Residential Burglary Crime Spree Continues in Los Gatos Mountains

Soon after county sheriff's deputies convened Los Gatos/Santa Cruz Mountain residents to an Oct. 29 meeting at the Redwood Estates pavilion to discuss ways to avoid being burglary victims, several homes in the remote area were broken into with the crime wave continuing.

Since the first burglary was reported by Los Gatos Patch on Sept. 27, there have been at least 10 more, on the streets and dates listed below:

• Oct. 8, Montevina Road, suspects described as three Black male adults, all wearing blue jeans, one in yellow vest, in a black or dark BMW or Acura
• Oct. 11, Brush Road, suspects described as three Black male adults, in a rusty colored Ford Taurus
• No date given, Adams Ridge Drive, in Santa Cruz County
• No date given, one on Iron Springs Road, in Los Gatos
• No date given, Quail Ridge Road, in Santa Cruz County
  
• No date given, Vine Hill Road, in Santa Cruz County
• No date given, two on Black Road
• No date given, one on Bear Creek Road
• No date given, two on Summit Road, west Summit area
• No date given, one on Manzanita Road
  

Mona Lisa Raby, office manager for the Redwood Estates Services Association, said she had spoken to sheriff's deputies on Tuesday who have told her that they're patrolling the Mountain.

There are 375 homes in the association with a population of about 1,000, Raby added.

"The good news is that they're on high alert," Raby said. "They're spending a lot of time roving the area and keeping a watch on things."

During the public safety meeting at Redwood Estates pavilion, sheriff's deputies urged residents to:

• Change the locks when moving into new residences in the Mountains
• Keep doors locked at all times
• Consider having a wide-angle 180-degree door viewer installed in the entry door
• Never hide a key outside to avoid burglars from using it
• If you suspect your residence has been entered, do not go in, call 911 and notify the sheriff's office immediately
• Remain outside at a safe location
• Secure and lock windows not in use and anytime you leave your residence, including upstairs windows
• Close blinds and curtains after dark, avoid advertising your expensive property/purchases
• Light all entry ways well, including backyards, consider motion-activated lights or timers
• Trim plants from doors and windows for visibility to prevent criminals from hiding
• Engrave valuable property with your phone number and photograph jewelry, art and collectibles, list serial numbers, take a video for insurance claims
• Turn on your alarm systems
• Make sure all contact information is up to date with alarm company
• If out of town, make sure alarm company has a local person to contact if deputies need someone to respond
• Give alarm company gate code and the Santa Clara County Communications number, 408-299-2311, so deputies can make quicker entry to property
• Let neighbors know when you will be gone
• Place vacation hold on mail at Post Office, or have a neighbor pick up mail
• Install, set timers on lights in house
• Update alarm company with local person to contact during your time away
• Request a vacation check on your residence from the sheriff's office
• Never open your door for strangers
• If delivery or repair person arrives without notice, do not let them into your home; verify with their company
• If they refuse to show ID, or company states they don't have appointment scheduled, call 911
• Respond to the "knock" by talking through the door. By not responding the person may assume no one is home and they may try your doors or go around the back of your property
• Call Santa Clara County Sheriff's West Valley Division at 408-299-2311 and Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office dispatch at 831-471-1121
  

According to sheriff's deputies, in 2011, the confirmed point of entry in 36 percent of the residential burglaries was through open or unlocked doors and windows.


ALSO ON LOS GATOS PATCH:

• Dogs Beaten During Stagecoach Road Burglary in Los Gatos Mountains
• Another Burglary Reported in Los Gatos Mountains
• Public Safety Meeting at Los Gatos Redwood Estates Following Burglaries
• Residential Burglary Crime Spree Reported in Los Gatos Mountains

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