Thieves targeted vehicles along Ranch Penasquitos’ iconic Christmas Card Lane neighborhood in a rash of car break-ins and thefts reported this week.
San Diego Police are now warning residents to keep their garage door openers out of their cars when they are parked outside.
Early Monday morning, suspects went from driveway to driveway, breaking into at least six cars and stealing various items.
They also absconded with two cars belonging to two neighbors, including Jim Woodard, who awoke to find his Cadillac CTS missing from his driveway.
Making it worse, Woodward had an expensive set of golf clubs sitting in the back.
"I think it was a crew and it's my assumption, probably three or four guys going up and down the street, quickly checking cars to see which ones were open,” said Woodard. “They might have had tools to open cars."
He knows the theft happened just after 2 a.m. because a neighbor’s front yard surveillance camera caught the suspect driving the Cadillac down the street with an SUV following close behind.
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Police said they are concerned the thieves are targeting the cars as a way to also get inside homes.
They put out a friendly reminder to neighbors to not leave garage door openers inside their vehicles parked outside a garage. They also want homeowners to remember to lock the door between the garage and the interior of their home.
Neighbors believe the thieves cased their street ahead of time.
“I’ve had nothing stolen from my house before. This would be the first time. I have not heard from any other neighbors of any vandalism or anything stolen,” said Woodard. “Until the other night, it was low crime."
Police are also investigating two cases out of Mira Mesa this week where thieves took garage openers, got into the garage and went into the house while the homeowners were asleep.
