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Burglars hit south side with string of robberies
By Sam Scott
Burglars have their eyes on South Sunnyvale, and they seem to be liking what they see.
Since November, 17 burglaries have occurred in South Sunnyvale neighborhoods between Homestead and Fremont Avenues near Wolfe Road, according to Capt. Chuck Eaneff of Sunnyvale Public Safety. Eaneff says the break-ins may trace back to burglaries that hit that area as early as November 1997.
"It looks like there's a pattern emerging on the south side," Eaneff says.
Simone Williams, a resident in South Sunnyvale, says she has knows of four burglaries hitting nearby Martin Avenue during one week. The crime-blighted street is less than a quarter-mile long.
"I've been here 12 years," she says. "I've always been real comfortable. Now I have my guard up."
One of the Martin Avenue victims, still shaken by the intrusion, says burglars hit her house on New Year's Eve, entering the property through a side gate.
"I was just amazed how easily they could pry open a window," she says.
Apparently confident they would have time due to New Year's Eve celebrations, the criminals took the time to use the homeowners' own tools to dismantle their fire safe, she says. After the crime, the woman, who asked to remain un-named, passed out fliers to her neighbors warning them to be vigilant.
Eaneff says the crimes have generally been committed on Fridays or Saturdays during the day or early evening. Entry has typically been through backyard windows while the residents have been out. The burglars have apparently targeted small valuables like cash and jewelry.
Eaneff says the spate of burglaries may be connected to crimes in other regions.
"We have had some burglaries that we think are related to the Cupertino burglaries," Eaneff says, referring to a crime spree that has plagued the neighboring city. Starting in late November and ending on Christmas Day, Cupertino neighborhoods on the south and east sides of De Anza College suffered over twenty apparently-related burglaries, says Sgt. John Hirokawa with the county Sheriff's office.
Hirokawa says easy access to two freeways makes Cupertino and south Sunnyvale attractive to criminals conscious of escape routes.
Hirokawa says he cautions about making a connection between the Sunnyvale and Cupertino crimes and indeed between any of the individual burglaries.
"I'm not going to say there is a connection," he says. "If we don't know who the suspects are, you can't draw that conclusion."
Though geographically close, the crimes in Cupertino and Sunnyvale have distinct differences.
The Cupertino burglaries reportedly focused on Asian homes. Eaneff says the Sunnyvale crimes have not been directed toward a specific ethnic group. The Cupertino homes were apparently ransacked. The Sunnyvale homes reportedly were not. And perhaps most importantly, whereas the Cupertino spree ended on Christmas, Eaneff says the Sunnyvale trend appears to be continuing.
Whether the same people are committing the crimes or not, they do have the same idea of what makes good booty--cash and small valuables. Hirokawa says burglars have rifled through homes, dumping every drawer and flipping every mattress in order to find cash or jewelry. Meanwhile, computers, TVs, and other electronics have been totally ignored.
Hirokawa says small valuables are easier to unload, if only for pennies on the dollar. Some of the residents have lost heirlooms that can never be replaced, Hirokawa says
"Get safes that can't be lifted or a deposit boxes. These items should not be kept in the house."
Eaneff says he encourages Sunnyvale residents and business owners, who may have let their guard down as a result of a recent drop in crime, to call the department's Crime Prevention Unit and take advantage of its security inspection service.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
