Saratoga News

Burglars see open garages as Saratoga's welcome mat

By Michelle Alaimo

Saratoga rang in the New Year with at least nine residential burglaries from open garages during a three-day period. Seven burglaries occurred on New Year's Day and another two, in which the suspects were apprehended thanks to the sharp eyes of a neighbor, on Jan. 3

Three suspects, two females and one male, were arrested on Jan. 3 after a neighbor of a victim on Cox Avenue and Wolcott Way noticed a suspicious brown vehicle in the neighborhood. After observing two of the three suspects take power tools from a neighbor's garage, the resident called 911.

Less than half an hour later, the same vehicle was observed speeding away from another residence at Cox Avenue and Williamsburg Lane. A deputy in the area saw the suspects' vehicle and pulled them over.

A search of the car turned up missing items from both Cox Avenue locations, and the three 34-year-old suspects were arrested and booked on charges of possession of stolen property, burglary and conspiracy.

Sheriff's officials said they owe this arrest to the citizens who called 911. Lt. Cary Colla of the Westside Substation said, "This shows [the neighborhood has] a good community watch."

Cynthia Fuson and Dina Crumpton, both from San Jose, and Dennis Boyd from Santa Clara are also suspects in as many as 10 open-garage burglaries, seven of which happened on New Year's Day. Items taken include leaf-blowers, an automatic garage-door opener still in its box and a pair of tennis shoes.

"I think this [arrest] will probably reduce the amount of activity in Saratoga," Sgt. Luther Pugh said. The sheriff's department is investigating whether the suspects can be connected to other residential burglaries.

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