LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A growing problem has been targeting neighborhoods around Louisville - car break-ins and thefts.

Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) put out a notice late Saturday making the community aware of a group of individuals targeting cars and homes in the department's Third and Eighth Divisions.

Police are unsure if it's juveniles or adults but said the group is armed, putting the community at risk.

"They're having someone as a lookout stand with a gun pointed at the house, basically waiting to make sure nobody tries to come out and stop them from attempting their theft," LMPD Sgt. Joe Keeling said Monday afternoon.

LMPD said the thefts aren't exclusive to any particular neighborhood, calling it a "city-wide problem." LMPD believes the group uses electronic devices to commit the thefts, sometimes breaking windows to keep the noise down while pushing cars out of the driveway.

Keeling recalled a dangerous situation where a victim confronted the individuals while they were breaking into their car.

The moment led up to gunfire being exchanged and Keeling said investigators recovered more than 20 shell casings at the scene. This group, Keeling said, "doesn't really have a regard for anybody."

"They have zero regard for human life whatsoever, and they will not hesitate to shoot at you," he said. "We don't need anybody trying to be a hero right now and going out and stopping these guys."

Even though LMPD is seeing an uptick of thefts of vehicles using Mopar parts - muscle cars like Chryslers and Dodges, Keeling said the thieves aren't targeting any particular vehicle.

If you have a car equipped with a tracker, police are urging you to not make any attempts to locate the vehicle but to call authorities instead.

"If you have a tracker on your car, and you can tell us where your car is, we're going to go recover it," he said.

Keeling stressed locking car doors and keeping valuable items out of them. He knows just locking doors will not keep thieves out but reminded the community not to give would-be thieves any reason to break in to their vehicle.

LMPD has not identified any of the individuals associated with the break-ins.

If you have any information, you can contact LMPD at (502) 574-LMPD or use their Online Crime Tip Portal.

Louisville faces city-wide car theft spree with armed group on the loose, police say