RANCHO BERNARDO RESIDENTIAL HOT-PROWL BURGLARY SERIES

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April 14, 2012 (San Diego) -- Detectives from the San Diego Police Department’s Northeastern Division are investigating a series of hot-prowl burglaries in the Rancho Bernardo area.    
 
Between November 2011 and April 2012, there have been several hot-prowl burglaries reported in the Rancho Bernardo area.  The suspect(s) in these cases are burglarizing attached condos and homes in the local retirement communities.  The burglaries have all occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when the resident was present.  In all cases, the suspect got into the victim’s backyard/patio area and gained entry to the home by removing a screen from an unlocked window or via an unlocked sliding glass patio door.
 
 It appears the suspect may be looking into windows with open blinds or curtains and seeing purses or wallets left out in plain view.  Once inside the home, the suspect removes only cash from wallets or purses and flees the scene.
 
In the incidents where the suspect has been encountered by a victim or witness, he has been described as a non-confrontational, white male, in his mid-twenties, 5’8 to 6’3, with a slim build. In one case, the suspect was seen fleeing from the residence in a dark colored sedan, similar to a Mazda Protégé, with a partial California license plate similar to 5ZM462.
 
The San Diego Police Department is advising residents to be aware of the series and take steps to ensure that their home is not an easy target.  The following simple steps may prevent a home from being burglarized by this suspect.  
  • Windows and sliding patio doors should be closed and locked. 
  • Close curtains or blinds to protect valuables from prying eyes.
  • Do not leave valuables, purses, wallets out in plain view.
Anyone with information about these cases or the suspect(s) involved is asked to call Detective Dianna Webb of the San Diego Police Department at (858) 538-8000 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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