Smash-and-Grab Car Burglars Strike in Area

Burglars smashed windows and stole items from nine parked cars, most in downtown Palo Alto, on Tuesday evening between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to the Palo Alto Police Department.

Three of the break-ins occurred on the upper floors of City Parking Garage “R” at 528 High Street, and four were downtown on the 500 block of Webster Street, the 400 block of Hamilton Avenue, the 500 block of University Avenue, and the 300 block of Lytton Avenue.

Two incidents were on the 1800 and 1900 blocks of El Camino Real.

In each case, the burglars smashed windows and stole backpacks, bags or briefcases that the victims had left in plain view, police said.

In eight of the nine cases, stolen items included such electronic devices as laptops and tablet computers, police said.

While it did not appear that a particular make or model of car was targeted, police did say seven of the nine cars hit were rental vehicles, meaning the crooks could be zeroing in on what they think are business travelers carrying electronic devices.

The department reminds residents to leave no valuables in cars, if possible, or to secure them out of sight prior to arriving at your destination. Also, be sure to always lock your vehicle and close the windows when it is unattended.

To date in 2015, Palo Alto has logged 65 auto burglaries. In the first three months of 2014, there were 97 total auto burglaries. There were a total of 313 auto burglaries in 2014, down from a six-year high (dating back to 2008) of 409 in 2013, police said.

Anyone with information about these recent incidents is asked to call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed topaloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.

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