For months, thieves have been breaking into cars parked outside local inns. Their rewards, police say, are the same kinds of electronics commonly stolen from cars parked in residential neighborhoods: laptop computers, iPods and GPS units.

Capt. Don Hamilton, commander of the police district that covers central and north Cary, said at least 30 cars have been hit at about a half-dozen hotels near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport since early December.

In each of the cases, Hamilton said, the suspect or suspects entered the cars by smashing windows.

"We started noticing a trend over the summer," Hamilton said. "Since then, we've seen a steady stream of thefts at the hotels. But for the most part it's not been to the extent we've seen in the last couple of months."

An investigation into the more recent car break-ins has led to several arrests in Cary and nearby Morrisville, which also has been affected by the crime spree.

In Cary, police charged Jason Glenn, 28, of 8621Chapel Hill Road, with one count of larceny from motor vehicle for a recent car break-in at the Embassy Suites on Harrison Oaks Boulevard.

Morrisville police have arrested and charged three teenagers from Durham in connection with 10 car break-ins at three airport hotels, a Hooters restaurant on Claren Circle and Walmart on Shiloh Glen Drive last month. Those arrested are: Angel T. Martinez, 16, of 2920 Chapel Hill Road; Cosme I. Perez, 19, of 125 W. Cornwallis Street; and Leobardo I. Rodriguez-Espinoza, 19, of 2912 Beechwood Drive.

But the streak has continued. And police are now turning to hotel operators and the general public for help.

Hamilton said officers have talked with managers at each of the seven hotels affected about how they can pitch in.

"We're just asking them to be alert to anyone suspicious in the parking lot," he said. "And we're suggesting that they tell their guests not to leave valuables in plain sight."

In addition, police also recommend that hotel guests park in well-lighted areas, lock car doors and windows and avoid leaving their GPS units and mounts where they'll be easily spotted.

Hotel managers like Rajul Patel at Country Inn & Suites say they are taking the threat seriously.

Although crime outside her hotel appears to have subsided, at least for now, Patel said she and her employees are still urging customers to exercise sound judgment.

"We have these letters we're handing out to our guests, asking them to be mindful of their personal items and asking them to bring them in," she said. "We want to do what we can to help them make an informed decision."