By Jon Chown
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that home burglaries are on the rise again.
A rash of residential break-ins occurred throughout the county, particularly in the Aptos area, about six weeks ago. The culprit or culprits were never caught, and the pattern has emerged again.
“What we know is that the suspect’s MO is kind of consistent,” said Sgt. Zach West of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re not saying it’s the same person, but there are consistencies with the rash of burglaries about six weeks ago.”
Over the past 10 days, West said, multiple homes in the rural area of Aptos have been targeted during the early morning hours while residents were asleep, generally between midnight and 4 a.m. Unlocked automobiles are also being broken into.
The thief has been targeting large properties and has also robbed outbuildings, West said. Any video that has been taken has been too poor to get a good description from.
West said the Sheriff’s Office has stepped up patrols, and detectives have been going door to door asking if residents have seen anything or are missing anything that hasn’t been reported. The thief has left evidence at the scene more than once, and it has all been sent to the Department of Justice for DNA analysis. Unfortunately, that can take months.
“We’re not taking it lightly,” West said. “There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work going on.”
The Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to stay alert and take extra precautions. Keep exterior areas well-lit during evening and early morning hours. Install and maintain security cameras and alarm systems. Lock all doors and windows before going to bed. Remove valuables from plain view, both inside and outside the home, and report any suspicious activity, people or vehicles immediately to the Sheriff’s Office.
If you see something suspicious, call (831) 471-1121, or dial 911 in case of an emergency. Anyone with information about these burglaries is asked to contact Detective Spencer at (831) 454-7636 or submit an anonymous tip through (831) 454-7631.