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The Sheriff's Department is asking Cupertino residents to be more vigilant about locking their cars and not leaving personal items in the cars. Between Jan. 1 and April 12, there have been a total of 74 auto burglaries, and this number doesn't include thefts from unlocked cars.
"At this pace, it is possible that we will go over the five-year high," said Skip Shervington, community resource officer.
In 2001, there were 218 auto burglaries reported, which remains the highest number in five years. Shervington doesn't have an explanation for the high auto burglary rate. But he urges residents to remove any opportunity for crimes to occur.
"Cupertino is a pretty safe place because of its small number of violent crimes, but it has about the same number of property crimes compared to other cities of the same population," Shervington said.
The Sheriff's Department asks people to pay more attention when they park their cars in the parking lots of retail stores and apartments.
"Do not leave any items inside your car visible from the outside, especially purses, wallets, laptop computers, cell phones and briefcases," Shervington said, "If you have a pullout or detachable-face stereo system, always take it out of the vehicle when you leave. A crook will break your window for the change in your center console, a cell phone charging cord, a child's backpack or even your laundry bag on the chance that something of value is inside."
Residents who are interested in receiving crime alerts in their neighborhoods can call Sgt. Skip Shervington at 408.777.3177 or join the city's email community alert program online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CupertinoECAP.
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