The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department arrested three men on Feb. 5, who are suspected in a string of burglaries in Saratoga, Cupertino and Campbell.
Terence McCarthy, 20, and Efrin Ortiz, 18, both from Campbell, and Charles Harrington, 18, of San Jose were charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and stolen property and conspiracy to commit burglary by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office, Sgt. John Hirokawa said.
The trio is suspected in at least nine daytime residential burglaries during the first week of February, Hirokawa said. All of the homes were broken into and ransacked while residents were out for the day.
Hirokawa said that daytime burglaries in general are not unusual. "Most residential burglaries occur Monday through Friday during the daytime when no one is home."
A large number of items were taken from the nine homes including cash, jewelry, electronics, stereo equipment and VCRs. Sheriff department officials said the suspects had a car, allowing them to take a number of items.
In one instance, the suspects were interrupted while trying to commit a burglary in Cupertino when the homeowner came home.
Earlier that same day, a car was seen by homeowners that matched the description of the one thought to be driven by the three men. That car was seen fleeing separate burglary scenes in Cupertino and Saratoga, Hirokawa said. The description of the car was broadcast to deputies by radio.
Later in the day on Feb. 5, Deputy Joe Waldherr saw a car matching the description near West Valley College. When he pulled the car over, he found jewelry, electronic equipment, a checkbook and credit cards that had been taken from several homes during recent burglaries.
After the three were arrested, Sgt. Jose Salcido served a search warrant on one of the suspect's homes in Campbell, and discovered more stolen property, including a handgun, from other recent burglaries.
A court hearing was held early last week, and Ortiz and Harrington were released on their own recognizance, while McCarthy remains in custody at the main jail. The trio have a trial date later this month.
Hirokawa said the Sheriff Department's investigation is still ongoing. Those with any additional information are asked to call Sgt. Jose Salcido at 867-9721 or 299-2211.
Saratoga, California Since 1975
