Willow Glen Resident

News

Police say no crime too small, including local car break-ins

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

A series of car break-ins and one theft on Feb. 12 created a buzz on a Willow Glen neighborhood e-list, but only one call was made to the San Jose Police Department.

The break-ins happened between Glen Eyrie Avenue and Willow Street on Camino Ricardo and Cherry Avenue between 1 and 3 a.m.

One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he noticed all the side pockets inside his car had been emptied and the contents were left on the seats or floor of the vehicle. Nothing was taken. Others reported only loose change missing.

The proximity of these break-ins is uncommon for crimes of this nature, said San Jose Police Department spokesman Enrique Garcia.

"It makes it easier for their escape," Garcia said.

Although different individuals usually commit auto theft and burglary, one person might also steal a car to commit the other crimes, Garcia said.

If community members stay silent and don't file reports, however, police don't have the full picture and they don't how many crimes have been committed.

"The bottom line is documentation," Garcia said. "There's no way to know how many cars were victimized or how many times these individuals have committed crimes if they are not reported."

Garcia said that citizens shouldn't rationalize that someone else already made called.

"The more calls we receive, the more legitimate the calls become," he said.

Police reports are also important for statistics and for identifying trends in certain areas, Garcia said.

If there are suspicious people taking a stroll through the neighborhood at 1 a.m., call the police, Garcia said.