Monroe County Sheriff’s Department deputies have increased patrols in the Hecker area near Route 159 following recent reports of thefts in the Smithton and New Athens areas of neighboring St. Clair County.

At about 10 a.m. Tuesday, police agencies were put on the lookout for a grayish-blue Chevrolet Cavalier with three occupants last seen traveling south on Route 159 after a burglary was apparently interrupted near New Athens just north of Hecker.

On Monday, Illinois State Police issued an alert following a suspected residential burglary that occurred in Smithton. Wrapped gifts were taken from a home in the 3200 block of South Illinois Street in Smithton, according to the ISPERN emergency radio alert issued about 10 a.m. Monday. The suspects were described as two white males driving in a royal blue older model car. The vehicle was last seen traveling south on Route 159 from Smithton.

“There have been several burglaries reported in St. Clair County just north of the county line over past two weeks,” Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing stated in a news release. “Please be vigilant for any suspicious activity and contact the sheriff’s department immediately if you notice anything.”

The sheriff stressed that no burglaries have been reported in Monroe County at this time.