Mother nature has blessed central Illinois with some beautiful weather to kick off March and the meteorological spring season. 

While it may not last, local authorities are sending out their yearly reminders of the things residents face in rural America with the shift in weather. Piatt County Sheriff Mark Vogelzang indicates the spring brings the traditional return of motorcyclists and farm implements to the roadways.

With the spring weather comes more people out and about and more crimes of opportunity. Sheriff Vogelzang encourages his communities to be vigilant in locking the doors of vehicles, especially those that have to be parked in driveways or curbside and make sure you remove any valuables from your vehicles.

In an expansive rural area like Piatt County, Sheriff Vogelzang indicates they are seeing an increase in burglaries of ag sheds in recent years. He says farmers and residents are starting to pick up on the trend of these crimes of opportunity. 

Sheriff Vogelzang indicates Piatt County is very supportive of law enforcement and it was evident earlier this week when he and a few of his deputies were dining out in Cerro Gordo and someone paid for their lunch. He says those gestures mean so much to them.