Tri-City Police Sound Alarm On Auto Burglaries, Thefts

Police in Union City, Newark and Fremont are sounding the alarm about the skyrocketing number of auto burglaries and thefts from vehicles in the tri-cities. It's happening primarily at shopping centers and hotels along the I-880 corridor.

Fremont is installing new signs, shown above, at shopping centers.

"There are crews of thieves working in teams cruising the parking lots and breaking into cars," Union City Police say in a written report. "Usually there are two to three people per car, and the car usually has no license plate. These crooks are brazen. They don’t fear being seen, and when the police try and stop them, they flee recklessly. The police will give chase when within policy, but the police usually have to end the pursuit due to dangerous speeds and concerns for public safety. Some of these thieves are eventually captured and convicted, but the punishment is not severe."

Union City Police offer these tips, especially as the holiday season approaches:

• If you are at a shopping mall and plan on putting items in your trunk and returning to the store, it is a good practice to get in your car and move to another parking area. Many thieves during the holiday will watch for people putting items in their trunk or concealing them in the passenger compartment. They break in when you leave the car.
• There is no “safe time frame” to be gone from your car while your stuff is out in plain view. A practiced thief can get out of their vehicle, break your window, grab your stuff, and be back in the getaway car in less than 10 seconds. UCPD officers recently caught a man and woman who broke into numerous cars at the Starbucks at Union Landing. Each victim left items on the seat or center console because they were just running in to grab a cup of coffee.
• Ideally, you never want to leave a laptop, tablet, or cellphone in your vehicle, but if you do, make sure the Bluetooth feature is turned off. There are actually apps that can be downloaded for free that find nearby Bluetooth signals. Thieves are driving around parking lots pinpointing vehicles that are giving off a strong Bluetooth signal and targeting those vehicles.
• Never leave something out in plain view because you think it has nothing of value in it. I’ve read so many police reports of someone getting their gym bag stolen from their car. Your gym bag full of nothing of significant value is definitely not worth getting your window smashed.

-Image via Fremont Police

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