Police:Secure your valuables

A recent rash of car burglaries, along with one residential burglary, at a large apartment complex near Orange Coast College prompted authorities to warn residents about keeping a closer eye on their property.

Between midnight and early morning Sunday, an unknown number of suspects sliced through convertible tops, opened unlocked doors and pulled a smash-and-grab burglary at a series of apartments in the 2800 block of Pinecreek Drive, police said.

The complex has multiple parking structures, said Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Bob Ciszek, and vehicle burglaries occurred in more than one, indicating that whoever committed the crimes spent some time looking for easy targets. Property, especially electronic items like garage-door openers and computer equipment, were taken from five vehicles, he said.

A home was burglarized that night as well. Ciszek said that the door was accidentally left open, and the burglar or burglars just walked in and took what valuables they could.

Such crimes are common at large apartment complexes, Ciszek said.

“It’s a smorgasbord of cars [burglars] can choose from, and it’s hard for a guard — if there is a guard — to be everywhere at once,” he said.

He added that since crime of this nature happens so often, it pays not to be an easy target.

“If you’re going to have valuables like computer stuff in your car, don’t leave it on your seat,” he said. “At least hide it in the trunk or in your glove compartment.”