Bay Area car burglars travel down the coast to snatch belongings from Los Angeles tourists, police say

The thefts began multiplying in the last year: Crooks smashed windows or entered unlocked doors to swipe luggage, shopping bags and other valuables from cars parked at tourist destinations across Los Angeles’ Westside.

Traditionally, automobile smash-and-grabs have been home-grown and a neighborhood problem. In this case, crews primarily from San Francisco and Oakland, as well as Antioch, Pittsburg and other cities in Contra Costa County, appear to believe that the “time and distance” from the Southland provide some shield, police said.Prosecuting the crimes has been hampered by a loophole in state law that makes it harder to obtain a conviction for auto burglary without proof that the car doors were locked.

In Los Angeles, police describe brazen crooks breaking windows in crowded parking areas with surveillance cameras rolling, waiting for people to get just far enough away from their vehicle. Even as arrests are made to halt some crews, additional culprits — police believe multiple gangs are involved — arrive to commit more thefts.

“I feel awful for these people,” Hopkins said. “It makes me angry that these innocent people are being targeted. It really puts a black eye on our area.” Surveillance video routinely shows suspects lunging through smashed windows because opening the door would activate the alarm, he said.The sheriff’s West Hollywood station recorded more than 2,000 thefts from vehicles in 2019, Ramirez said. Thieves have targeted the Sunset Strip, Design District, Santa Monica Boulevard and other destinations.

Source: Car News Wire (carnewswire.net)

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