ST. CHARLES, MO ( KPLR ) - St. Charles police are investigating dozens of car break-ins. The thieves struck overnight, hitting cars parked in popular hotels and an apartment complex near I-70. Paul Dobrick was walking his dog early Sunday morning when he saw several St. Charles police officers swarming the back parking lot at Time Centre apartments, investigating several car break-ins.

Dobrick said, "Three police cars means they had to have quite a few for it to be that many police cars out here working."

Police say about 30 cars were broken into at the apartment complex and three nearby hotels, Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inn and Comfort Suites. They're located near Veterans Memorial Parkway and I-70.

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Derek Piasecki from the St. Charles Police Department said "Several of the car windows were broken, locks were punched on them."

Several of the cars were damaged, and most vehicles were missing items like GPS units and DVD players. Dobrick wasn't surprised by the break-ins. He says someone broke into his daughter's car and stole her belongings. This happened two years ago, in this same apartment complex.

Police spotted a maroon Dodge Ram leaving the area, but lost it. After running the license plates they discovered the pick-up was stolen from St. Louis.