09:57 AM CDT on Thursday, May 18, 2006

By Vicente Arenas / 11 News

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It’s not just bases being stolen downtown when the Astros take the field.

Baseball fans are being hit by thieves.

While they’re watching the action on the field, their cars are being targeted by burglars in surrounding parking lots.

KHOU-TV

One man has spent over $1,000 trying to get his stolen truck back into driving condition.

This game is the cops versus burglars that costing fans a lot of money and heartache. 

Parking to watch the Astros can be expensive.

“I would never pay it. Way too expensive,” said Astros fan Karen Balikes about the parking cost.

But Leslie Dacy never imagined parking his old pickup in this lot next to the park would cost him so much.

Thieves stole his old pickup, and he’s spent nearly $1,000 getting it back and in shape to drive again. 

“It was a pain the side not having your vehicle. What do you do now? How do you get another one? How long does it take and how do we get home and what’s next?” said Dacy.

Police say Dacy’s truck was one of two vehicles broken into and stolen in a matter of minutes across the park where lacy and his kids were watching the Astros play the Giants.

“For a second I was really mad at the Houston Astros because one, they had lost and I’m an Astros fan, and two, I’m just not going to take the chance on doing this again, being this is my only vehicle,” Dacy said.

Police say thieves are targeting cars parked in parking lots outside Minute Maid Park. 

The problem is so bad undercover officers are on rooftops and on the ground near the lots. It was those plainclothes officers who spotted a man breaking into Dacy’s truck

Some fans are worried. “Oh yeah. I hear it all the time that cars are broken into,” said fan Patricia Sparks.

Police say they will continue their undercover sting operation around the park.

Dacy said he’s not going back to a game anytime soon. 

“I can’t take that chance again,” he said.

Police arrested four people Tuesday night and another 10 last week during games. 

While police say some cars are being stolen, many are burglaries where major damage is caused by a person stealing music CDs, change and clothing. 

Police recommend keeping belongings out of sight.