Lafayette Police Chief Warns of Residential Burglaries

LAFAYETTE, CA — There were two recent burglaries in the Hidden Valley neighborhood of Lafayette, Police Chief Eric Christensen warned today.

The department is asking residents who have video surveillance systems in place to check for anything suspicious on July 6 and July 15. "Our investigators believe the two burglaries are associated, due to the proximity of the crimes and the actions of the suspect(s)," the department wrote in an alert to residents. "The method of search used by the suspect(s) also indicated the same search technique had been used in various rooms of the home. Our investigators are seeking any information from residents within this area of the city that may have seen or heard something on these days that would assist us in our investigation."

Investigators were able to collect fingerprint and DNA evidence from one of the crimes.

Here are the two incident reports:

1. On Wednesday, July 6, LPD Officers were dispatched to the report of a residential burglary in the 4100 blockof Hidden Valley Road. Upon the arrival of officers, they met with the homeowner who had already checked theinterior of the home - finding no suspects therein. Officers learned the homeowner had left their home at 7:15 a.m., locking all of the windows and doors. When the homeowner returned at 9:45 p.m., they found the interior of the home had been ransacked. Officers found entry to the home had been made using a prying tool (possibly a crow bar) to force open an exterior window. Officers found that a single pillowcase had been removed from the master bedroom, which was likely used to remove property from the home. The homeowner discovered that various financial documents had been removed from the home. Officers recovered various items of evidence from the home.
2. On Friday, July 15, LPD Officers were dispatched to the report of a residential burglary in the 100 Block of White Oak Drive in the City of Lafayette. Upon the arrival of officers, they found the home had been entered and ransacked by an unknown suspect. Officers contacted the homeowner and found they had left their home at 11:00 a.m., leaving a single door ajar to allow for air flow. When the resident returned to the home at 7 p.m., they found the home had been entered and searched. The suspects searched through the entire interior of the home, removing several items of jewelry. The suspects departed the home through the same open door. Officers searched the interior of the home for evidence, collecting latent print and DNA evidence. An inventory of the home found that a single pillowcase had been removed from the master bedroom - likely used to carry property from the home.

If you have a camera that you would like to register with the police department, or if you need advice in the selection and installation of a security camera system, call the department at (925) 283-3680 .