Police are investigating a series of home burglaries that have been occurring in the Rancho Bernardo area since November 2011.
Investigators said the hot-prowl burglaries are happening at condos and homes in the area’s retirement communities. Police said the suspect typically gains entry into the victim’s backyard or patio area and enters the homes by removing a screen from an unlocked window or through an unlocked sliding glass door.
Police said it appears the suspect is looking into houses through open windows and spotting purses or wallets in plain view before entering the residence. Once inside, the suspect takes cash from wallets or purses and then leaves.
The burglaries have all occurred between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Victims or witnesses have described the suspect as a non-confrontational, white male in his mid-20s, with a slim build. He’s between 5-feet-8-inches tall and 6-feet-3-inches tall.
He was seen leaving at least one home in a dark-colored sedan which authorities said may be similar to a Mazda Protégé, with a partial license plate number that includes 5ZM462.
Anyone with information is urged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Follow NBCSanDiego for the latest news, weather, and events: iPad App | iPhone App | Android App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts
