quarry Lake community, thieves targeted several unlocked cars.

In December, someone stole copper piping after entering a home through an unlocked door.

Police have some words of advice: Lock up your possessions.

This means lock your home and your vehicle, and don't leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.

A running, unattended vehicle is a temptation for a passerby to steal—even if it's only to get to their destination a short distance away, Lally has said.

In the summer, residents should lock sheds and lawn equipment, and put away and lock up those bicycles, police have urged.

Correction: The original version of this article listed the wrong community name. We regreat the error.