Full Notification

In recent weeks, the City of San Mateo and the City of Foster City have seen an increase in auto burglaries. In San Mateo, Bridgepointe Shopping Center, The Fish Market, and Marina Plaza Shopping Center appear to have been targeted due to the amount of incidents reported. The auto burglaries are happening in busy parking lots, mainly near restaurants. Foster City has also seen an overall increase in auto burglaries (locked) and thefts (unlocked) from vehicles.
 
San Mateo and Foster City police are combining efforts to help mitigate this crime trend that is not only affecting our cities, but also the region. We are increasing our efforts in the impacted areas and we are asking our communities to partner with us by being our “eyes and ears” and to protect yourself from becoming a victim. It only takes thieves seconds to break a window and steal property from your car. Below are few tips to help protect yourself and fellow community members from being victimized.
 
You can help by…
Take preventative measures
          Don’t leave valuables in plain view
          Lock your doors
          Be aware of your surroundings
          Report suspicious persons
 
What to look for…
Suspicious Activity
          Vehicles backed into a parking stall with the driver still in the vehicle
          Persons walking up and down aisles
          Persons looking into vehicles and/or checking door handles for unlocked
          vehicles                         
 
          Vehicles roaming the parking lot with no apparent purpose
 
If you’re a victim or witness…
Reporting suspicious activity
Dispatchers will ask what the person is wearing, direction of travel, associated vehicle and license plate number, and what the suspicious behavior is.
 
Reporting an auto burglary or theft
          Call SMPD or FCPD as soon as it is discovered
          Don’t touch or adjust anything in, on or around your vehicle
 
By following the simple steps above, together, we can deter these crimes affecting our cities! For more information on Crime Prevention and Safety Tips, visit the City of San Mateo Police page http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/1630/Crime-Prevention-Safety-Tips
 
Contact information SMPD
Emergency 9-1-1
Non-Emergency 650-522-7700
 
Contact information FCPD
Emergency 9-1-1
Non-Emergency 650-286-3300