| | Published October 1st, 2008
| Residential Burglaries on The Rise in Orinda
| | By Andrea A. Firth | | |
Orinda has experienced an increased number of residential burglaries over the past month. According to the Orinda Police Department (OPD), The City averages one residential burglary a week on an annual basis. In September, there was a spike in the number of burglaries to a total of eight, and homes throughout Orinda on both sides of Highway 24 have been burglarized. "The majority of residential burglaries occur on the weekdays during the daytime," states Orinda Police Chief Bill French. "Several recent victims have been out for a short time during the day and not had their home-alarm systems activated."
While Chief French strongly encourages residents to turn on their alarms and remain alert for unusual activity in their neighborhoods, he has also boosted the number of police on patrol throughout the City. Chief French notes that is remarkable that no one has seen the burglars who are working in daylight and who have stolen large items such as laptops and flat screen televisions along with smaller items such as jewelry. "I feel strongly that the thieves are from outside the City, and they driving a car to or near the houses that they target," states French.
The OPD is working hard to solve these crimes with aggressive patrol tactics investigative police work. Chief French notes that a group of burglars was apprehended by the OPD last month, and that the current burglars may be part of that group or a completely different group. "Our job now is to catch the burglars with stolen goods to enable a conviction or to convince them that it's not worth coming to Orinda." If you see a suspicious person or vehicle in your neighborhood, contact the police department immediately.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA