By Lauren McSherry
Los Altos police are reporting a spike in burglaries in recent months. There were 45 reported incidents between Nov. 1 and Dec. 20, the majority occurring in residential areas, Detective Scott McCrossin said.
“Criminals come through town because there seems to be a tendency in low-crime areas for people to be trusting and to leave their cars and doors unlocked,” McCrossin said. “Those tend to be the people being preyed upon right here. The No. 1 tip is don’t leave your car or house unlocked.”
Thirteen residential burglaries have been reported during that time period. A few houses that were robbed had unlocked doors, McCrossin said. In other cases, the rear or side doors of the houses were pried open. Electronics equipment made up the majority of the items stolen during the burglaries. Items such as televisions, computers and video-game systems were reported stolen in 10 of the cases.
On Dec. 10, firearms, credit cards and a homeowner’s 2000 Lexus as well as $5,000 in electronics were stolen from a Los Altos residence on Crooked Creek Drive. In that case, a burglar broke into the resident’s car when it was parked on Page Mill Road and used the resident’s garage door opener to gain access to the house a few days later, McCrossin said. The suspect also stole personal information and used it to open credit card accounts
Another break-in on Oakley Drive led to identity theft. The burglar allegedly ransacked the house, making off with computers and credit cards, McCrossin said. The suspect then used one of the credit cards for 20 transactions - most at ATM machines with no video surveillance - in the San Francisco area. The suspect or someone who obtained the credit card was later taped by video surveillance making a purchase at a computer store, McCrossin said. The person on the tape is described as a 6-foot-tall dark-skinned man in his thirties. McCrossin added that police suspect solicitors may have been connected with the burglary.
Two thefts not considered residential burglaries were linked to a housecleaner’s assistant, who was arrested this month for stealing cash and electronics equipment, McCrossin said.
Cars burgled
“People are leaving the removable GPS systems which are very attractive to criminals,” McCrossin said.
Earlier this month, Sgt. John Hughmanick nabbed three individuals who police believe were behind eight auto burglaries in Mountain View, Palo Alto and Stanford. Hughmanick made a routine traffic stop Dec. 7 for a code violation and during a search discovered stolen property, including cash and electronics, in the vehicle’s trunk. Hughmanick spotted the car in Los Altos off El Camino Real, but made the stop in Palo Alto, said Sgt. Paul Epley, public information officer.
Charges are pending for the two adults and a minor Hughmanick arrested. Fernando Orozco, 24, could face charges of possession of stolen property, burglary and possession of a narcotic, Epley said. Mountain View resident Abigael Millan, 18, could be charged with burglary and possession of stolen property.
Asked whether the rise in burglaries is tied to the holiday season, McCrossin said, “It’s hard to tell. It could be that the same people are coming back.”
