Suspects Targeting Cars Parked In Danville, Alamo

DANVILLE, CA — The communities of Danville, Alamo and Blackhawk have all been experiencing a rash of car burglaries and thefts this week, officials said. In Tri-Valley, Pleasanton has also noticed an uptick in car burglaries this week. The Danville Police Department wants to help keep the community from being victimized by opportunistic criminals.

"Danville has seen an increase in vehicle burglaries in restaurant parking lots and off-street parking areas in shopping malls and the downtown," town officials said via social media. "Specifically, the Danville Livery shopping center has been a target during the hours of 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m."

Since Dec. 1, four cases of petty theft from a vehicle have been reported in the Alamo/Blackhawk area, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Between Dec. 11 through Dec. 20, Danville has been hit with 12 auto burglaries and three thefts from unsecured vehicles. Danville Police Chief Allan Shields said most of the stolen items had been left in plain sight.

"It is important to stress that many of these cases are preventable if people keep their valuables out of plain sight by hiding or removing them," Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office officials told Patch.

Officials discourage leaving any valuable items visible in cars and ask car owners to lock all doors. Laptops have been the most popular item to steal from cars this season, according to officials. Purses, cash, tools and car registration are also on the list of items reported stolen.

The reminders from police comes just weeks after a Pleasanton woman was robbed of her purse by three suspects who confronted her while she was in her driveway. In Livermore, an uptick in residential burglaries were reported in November and just days after, police shared photos of a car likely casing cars parked in the Positano neighborhood in Dublin. Police are also asking for the public's help identifying a person suspected of burglarizing a parked car in Danville.

The number of property crimes--home burglaries, car burglaries, packages stolen from doorsteps--in the Tri-Valley has soared over the past several years, frustrating residents and prompting police departments to urge everyone to "call early and often" if something seems amiss.

Town officials shared the following tips to help residents from becoming victims:

1. Don’t be a target! Do not leave items like cell phones, laptops or any other small electronics inside your car. Laptops have been the #1 take this season.
2. Don’t take items with you that you don’t need. If you aren’t going to the gym, don’t leave your gym bag in the back seat of your car.
3. If you must leave items in your car, store them in the trunk so they are not visible. This is especially important while doing holiday shopping where multiple bags can pile up quickly.
4. Lock your doors and glove compartment and arm anti-theft devices such as your car alarm.
5. Try to park in well-lit parking areas so a potential thief could be seen if attempting to get into your car.
6. Never leave keys inside your vehicle, even if they cannot be seen.

See Also:

• Woman Robbed Of Purse While In Pleasanton Driveway
• Uptick In Livermore Burglaries Prompts Warning From Police
• 'Suspicious' Person Appeared To Be Peeking Into Cars, Police Say
• Danville Car Burglary Suspect Caught On Camera, Police Say

Patch Editor Bea Karnes contributed to this report.

Photo courtesy Free-Photos via Pixabay