Thieves broke into about a dozen vehicles at two day cares and a senior living center in a 24-hour span in Paulding County, making off with cash, credit cards and personal items, Channel 2 Action News reported.

The thieves waited for parents to drop off their kids at the day cares. When they returned to their cars, their vehicle windows were broken, the news station reported.

“This is definitely something new that we have not seen,” Sgt. Ashley Henson of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said. “It's amazing the extent these criminals will go to.”

Eric Bishop said he went quickly to the Primrose School in Acworth after his wife’s purse was stolen.

“They backed up, parked right here, smashed out her window, grabbed her purse, took off, gone,” he said, “in just a matter of minutes.”

Fayna Foster, another victim, said she left her door unlocked, noting that a thief would have broken in if necessary. Burglars got money and an emergency bag from her trunk.

More break-ins were reported at Sunbrook Academy.

And authorities are investigating more than a dozen break-ins at the Amberley senior living facility in Paulding, Channel 2 reported.

“It's terrifying, you know,” Foster said. “We live in a community like this with elderly people. They seem to prey on the elderly.”

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Police said they have started to combat the disturbing trend with a joint force.