The Santa Barbara police department sent out a notice on Thursday, Nov. 29, that the city has suffered 40 automobile burglaries in the past month. That’s up from 15-20 in typical months. The method of the burglaries varies – prying open with tools or simply smashing windows – but the police are reminding all citizens that leaving valuables where passers-by can see is an invitation to have their cars burglarized and their valuables stolen.
A statement issued by police spokesperson Lt. Paul McCaffrey instructed that this type of crime could be minimized if people simply followed these steps: not leaving valuables where they can be seen, putting items in the trunk, and reporting suspicious activity observed around where cars are parked.
McCaffrey also noted that the goods most often reported stolen include iPods, purses, wallets, backpacks, and other electronics. The areas that have most suffered the brunt of the crime includes downtown parking garages, streets surrounding SBCC at 721 Cliff Drive, and upper Eastside neighborhoods, but McCaffrey reminded that such incidents can occur anywhere.