Police Bulletin Police Bulletin (December 19, 2003)

Prank spoils the day

A trickster spoiled the day by slipping into a home on East Gate Way while the resident was out of town in early December and opening both the refrigerator and freezer doors, causing the refrigerated food to rot.

The victim told police when he left his home about noon Dec. 5, he made sure all of the windows and both the front and back doors were secured. When he returned to his home about 9 p.m. Dec. 7, he discovered the back door was open and unlocked and the refrigerator and freezer doors were both open, police said. Most of the food was spoiled and the victim had to throw away about $200 in food, police said. The victim told police nothing else was missing from the home, although valuable property, including a laptop computer, was in view. Police reported there were no signs of forced entry or pry marks. The victim notified property management. Victim putt out by theft

Leaving a car for 30 minutes Dec. 9 was enough time for a crook to snatch a cell telephone and a dozen golf balls.

Police reported the victim parked his 1999 BMW car at about 4:15 p.m. in the parking lot at the golf range on 4501 Pleasanton Ave. Upon returning to the vehicle 30 minutes later, the victim noticed an older model pickup truck with an extended cab parked next to his car. The truck was parked improperly, the victim said. As the victim approached, he saw his driver's car door open and he saw a man get into the truck and drive away.

The victim watched the driver, who ran a red light at Gate 12 heading toward Bernal Avenue. When the victim got to his car, he discovered that his cell telephone and a package of golf balls were missing, an estimated $530 loss. The victim was able to cancel the cell telephone service before any unauthorized use. Bike ride leaves purse to crook

While a victim took a bike ride Dec. 8, a thief smashed a car window and grabbed a purse at a parking garage at 4422 PeopleSoft Parkway, causing more than $2,200 in loss and damages.

The victim told police she went to her 1997 BMW, parked on the third level of the garage, about noon for a bike ride. She unlocked her car and put her purse on the driver's seat, concealing it by putting some clothing on top of the purse. She returned to her workstation about 2:30 p.m. and found a message from the security staff, asking her to contact them, police said.

Security personnel told her that an individual had reported walking by the victim's car about 12:20 p.m. and seeing the driver's side window shattered. The victim went to her vehicle and discovered the car had been burglarized, police said. She also found the clothing that had been covering her purse was on the garage floor outside of the car. In addition to her purse, her driver's license, credit cards and checkbook were stolen.

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