Police in Cheshire are reporting an increase of so-called "smash and grab" thefts from automobiles (similar to the one shown above) over the past several weeks.

Cheshire Police Lt. James Fasano said Thursday that the break-ins are occurring mornings between 9 a.m. and noon, typically at fitness centers around town and in the parking areas along the Linear Trail Park.

 The suspects watch to see if occupants of the vehicles place valuable items under their seats, wait for them to leave the area and then smash the windows, Fasano said. Items that are typically taken from the cars include pocketbooks and electronic devices, he said.

Fasano said residents are urged not to leave any valuables in their cars. Anyone seeing any suspicious activity in parking lots around town should call the Cheshire Police at 203-271-5500.

Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson Jr. announced Friday that the town's Recycling Committee has been selected by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to be one of the agency's GreenCircle Award recipients.

The committee was honored for donating significant time to helping youth groups with environmental projects as well as for creating an innovative and unique recycling program.

 Among the committee's accomplishment that were cited by the agency are:

- A 2010 art contest that required entrants to use materials that had either been recycled or thrown away. More than 50 children participated and prizes were awarded in four age groups.

- The purchase of 25 ClearStream recycling containers for use by civic organizations at their events. Request for use of the containers has increased every year since the program was established in 2008.

The GreenCircle Award was established in 1998 recognize businesses, institutions, individuals and civic organizations that promote environmental awareness.