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Published on 02/26/1996 All articles from this issue

Burglars bag loot from 8 cars in one night

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Burglars broke into eight cars during the night of Feb. 15 in Los Altos and stole four stereos, two tennis rackets, one compact disc player, some clothes, a radio, stereo speakers and a radar detector.

The cars were parked in driveways and in front of houses on Garthwick Lane, Julie Lane, Marlbarough Court, Wessex Avenue and Newcastle Drive at Ben Roe Drive. Some vehicles were locked. Some were not.

All these streets are off Fremont Avenue, between Grant Road and Highway 85, and easily accessible to someone looking for a target near a well traveled route, according to police.

"These are crimes of opportunity," said Noreen Sorg, Los Altos Police Department community service officer.

"They look in first with a flashlight. Then if it looks worthwhile, they will break in."

Residents discovered the break-ins the morning of Feb. 16, said Los Altos police Sgt. Bob Lacey. "We started getting calls at 7:30 a.m." he said.

According to Lacey, "Experience tells you auto burglars are young, 15 to 19 years old. It's a young man's game."

Cell phones and computers are popular items with thieves. None were reported missing Feb. 16 but several were taken the last time car burglars blitzed Los Altos.

That was Nov. 21 when auto burglars broke into 12 cars in one night. Lacey said he didn't think the two nights were connected.

On Nov. 21, most of the car break-ins were discovered by patrol officers who noticed a dome light on in a car. This time the burglaries were not discovered until morning when the owners went to their cars.

During the last four months of 1994, more than 100 cars were broken into, Lacey said, and stereos were the main target. In 1995, cellular phones and computers were popular with thieves.

Sorg offers these tips to thwart car break-ins:

• Park in the garage or as close to the house as possible;

• Install motion-sensitive driveway lights that will come on if someone walks up the driveway;

• Don't leave valuables in view or in the trunk.