By Jennifer Ryan

COLORADO SPRINGS-  A rash of car break-ins has residents on edge in Colorado Springs, many of whom are double checking their locks and keeping a close eye on their valuables...

The thieves last struck in the northwest part of town near Garden of the Gods & I-25.

Autumn Cline, a resident at the Chestnut Hills Apartment complex, received a rude awakening Wednesday morning.  The bad news came from her sister.

She came running in and she was freaking out and that's when I started freaking out", said Cline.

Colorado Springs police say the thieves struck Tuesday night, targeting numerous cars in the area.  But it's not the crime that upset Autumn the most, it's the police department's response.  She said, "they told us that we had to pay them for them to come out here and file a report."

Cline said the police wanted to charge her ten dollars to obtain the police report which she would send to her insurance company to help pay for damages.

Newschannel 13 asked Colorado Springs Police if Autumn's claim was true.

Detective Chuck Ackerman said, "There's always been a fee to obtain a copy of that report."

But Ackerman says insurance companies typically cover the costs. He says the only thing the victim needs to do is ask for the claim number.

Autumn eventually did just that, but it took two days and a lack of help from local police officers who she says called it a low priority.

What do you do if this happens to you? First try and identify the suspect if possible. Then, call the police immediately and file a report. And finally, contact your insurance and give them the claim number.  Detective Ackerman says the insurance will pay any fees attached to the actual police report.