Updated noon, Nov. 11, 2021: After a daylong respite, auto burglars were at it again this week in Mountain View, breaking into at least eight vehicles late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning.
Between 6:19 a.m. and 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, eight people called the Mountain View Police Department to report auto break-ins, according to department records. As the reports poured in during a relatively short time frame, they likely pertain to crimes committed overnight and discovered in the morning. A ninth auto burglary was reported Wednesday evening at 8:59 p.m.
Six of the auto burglaries reported Wednesday – including the one reported Wednesday night – took place within city-run parking lots downtown, according to records. Three occurred in City Lot No. 11, located on the 200 block of Franklin Street, and two occurred in City Lot No. 6, located on the 300 block of Hope Street.
The MVPD recognized the recent increase in local auto burglaries in a Nextdoor post shared Tuesday afternoon. It urged vigilance.
“These crimes happen in a matter of seconds, with the thieves often brazenly breaking into multiple cars and then driving off,” the post stated.
On Monday, 13 auto burglaries were reported to the police department between 7:21 a.m. and 8:43 a.m. Seven of the 13 took place in city-run public parking lots with three occurring in City Lot No. 7, located on the 400 block of Hope Street.
Only one auto burglary was reported in Mountain View on Tuesday, at 8:03 p.m. at the In-N-Out Burger location at 1159 N. Rengstorff Ave.
It’s too early to tell whether the burglaries from Monday are related, MVPD spokesperson Katie Nelson told the Town Crier Tuesday.
The MVPD encourages vehicle owners to install car alarms, to park in well-lit areas and to take all belongings of value with them when they leave their vehicles. Even loose change and charging cables should be obscured if left behind.
“Anything a thief can see, they will grab,” the statement reported. “They will also assume there is more in the car. Also, always lock your vehicle.”
Report crimes in progress to 911. To report an auto burglary in Mountain View, call the MVPD at (650) 903-6344 or file a report online by visiting mvpd.gov. The department notes videos that record auto burglaries are helpful to investigations and should be shared with local detectives for dissemination across the region.
