WOODLAND – A pair of thefts here in the past week has local officials concerned.

Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan said Thursday evening he was alarmed by two thefts of four-wheelers in the town in the past week.

According to Ryan, both vehicles were stolen from residences in town and both had been recovered after they were apparently taken on &uot;joy rides.&uot;

&uot;So far, we’re batting a thousand with getting them back, but that is an unusual situation,&uot; the chief said. &uot;I would urge our citizens to take the keys out of their four-wheelers and not leave them readily available.&uot;

Ryan said a door had been broken into to get one of the vehicles and urged the town citizens to make sure they locked any storage building the vehicles were in or to chain them if they weren’t in a storage area.

&uot;If they aren’t in a barn or something that is locked, I would say chain them up close to where you could hear them if they were started at night,&uot; he said.

Ryan asked that anyone with information about the two thefts contact his office at 587-7161 or Northampton County Crimestoppers at 534-0111.