State police say thieves stole an assault rifle and bulletproof vest from a cruiser in Milford Tuesday morning.
Police say the thieves broke into 12 parked cars between midnight and 4:30 a.m. in the northern part of the town.
The suspects smashed a window to get into the police cruiser, then stole the bulletproof vest and an AR-15 rifle from the locked trunk, according to authorities.
They say many of the other cars broken into were unlocked, which residents say is common.
Officials believe the thieves drove to the neighborhood in a stolen car and then left in a different stolen car they took from the area.
Police are searching for that car, a 2014 green Ford Fusion with Vermont license plate GHK-528.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford police.