SALEM -- To say Eric Newport cherishes his Ford F-150 would not be enough. You have to know that is where he keeps his iPod, GPS unit, not to mention a very expensive speaker system.

“I wouldn’t know what to do if they broke in and took it all,” said Newport.

But now more than ever that is a real concern. Just ask Lieutenant Dave Okada.

KGW has learned, since the beginning of February, there have been about forty cases of vehicle thefts in Salem. And they all have one thing in common; the targets are F-series Ford trucks.

“We see trends come and go, but 40 is quite a high number,” added Lt. Okada.

More often than not, Okada said, the thieves were hitting the trucks sitting in driveways and at businesses near Lancaster Drive and Mission Street, even sometimes in broad daylight.

“No idea why those particular times. To break into a vehicle in a business lot during the day is gutsy. There are a lot of people around,” said Lt. Okada.

Police will not elaborate on how the crooks are breaking inside the trucks, only to say they were defeating the locking system. But for truck owners like Eric Newport, that is all he needs to know.

“Now you’ve got my eyes open. If I hear noises outside or something I’m really going to be checking it out to make sure,” added Newport.

If you know anything about these cases you are urged to call the Salem Police Department.