Police are investigating multiple vehicle break-ins that occurred at Washington High School’s graduation ceremony Sunday.

The offender(s) broke the windows of eight vehicles and stole purses and other items that were in plain view from outside of the vehicles, according to the Washington C.H. Police Department. There have also been multiple vehicle break-ins reported throughout the city with the same pattern that occurred overnight.

Of eight vehicles that were broken into at the high school parking area, seven of them had purses taken out, said Lt. Jon Long of the WPD. Also on Sunday afternoon, two other vehicles were broken into at different locations: 220 N. North St. and 1375 Leesburg Ave.

The police are once again reminding citizens to take all of their valuables out of their vehicles while they are unoccupied.

“Unfortunately we live in a society where you can’t leave anything of value inside your car,” said Long. “If someone leaves property inside their vehicle, they should assume that it will be stolen. These are crimes of opportunity and 99 percent of the time, they are committed when the police aren’t around.”

Anyone with information about the thefts should contact the police department at 740-636-2370.