Authorities are investigating a rash of weekend car break-ins in neighboring subdivisions southwest of Cumming.

The incidents occurred sometime between 2:45 and 5:30 a.m. Saturday in the Creekside and Kings Common neighborhoods off Castleberry Road.

Capt. Paul Taylor of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said there were about 12 incidents, some of which involved more than one vehicle at the same location.

"One garage door opener was used to open a garage and enter a vehicle inside," said Taylor, adding that because the incident happened inside a house, it is considered a burglary.

All of the incidents are felony offenses, Taylor said.

He said the stolen items included credit cards, Global Positioning System units, stereo equipment and laptop computers.

While a majority of the vehicles had smashed windows, a 1999 Ford Mustang convertible was entered by cutting a hole in its top, he said.

Sheriff's Lt. Col. Gene Moss said residents in the neighborhoods reported hearing noises that night, but the department didn't receive any 911 calls as the incidents occurred. The calls came later that morning after residents discovered what had happened.

"What's so unusual is that some of these are forced entry," said Moss, noting that thieves often enter vehicles through unlocked doors, instead of breaking windows.

Moss said the sheriff's office is investigating leads on the suspects.

A similar automobile break-in spree during the winter in northeastern Forsyth led to the arrest of two juveniles.

The teens reportedly entered 13 unlocked vehicles on the night of Jan. 12 in the High Gables East subdivision off Holtzclaw Road near Hwy. 369. On the same night, the suspects allegedly broke in to three vehicles on Cagle and Robbs drives.

Various items, including navigation systems, cash, credit cards and purses, were taken during the incidents. Three handguns also were reported stolen, which heightened concern about the break-ins.

Sheriff's Sgt. Allan Frampton said e-mails go out about every two weeks to county residents who participate in Neighborhood Watch, reminding them to lock their car doors and garages.

Frampton said people should also be careful not to leave valuables in plain sight in their vehicles.

He said e-mails about the most recent crime spree went out Saturday to residents in Creekside and Kings Common, as well as those neighborhoods registered with the sheriff's office south precinct Neighborhood Watch program.