Overflow Crowd at Police Meeting on Burglary Spree

An overflow crowd filled the Arlington Park Clubhouse and crammed together outside at the windows last night, Wednesday, to hear El Cerrito police talk about the recent rash of home burglaries in the city, especially in the northern hills section.

Police Detective Donovan Brosas told the audience of about 225 people that the city has seen about 23 burglaries since Sept. 1. Police called the meeting after in one day, on Oct. 3, aroused community fears.

Brosas said most of the crimes have been occurring in the daylight hours and that no suspects have been identified. Police believe more than one group is involved because some of the break-ins involve entry through unlocked windows or doors, while others involve forcible entry by knocking down doors or breaking windows, he said.

Reacting to frustration expressed by some audience members who were stuck standing outside and having trouble hearing, Lt. Steve Bonini said the turnout far exceeded other recent crime-prevention meetings called by police, including one where the officers out-numbered the public.

Police stressed the importance of preventative measures, including keeping windows and doors locked when not at home. Doors leading to the outside should be stout and secured with deadbolts. Windows that slide sideways can be reinforced with wooden dowels so that they can be opened only a few inches. (See attached flyer distributed by police at the meeting for more safety tips.)

Brosas said a burglar who was captured by police agreed to divulge what burglars look for, naming high fences or bushes hiding the front of the house and long driveways sloping down from the house. The burglar said he avoids homes with visible alarm systems and dogs.

The burglar's tips corresponded to the advice that police offered: no high fence or bushes in the front, an alarm system (or at least a prominent sign advertising the presence of an alarm) and a dog (or at least a "Beware of Dog" sign).

Officer Brian Elder added that lights with motion sensors and rear yards with high fences secured by locked gates also can discourage burglars and contribute to what is termed "target hardness."

"You want to make it look like a fortified castle, as undesirable as possible," he said.

Also important, he said, is developing relationships with neighbors, so that residents can help keep eyes on suspicious activity and be better able to report suspicious strangers or activity.

Brosas, Elder and Bonini all encouraged residents to contact police right away if they see anyone or anything suspicious in their neighborhoods, including door-to-door solicitors who don't have city soliciting permits or who seem like they might be scouting for criminal opportunity.

The number to call in emergencies is 911, while the number to report suspicious activity is police dispatch at 510-237-3233, police said.

Asked if crime is increasing in El Cerrito, Bonini acknowledged that the recent spike is burglaries is unusual for this time of year. In general, he said, crime levels have been stable, including burglary.

"Property crime for the city of El Cerrito runs about the same every year," he said. Cities on the Interstate 80 corridor between Richmond and Oakland tend to have higher crime rates, with El Cerrito usually ranking in second, third or fourth place for per capita crime in Contra Costa County, with Richmond generally in first, Bonini said. Most crimes in El Cerrito — typically 70 to 75 percent — are committed by people who do not live in the city, he said.

At the same time, he said, crime is cyclical and often increases at certain periods of the year, like when school lets out and during the Christmas holidays and other school breaks. Crime surges also can move from one neighborhood or city to another, he said.

"They're almost like locusts," Brosas said. "They hit one neighborhood and once they're done there, they move on to the next one."

Some residents were apparently shocked when Bonini, in response to a question about whether fingerprints have been collected, told the audience that it can take 10 months for the county crime lab to produce results.

"That's pretty ridiculous," said resident Sharlene Loretz. "As citizens we should be pressuring them so we get faster results, right?"

Bonini indicated that the crime lab is stymied in part by limited resources. "There's so much coming in, they can't get it out fast enough," he said.

In answer to a question about an assault during one of the burglaries, Brosas said one resident who had been home napping reported being assaulted by an intruder who entered the dwelling in the afternoon sometime between 2 and 3 p.m. The victim did not suffer major injuries, he said.

Another resident asked about a report that the citizen Crime Prevention Committee, one of the appointed city bodies, has been dissolved. Bonini said the panel still exists but has been obliged to stop meeting because it is one member short of having a quorum and cannot meet without a quorum. He encouraged those interested in serving to fill out the application available on the city web site.