Who's Watching your Car?

From the moment you get out of your car and head to the store, someone is watching your every move. As soon as you're out of sight, thieves have a chance to break into your car and grab anything of value.

The Twin Cities Police received five auto burglary reports within the past week, March 22-27.

While it's almost impossible to completely stop auto burglary and theft, here are things we can do to deter the crime: Park in well-lit and secure areas; park in a spot where you can keep an eye on your car; don't leave valuables in the car, especially not in a visible place like the front seat. The most obvious thing people can do to protect their cars — but often don't — is to LOCK their cars.

Here's a rundown of what happened in the past week in the Twin Cities:

• An anonymous person reported suspicious subjects associated with a small pickup truck, parked between two plumbing vans in the area of the 80 block of East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. They were concerned due to recent thefts from vehicles in the area. Contact was made with a homeless women and man who were camping in the area. A probation search was conducted and a marijuana pipe was confiscated for destruction. After being identified, the subjects were sent on their way.

• A Sonoma resident reported that while her vehicle was parked in the area of Nordstrom in the Village Shopping Center, the front passenger window was smashed and items were taken, including a backpack containing a Kindle Fire, an iPhone and personal papers. While on scene, a second vehicle was located, also with a smashed window. Both victims were contacted and two Auto Burglary reports were taken.

• An El Cerrito resident reported that while her vehicle was parked in the area of the Starbucks in the Marin Country Mart shopping center, her passenger side window was smashed and her gym bag, containing miscellaneous clothing, was taken. Loss is approximately $260.

• A Richmond resident reported her while her unlocked vehicle was parked in the area of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 2500 Larkspur Landing Circle, it was accessed and change and a cellular phone charger were taken.

• A Richmond man came to the Twin Cities Police Department to turn himself in for an outstanding Arrest Warrant held by the Pomona Police Department. He was arrested, processed at the station and then booked into the Marin County Jail.

• A resident of the 10 block of Verona Place reported her husband’s new cell phone was taken from the glove box of his unlocked vehicle while it was parked in their driveway.

• A business in the 700 building of Larkspur Landing reported their company name has had an imposter using the business name to cash fraudulent checks. There has been no financial loss at this time.

• An Antioch resident reported that while their vehicle was parked at Redwood High School, someone tried to pry open their driver's side door. It was determined no entry had been made to the vehicle and there was no loss.

• A resident of the 10 block of Mark Place reported her house was entered. She reported drawers have been gone through and jewelry and an Xbox 360 are missing. The approximate total loss is $15,000.

• A business in the 100 block of East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard reported a customer paid their tab with counterfeit bills. The loss is $320. A Fraud report was taken and there is possible further investigation pending.

• A resident in the 10 block of Via Navarro reported a subject took his mail and left in a vehicle last seen headed toward down Via Navarro towards Eliseo Drive. He reported the only mail in the box was a check he wrote to a caregiver for $168. Officers located and stopped the suspect vehicle in the Bon Air Shopping Center. An Oakland man was arrested for Petty Theft, Conspiracy and Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia. A Berkeley man was arrested for Petty Theft, Conspiracy and Parole Violation. Both subjects were booked into the Marin County Jail after they were processed at TCPA. There is further investigation pending.

• A resident in the 600 block of Redwood Avenue reported they were packing to leave for Tahoe and a bag full of kids ski gear was taken from an unlocked vehicle. The approximate loss is $150.

• A Richmond resident reported that while his vehicle was parked in the area of the 24 Hour Fitness, in the Marin Country Mart Shopping Center, a window had been punched out. He advised his wallet was taken which contained his identification, credit cards and $1,500.

• A resident in the area of Eliseo Drive and Via La Cumbre reported a vehicle parked for at least a week and a half that is leaking gas and oil. A check of the vehicle revealed it was a stolen vehicle reported to the San Francisco Police Department. Contact was attempted with the owner. The vehicle was towed pending contact with the owner and was removed from the Stolen Vehicle System.

• An employee of a business located in the Village Shopping Center reported her purse, containing identification, credit cards and $80, was taken from her locked employee locker.

• Pursuant to four subjects being contacted by a TCPA Officer in the 400 block of Magnolia Avenue, a San Quentin man was detained for being Intoxicated in Public and transported to Helen Vine center in San Rafael for detoxification. Two other subjects were taken home by a taxi and the fourth was picked up by a sober driver.

• Pursuant to a traffic stop in the 70 block of Meadow Valley Road, a San Rafael woman was determined to be driving while under the influence. She was arrested and booked at the Marin County Jail.

• A resident in the 20 block of Lower Via Casitas reported two children's bicycles were taken from an open carport. The bicycles had been locked up.

• A Bolinas resident reported that he had just returned to the lot at the Marin Airporter, 300 Larkspur Landing Circle, and discovered his vehicle is missing. A Vehicle Theft report was taken and the vehicle was entered into the Stolen Vehicle System.

• Pursuant to a traffic stop in the 600 block of Tamalpais Drive, a Corte Madera woman was arrested for Possession of Prescription Medications without a Prescription. She was booked at the Marin County Jail.

• The Village Peddler Bicycle Shop reported a male subject took a bicycle for a test ride and never returned. The bicycle is valued at $8,000. A Grand Theft report was taken and there is possible follow-up pending.

• The Concord Police Department reported they recovered a vehicle originally reported as stolen to TCPA on March 17, 2012, from the 10 block of Wildflower Court. The vehicle was not burned, stripped or damaged and no one is in custody. Both plates were missing from the vehicle. The vehicle was cleared from the Stolen Vehicle System and the plates were re-entered as stolen.

• A business in the 400 block of Tamal Vista Boulevard reported someone attempted to break into one of the doors as they had found pry marks and fingerprints.

• A resident in the 90 block of Granada Drive reported a possible break in to her garage. She found the door and lock were broken, but it appears no entry was made to the house.

During this one week time period, Twin Cities Police had 368 calls for service. This included three hit and run accidents and six property damage-only accidents. There were five auto burglaries, two commercial burglaries and two residential burglaries. There was one call related to Driving while Intoxicated, resulting in one arrest.