Three vehicles have been stolen in North Bend since the beginning of December, police say.

The vehicles include a trailer, a truck and a utility truck and were stolen between Dec. 4 and Dec. 12. It’s an unusual number of vehicles to go missing within a few days, said Snoqualmie Police Department spokesperson Capt. Nick Almquist.

Almquist said police reports indicate that there may be a rise in vehicle thefts in both the upper and lower Snoqualmie Valley focusing on older Ford work trucks.

Across King County, there has been a significant increase in catalytic converter thefts, said King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tim Meyer.

These converters are part of the exhaust system and sit beneath vehicles. They’re relatively easy to remove, and can sell for between $300 to $1,000.

Vehicle prowls, though not necessarily thefts, tend to increase around the holidays. Almquist said residents should take precautions and keep valuable items and gifts either in their trunks or under blankets when in vehicles, and to always lock vehicles.

It’s harder to prevent stolen vehicles, he said. But there are certain devices, like steering wheel bars, that can deter theft.