Jul 25, 2008

Los Altos hit with string of break-ins

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Los Altos police are recommending that motorists remove their iPods from their vehicles after thieves broke into six cars sometime late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, making off with five of the pricey gadgets.

"The recommendation is to not have an iPod in plain sight, because it's obviously an easy take," Acting Sgt. Brent Butler said.

The thieves targeted four streets - Fallen Leaf Lane, Wessex Avenue, Brookmill Road and Randolph Parkway - in southern Los Altos. The car owners all reported the burglaries, in which their windows were smashed, between roughly 7 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Police believe the thieves were looking specifically for iPods, because they did not open doors, or search the vehicles, which ranged from a Toyota Celica to a Land Rover. The cars were parked on the street and in driveways, Butler said.

No residents saw or heard anything suspicious, Butler said. It's been about seven months since Los Altos was hit with a string of similar car burglaries, he added.

Anyone with additional information, or who may have witnessed the break-ins, is asked to call Detective Wesley Beveridge at 650-947-2820.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.