By Linda Taaffe

The holiday shopping season came with a police warning in Los Altos this month as the number of car burglaries hit double digits in town. Police have reported as many as three car burglaries in one afternoon and at least 12 break-ins since Oct. 25. Car burglaries recently surpassed identity theft as the city’s top crime, police said.

The ongoing crime pattern and approach of the holidays - a time when thefts typically increase, according to police - prompted police to send out crime alert bulletins to local churches and schools, where the majority of the burglaries have occurred.

“We strongly encourage residents to keep valuables locked away in the trunk,” said Sgt. John Hughmanick. “All it takes is virtually seconds to shatter a window and reach in and grab (valuables).”

Wallets, cash, laptop computers and handheld electronic devices have been the items most frequently reported stolen during the recent string of burglaries, he said.

Visibility hasn’t seemed to be a deterrent. The crimes have occurred in busy parking lots and most often without setting off car alarms. The break-ins have occurred in cars parked for as few as 20 minutes to all day.

Hughmanick said he believes criminals are targeting church and school lots because those are the least likely places people will need their wallets and the most likely places they will feel safe leaving items behind as they park for short amounts of time.