10 Cars Burglarized In San Ramon Wednesday

SAN RAMON, CA — It takes less than two seconds to lock a car but it takes hours, days and even months to recover from the potential loss following a car burglary, according to police. Car burglaries, which have become an epidemic in the East Bay, are being reported on a daily basis, San Ramon police officials said. Officers in San Ramon took ten car burglary reports in one day this week.

The communities of Danville, Alamo and Blackhawk also experienced a rash of car burglaries and thefts in December. Pleasanton reported an uptick during the holiday season. On Jan. 18, Livermore police arrested three San Francisco residents on suspicion of car burglary. Coincidentally, Livermore officers were conducting an operation targeting car burglars when they spotted the suspects. Officers tried to stop the suspects who hit one of the officers as they fled the area.

Police said car burglary is a crime of opportunity and criminals generally look for cars that have valuables left in plain sight. Officials discourage leaving any valuable items visible in cars and ask car owners to lock all doors. In Tri-Valley, laptops have been the most popular item to steal from cars, according to officials. Purses, cash, tools and car registration are also on the list of items reported stolen.

• Livermore Car Burglary Suspects Nabbed Following Pursuit

In December, Town of Danville officials shared the following tips to help protect East Bay residents:

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 backseat 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.

Photo courtesy Renee Schiavone/ Patch