Vehicle burglaries soar in 2008

With 58 vehicle burglaries in the month of January and ten more in the first seven days of February, Sheriff’s Sgt. Theresa Adams-Hydar confirms crime is high in this category and explains that most have been crimes of opportunity.

“People are making themselves victims by not locking the doors of their vehicles,” Adams-Hydar said. “They are leaving purses, iPods, cameras and more in plain view.”

The sergeant said that enticing merchandise and an unlocked door is a bad combination, but the more significant loss is that of personal identification and credit cards.

“The issue isn’t so much the vehicle burglary, it’s the aftermath,” Adams-Hydar said. “The burglars charge up the credit cards real fast and it can take years for the victim to get that straightened out.”

Due to the efforts of a concerned citizen who proved to be an outstanding witness, Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man on January 29 they said was linked to three vehicle burglaries.

David Coronado, 30, was arrested on Aviation Road following a foot pursuit that originated on Alturas.

“The arrest was a good one because of good witnesses who were not afraid to call it in,” Adams-Hydar said.

Streets with the greatest number of vehicle burglaries so far this year include Alturas Road, Ammunition Road, Clemmens Lane, South Mission Road, Old Stage Road and Poet’s Square.

While car alarms can be sensitive to noise (such as helicopters flying overhead), the sergeant advises residents not to ignore them.

“Don’t ignore car alarms right now,” Adams-Hydar said. “Look out and see what’s going on and call it in to us [9-1-1].”

If you have information pertaining to any vehicle burglaries that may lead to the arrest of a suspect and you wish to be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.

Vehicle burglaries in Fallbrook*

August 2007 38

September 2007 34

October 2007 30

November 2007 22

December 2007 33

January 2008 58

February (through 2/7/08) 10

*Source: RMS, Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit