Surveillance Photos Show Man Looking into Cars in Dublin Neighborhood

DUBLIN, CA: A Dublin resident shared photos of an unidentified man who was allegedly trying to open car doors during the early morning hours Wednesday. According to the resident, the man used a flashlight to peer into multiple parked cars before trying the door handles on five of them. Unable to open any, the man moved on.

The resident, who is sharing the photos to help raise awareness about the suspicious activity, says the images of the unidentified man were taken just after 5 a.m. on Crestridge Terrace in Dublin. The resident reported the incident to Dublin Police front desk.

Dublin Police Captain Garrett Holmes said the incident is a good example of why residents must remove items from plain view inside their vehicle.

"It doesn’t matter what the value is because the suspects are just smashing windows to take purses, backpacks, computer bags, etc. left inside the vehicle," Holmes told Patch.

In April, police officials hosted community meetings to discuss the rash of burglaries plaguing Dublin this year. Residents in the Positano, Jordan and Dublin Ranch neighborhoods say their communities have been on high alert since April in the wake of the burglaries.

"Both of our Town Hall meetings went very well," Holmes said. "The community is very supportive of the efforts of Dublin Police Services to mitigate the number of property crimes."

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

Related:

• Rash of East Dublin Burglaries Prompts Police to Step Up Patrols
• Property Crimes Soar, Stealing Residents' Peace of Mind

Recently, Dublin Police investigators identified Shawna McLemore and her boyfriend Stephen Kopersk, who were allegedly caught on camera stealing a package off of a Dublin porch and are believed to be connected to additional thefts throughout the Tri-Valley area. Police are still searching for Kopersk. McLemore is in jail on unrelated charges.

Full story here: Police Identify Jail Inmate, Boyfriend as 'Range Rover Package Thieves'

On March 31, a report of a loud door knock at a home on Dublin's east side led to the arrest of an 18-year-old Richmond man and three juveniles allegedly found to be in possession of a glass punch tool and a gun reported stolen from Antioch.

Previous: 4 Arrested in Connection with Recent East Dublin Residential Burglaries

Holmes said the residential security camera registration program has been very beneficial in assisting with the apprehension of several suspects.

"We have about 100 residents who have registered their cameras," Holmes said. "If a crime occurs in their neighborhood we have their contact info and ask them to review their video to see if it captured anything of evidentiary value. If so, we respond and use the information as part of our investigation."

In 2014, the rise in car burglaries throughout Pleasanton prompted police to launch the “Hide It, Lock It, or Lose It” campaign focused on reminding those who live, work or play in Pleasanton to remove all items from a vehicle before parking in an effort to deter would-be burglars.

In March, Livermore Police officials said suspects were targeting community mailboxes throughout the city.

Police officials want to help protect residents from being victimized. Police urge the community to be vigilant and recommend residents call to report any suspicious activity to police. Residents should always lock doors and windows.

Check the crime statistics in your neighborhood here.