Michael Seeger learned his lesson the hard way.

Although the computer security consultant knows the importance of locking his vehicle, last month Seeger returned home late and exhausted, forgetting to lock his Ford F150 in Abita Springs’ Arrowwood Estates subdivision.

By morning, he had paid for it. Two thieves, later arrested, had stolen his laptop, two digital cameras, external hard drive, business documents, accessories for the computer and his cell phone. His son’s car was also burglarized, missing $400 worth of CDs and an IPod, he said. He felt violated, he said.

Seeger is not alone. In what Sheriff’s Office deputies have described as a growing trend, the area’s criminal element is combing neighborhoods searching for unlocked vehicles, pilfering anything and everything inside.

In more than a month’s time, from June 15 to July 23, 53 victims were targeted in nine subdivisions from Slidell to Covington. And just before that heist, a band of four criminals targeted 40 cars in the Covington area, said Sheriff’s Office Capt. Danny Culpepper, who investigates car burglaries. Other recent waves included 15 and 20 car burglaries, he said.

“We’re looking at a problem,” he said. “And it’s not going to be going away soon.”

The trend is called “flipping,” and after a group hits a neighborhood searching for unlocked cars, they gather at a rallying point to unload their looted booty into a pile, Culpepper said.

“It’s a competition,” and the winner, whoever stole the most goods, gets first dibs on anything in the stack, he said.

“It almost turns into a game with these people,” he said. “They treat it like a fad, a slang term with more and more people saying, ‘Let’s go flipping tonight.”

“These people are going out with a purpose to hit as many (unlocked) vehicles as they can in a night,” he said later.

Through July, 307 vehicle burglaries were reported, on par to reach the 617 vehicle burglaries reported in 2006. Last year, a dip occurred with 494, Capt. George Bonnett, Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said.

Of those, Sheriff’s Office investigators solve 35 percent, Culpepper said.

One of those was Seeger’s case. Taylor Walker, 28, 71259 Shady Lake Drive, Covington and Brittney Calabresi, 20, 72067 Cypress St., Abita Springs, were arrested after an alert neighbor recorded the getaway car’s license plate.

Seeger, however, who noticed his car door ajar the next day and eventually realized he was burglarized, was more worried for the perpetrators.

“My concern is how they got there in the first place,” he said. “Did they have a bad childhood?”

Seeger is worried for dozens of others, too. During the past month, 17 other arrests were made in the rash of burglaries in Del Oaks, Tchefuncte Harbor, Deer Run, Magnolia Ride, Abita Lakes, Arrowwood, Emerald Creek Southwind and Rosedown neighborhoods, Bonnett said.

The names of those arrested weren’t available as of press time.

Sometimes though, “flipping” is more than a game. One such crime nearly ended in tragedy, when a 16- and a 15-year-old burglarized a car, stole a handgun and, while playing with the weapon, the 15-year-old was shot in the cheek, under his left eye. He lived, but on Thursday his condition was unknown.

To avoid such tragedies, the solution is easy — lock your car, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. George Bonnett said.

“The number one thing to protect yourself is to lock your car,” he said. “It’s such a simple thing that nobody does it.

Culpepper estimates roughly 90 percent of car burglaries are unlocked vehicles.

“(Criminals) go down the street, targeting every car,” he said. “If you car is unlocked they are going into it. It’s quiet. It’s easy and whatever is left inside, they’re going to take.”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has announced other preventative measures including:

• Close windows completely.

• Never hide a second set of keys anywhere on or in your car.

• Never leave packages or personal items in plain view.

• Park in well light areas or attended lot.

• Activate any anti-theft device when leaving vehicle.

For Seeger, protecting his property is much simpler.

“Be vigilant on whatever you do. You can’t be complacent and expect everything to be safe,” he said.