Police Note Increase in Thefts From Cars

The city’s reputation as one of the safest in the country is causing residents to drop their guard and leave their cars unlocked--an invitation that criminals haven’t resisted, police officials said.

“In the past two months there has been an increase in vehicle burglaries,” said Sgt. Steve Bourke of the Ventura County Sheriff’s east county station. Typically, he said, the driver has left a purse or cell phone in the car and a door unlocked or a window open.

Police could offer no statistics on the number of recent vehicle crimes, but said the increase became noticeable in September.

There is a difference between an automobile burglary and a theft, police pointed out. In a burglary, a locked car is broken into. In a theft, an item is stolen from a car that was left unlocked. The recent crime increases have been of both types, but police say there appear to be more thefts.

The incidents have increased throughout the city, Bourke said. Most have occurred overnight to cars parked on the street or during the day to cars in parking lots. Items taken most often have been purses, wallets and backpacks. Other targeted items include cellular phones, computers and stereo systems that many residents take for granted.

“People are out there looking for an opportunity for a crime,” said Sgt. Scott Zaslove of the east county station. “In a nutshell, if people would just lock their doors and keep items out of sight, the crimes would decrease.”