Crime & Safety
Rash of Vehicle Burglaries Plagues Southampton
Police don't have any suspects but note the thefts have been from unlocked vehicles.
The Benicia Department is currently investigating an increase in thefts from unlocked vehicles and in urging residents to lock their cars at night. Besides taking electronics from the cars the thieves are also getting their hands on garage door openers and then gaining access to garages and homes.
“Since March 21, there have been numerous cases reported in the Southampton area of Benicia,” said Lt. Frank Hartig in a release sent out Tuesday by the Benicia Police Department. “The majority of these cases involved residents leaving their vehicles unlocked in front of their residence.”
According to Hartig there have been five instances where garage door openers stolen from the unlocked vehicles were used to gain entry to the victims’ garages where other items were stolen.
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In one case, the thieves found the keys to the car in the garage and drove away in the victim’s vehicle.
According to police, most of the robberies are happening between midnight and dawn.
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The Benicia Police Department is asking residents to take the following precautions with their vehicles that will be parked on the street:
- Roll up the windows and lock the doors
- Remove valuables such as GPS devices, phones, purses and computers
- Any valuables that have to stay in the car should be put in the trunk.
The police have notified Neighborhood Watch groups in the Southampton area.
While the majority of the cases have occurred in the Southampton area, police encourage every resident of Benicia to follow the above suggestions.
Police are also asking that the residents to report suspicious vehicles or activity to the Benicia Police Department Dispatch Center at 745-3412 and if a resident is witnessing a crime, to please dial 911 and report it immediately.
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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com
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