SOUTH GATE (CNS) - An auto burglar who was caught in the act of breaking into a car and attempting to steal it is under arrest, South Gate police said today.
The man -- whose name and age have not been released -- was caught removing items from a vehicle at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday in the 5700 block of Firestone Boulevard.
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South Gate police responded to a call that a man was driving around the parking lot looking into parked vehicles, Lt. Darren Arakawa of the South Gate Police Department said.
"The suspect had damaged the victim's dashboard, ignition, driver's door handle and tampered with wires in a failed attempt to steal the vehicle,'' he said.
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Officers apprehended the suspect putting items -- including the victim's driver's license, in-dash navigation system, work identification and miscellaneous paperwork -- into his own vehicle, according to Arakawa.
The suspect was booked on charges of attempted grand theft auto and auto burglary and also is being held on unrelated warrants, Arakawa said.
South Gate police warn drivers not to leave valuables in their cars and not to leave their doors unlocked or their windows cracked since auto burglars often ``window shop'' by looking into parked vehicles, according to Arakawa.
From City News Service
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