Several neighborhoods in Chula Vista are on alert after an increase in parked car burglaries this week.
One of the most affected areas is the neighborhoods near Proctor Valley Road and Northwoods Drive, and Mount Miguel and East H streets.
Chula Vista police say the thieves choose cars parked on the streets or in front of their homes where they see valuable things from outside. Then they break the glass and take the objects.
The break-ins are very annoying to residents who say that the worst thing is pay to fix their broken windows.
"I was walking to my car, I parked it around here. I noticed a patrol, saw the glass along the sidewalk and noticed that there were many cars with their broken glass, and mine was one of them," Bryan Crosby said.
"Broken glass inside the car, and the open glove box. But they did not take anything," he said.
It was not the best way to start his day, he said, and what bothered him the most was that he never leaves valuables in his car.
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"I do not know what they are looking for, surely something easy, electronic," he said.
Crosby said that in his street, Monday at dawn at least 10 cars had their windows smashed.
"This brings us a sense of discomfort, you want to feel safe in your neighborhood, in your area, and the truth is that this is something unpleasant," Maria Teresa Nuncio said.
For some families it is impossible to avoid parking on the street.
"The problem is that here we only have the right to put two cars, then people like us who have more than two cars, we have to leave them on the street," said Nuncio.
CVPD gave recommendations on how to prevent becoming a victim of car burglaries:
- NEVER leave valuables in view, even if your car is locked!!
- Always lock your car.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Install an audible alarm.
- Completely close car windows.
- Park in attended lots, when possible.
- Avoid parking between large vehicles.
- Take out removable radios/face plates.
