(WBIR-Lenoir City) A nationwide trend of car break-ins, thanks to a Florida-based criminal ring, appears to have struck Loudon County.

Loudon County Sheriff's Lt. Patrick Upton said four cars on October 25 was broken into during a children's soccer game. The cars were parked at a soccer field off Hickory Creek Road.

"Parking lot was very close to the soccer field," Lt. Upton said. "It is brazen to do that so close."

He believes the crime is connected to the group the Felony Lane Gang. He said the thieves here follow the same formula: stealing purses, IDs, and checks, and then used the express lanes at local bank branches to fraudulently take money from the victim's account. The group is called the Felony Lane Gang because every time they cash in Checks, they use the farthest away lane in the drive through so they don't get caught.

One thing that is different, he added, is the criminals would attempt to look like the victims whose identities they stole.

"They go to the extent of using wigs and making themselves look like the person the check is written out to," said Lt. Upton. "They have the ID, because they stole the ID from the vehicle."

Authorities are warning people that if they must leave valuables in the car, to hide them. The best advice, said Upton, is to take all your goods with you at all times.

"I don't know if the group is in this area at this time. It very well could be. They move around so much, but they'll find these ball games and hit the cars," he said.

If you have any information on this case, contact the Loudon County Sheriff's Office at (865) 458-9081.