Bike Thieves Strike Again in Los Gatos Charter Oaks Neighborhood

A resident in the Charter Oaks townhome neighborhood of Los Gatos is reporting thieves hit her community Sunday afternoon taking several expensive bikes with them.

According to Los Gatos resident Natasha Brown, who lives in a townhouse on Charter Oaks Drive near Winchester Boulevard and Lark Avenue, a man was in her garage at around 6 p.m. as she was unloading groceries from her car into the kitchen.

By the time she returned to the garage, she said the suspect was on the bicycle and took off. She described the suspect as a male wearing jeans and a white T-shirt.

Brown filed a report about the theft online and said four more bicycles were taken Sunday, learning about the criminal activity after sending an email to the community about her bike theft.

"It appears it is a couple of people and they quickly take off with them to flip them for a small amount of easy cash," Brown said.

The woman said even though the Charter Oaks community has a Neighborhood Watch program in place, "we often get into our old habits and possibly overlook suspicious behavior since we become comfortable."
 
Brown was hoping Los Gatos Patch could post the information about the crimes as a "a gentle reminder" to the public with the holidays approaching to keep an eye on their neighbors and report to police suspicious behavior.

Brown's bicycle is a white Iron Horse valued at approximately $400, she said.

"You feel so violated ... someone entering your property ... I know it is unlikely to recover the bicycle, however they need to know so they are aware of where extra patrolling may be required," Brown said.

This is the second bicycle Brown has had stolen in two years. A similar bike was taken from her garage in October of 2011, she said.

"I messaged the families telling them we needed to step up our Neighborhood Watch, and they were like 'That's funny, because ours were taken.' "

Brown was not sure if all the bikes were taken Sunday, except her own. "They (neighbors) might have just noticed. If I hadn't seen the guy ride away with the bike I would have never noticed my husband's bike was gone. You don't notice all the items in your garage." 

From what police sources have told Brown, the crimes are being committed by a group of suspects who cash them in for $50 and they they take them to a flea market where they're sold.