During the holiday shopping season, many people worry about car break-ins. This season, thieves seem to be hitting a little early. They are targeting purses, many found in cars in school parking lots.

A thief or thieves have been casing out certain nursery and elementary schools in the area. They have broken into vehicles when parents are running to pick up or drop off students.

Police reports show that cars at at least three schools in the area have been broken into. The thefts occur when parents are running in or out of the school buildings to pick up or drop off.

Newscenter 16 obtained surveillance video from outside the school at Evangel Heights Church Tuesday morning. The video shows a mom dropping off her kids. Meanwhile, a man in a gray or silver vehicle circles the area, eventually walks up to her car, smashes the window, and walks away with her purse.

Cars have also been hit at Clay Church's School in South Bend. Meantime, this week and last week, cars were broken into at Mishawaka's Walt Disney School. Some parents are now concerned that the thief is getting too close to their most precious cargo, their children.

“Kids are not safe, men and women can break through windows in thirty seconds. We saw yesterday that can happen and they can be gone in an instant,” says Janet Brooks. Brooks oversees the children at the school at Evangel Heights Church.

“I never thought it would have happened to me,” explains Lori MaWhinney, after a thief attempted to break into her car. “I would just say to people to be aware and be careful. Bad things can happen anywhere, anytime,” she adds.

Even if you are running in for a quick errand, police say it is important to make sure you are not leaving anything of value behind. If you do see any suspicious activity, contact police.

Witnesses say the suspect might be the same person that hit the school parking lots at Clay Church and Evangel Heights. He’s described as a black male, medium build. He might have been driving a silver or gray Oldsmobile Cutlass or Buick Century.