Vehicle Burglary Operation Conducted in the Gateway Shopping Area
The Fairfield Police Department recently conducted an operation in the Gateway Shopping area. The purpose of the operation was to reduce vehicle burglaries affecting shoppers in the area of Gateway Boulevard. The operation was conducted during the last week of March and involved officers from Patrol, Investigations and the Special Operations Team. The operation was successful in arresting subjects involved in thefts on each day of the operation.
On March 28, officers on the operation observed two subjects break the window of a parked car and steal a backpack. The suspects tried to run from officers but were quickly caught and arrested. Both suspects were from San Francisco. On March 29 officers conducted surveillance observed a suspect running from a store into the parking lot and appeared to be chased by an employee of the store. The officers were able to follow the suspects and make an arrest of two adults for strong-armed robbery. Seven cell phones were recovered during the arrest that appeared to have just been stolen from the store the suspect was seen running from. A store employee was able to make a positive identification of the suspects. On March 30, officers assigned to the burglary detail observed two suspects acting suspiciously in the parking lot. The suspects had been looking inside of parked cars and eventually smashed a window and stole a backpack from a parked car. Officers arrested both men for conspiracy and burglary. One suspect resides in Antioch and one from the City of Fairfield.
The two incidents involving vehicles had similar circumstances; one person would walk through the parking lot and check cars while the other stayed in the car, driving close to his partner. The cars were plain looking with dealer plates. It took only a matter of seconds for the suspect to smash a window, grab a bag, and get back into the getaway car to drive off.
The Fairfield Police Department is taking this opportunity to remind people to never leave bags or items of value in plain sight in the car. There have been several of these smash-and-grab burglaries at coffee shops where the victim, usually on their way to work, ran in to simply grab a cup of coffee and came out a minute later to find their window smashed and briefcase or purse missing. It only takes a second; Hide your items, Lock your car, and Take your keys!
Fairfield PD will be hosting a Community Education Forum on Burglary and Theft Prevention Wednesday, May 2, 2018, from 6:30-8: 30 pm, at the City Council Chamber, 1000 Webster Street.
Address/Location
Fairfield, CA Police Department
1000 Webster St
Fairfield, CA 94533
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-428-7300
Greg Hurlbut
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
707-428-7444
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Gateway Blvd
Fairfield, CA 94533