SCRIPPS RANCH (KGTV) - Neighbors are on alert after a string of car break-ins happened Thursday night and Friday morning in Scripps Ranch.
Crimemapping.com shows there's been at least 6 thefts in a neighborhood full of families who moved there thinking it was safe.
"It's a very quiet neighborhood. You don't hear about this kind of thing happening often," Garrett Schiff said. He's lived in the area with his wife and son for 5 years.
The crime had neighbors buzzing over the weekend, "Neighbors were discussing among themselves on social media and through texts and at the pool last night that there's been some break ins," Schiff said. "It was all cars in driveways as far as I know."
Some neighbors in the same block as this string of thefts, are empathetic to their loss.
Mohsen Elramah moved from Modesto to his home in Scripps Ranch seven months ago. Two months ago his wife came home from dropping off the kids at school and left the door unlocked.
They later discovered, "kids stuff, she left make-up, perfumes, very expensive sunglasses," had vanished.
"We didn't really worry about the value of the thing that was lost, just really the fact that somebody walked into our driveway and broke into the car, it just makes us feel unsafe," he said.
It sparked him into action, wanting to protect his wife and three young children, saying, "that actually triggered us to do the whole surveillance around the house." You can see one of his cameras above the driveway observing the same area that the crime occured.
About four miles away, Schiff heard the same defensive action taking place on his street. "One of my neighbors went out and bought a five pack of Arlo cameras right after this news broke and he's already hooked them up."
Schiff said this is a great reminder to stay alert. "Never leave your garage remote clicker in your vehicle because if someone can smash the glass they can get into your garage and potentially into your house."
10News reached out to the San Diego Police Department and they could not say whether the break ins were related. If you have any information please call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Tips to keep your car safe from criminals:
- Do not leave anything of value in your car.
- Do not leave anything visible in your car (car chargers, sun glasses, etc.)
- Lock your doors.
- Park your car in your garage.
