Patrol officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division arrested an auto burglary suspect early Sunday morning who was targeting vehicles in the Fairfax District.

The officers observed the suspect acting suspiciously near the corner of Melrose and Harper avenues on Aug. 23 at approximately 4 a.m., and watched him as he tried to open car doors. The suspect was arrested, and police located items from at least two vehicle burglaries inside his car, which was parked nearby, according to Det. Ed Sun, with the Wilshire Division Auto Theft Unit.

“We are still in the process of looking through reports and the property,” Sun added. “Currently, we are looking at two [incidents].”

The suspect was identified as David Lopez, 25. Sun said the suspect is a Los Angeles resident who resides within the LAPD’s Rampart Division, just west of downtown Los Angeles.

The detective said the auto break-ins were “crimes of opportunity” in which the suspect was specifically searching for vehicles that were unlocked. He cautioned motorists to always lock vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.

Sun added that auto thefts and burglaries have been decreasing during the past couple of weeks in the Wilshire Division after the command staff dedicated a patrol car to specifically address vehicle-related crimes. The tactic appears to be paying off, he said, as officers from the auto theft patrol arrested Lopez.

“Hopefully, it continues going in that direction,” Sun said.

Anyone with information about the thefts, or who believes they may be a victim, is urged to call the Wilshire Division auto theft unit at (213)473-0556.