Police Bulletin Police Bulletin (September 17, 2004)

Crook scores with garage burglary

Golf bags stashed in a garage made an easy $3,065 target for a daylight crook last Saturday.

Police reported that the victim had been playing golf that morning and returned to his Birdland home about 1:30 p.m. He opened his garage door and left his golf bag and clubs just inside the garage. The victim forgot to remove his wallet, which he had left in the golf bag while playing, police said. The victim told police that the garage door was left open throughout the afternoon until about 6 p.m.

The following day about 8 a.m., the victim went into the garage and noticed his golf bag and clubs were missing, police said. At that time, he also realized his wallet had been in the bag. The victim said he immediately contacted his bank and was told that someone had used his credit card that morning to purchase gasoline. Window crack opens way for theft

A car window left cracked open was enough of an opportunity for a pushy thief, who swiped a $700 stereo and speakers Monday.

The victim told police that he had parked and locked his 1968 Volkswagen bug about 2 p.m. in the southeast side of a parking lot at 4555 Rosewood Drive. He left one window rolled down about 1 inch. The victim returned to the vehicle about 5 p.m. and noticed that the driver's side window was open by about 3 inches, police said. The victim discovered that his stereo and speakers were missing, and both car doors were unlocked.

Police found three fingerprints both in and out of the vehicle, which were taken as evidence. One print was found on the passenger side above the rear passenger window and the two others were found on the inside of the driver's side window. Messy suspect rips out and off stereo

A brash burglar smashed a car window on Hopyard Road to grab a $480 stereo Monday and left the owner with a $1,600 tab in damages.

The victim told police he had parked and locked his 1976 Datsun 280Z about 1:35 p.m. in a parking lot on Hopyard Road near West Las Positas Boulevard. He returned about 6:20 p.m. and saw that an unknown suspect had shattered his rear passenger window, police said. The victim also noticed that the passenger door was unlocked. He looked inside the car and discovered that the thief had ripped his dashboard apart to gain access to the stereo, which was missing.

Police said the victim had spoken to a passing security guard, but the guard did not see or hear anything unusual. Police also noted that most of the broken glass was found inside the vehicle, and police recovered a small piece of porcelain found on the ground next to the broken window, which they believe may have come from a spark plug.

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