There is a good reminder in this Daily Journal piece about local burglary techniques
Non-violent theft, or larceny, is a crime on the rise locally and police think they know why — the perpetrators, even if caught, risk light punishment.
The latest trend sweeping San Mateo County is the so-called door-knock burglary in which criminals simply canvas neighborhoods and knock on doors to see if anyone is home. If someone is home, they move on, but if not, they find a way into the house through a rear door or window and make off with jewelry, electronic items or other valuables.
As someone who works at home, I can tell you I have experienced this firsthand. I had a knock on the door from a very cheerful young woman. When I answered it she wanted to know "if by any chance, my car was for sale". He boyfriend was idling out in front in his pick-up. Of course, there was no For Sale sign on the car and she had no reason to think it was for sale....... anyone else have a similar story?
And here is the other half of the picture from a piece in the Examiner two weeks ago:
A prolific cellphone thief is apparently cashing in on the rising trend of thefts from offices.
In the past two weeks, South San Francisco police reported, a crook posing as a customer has stolen from a furniture store, two dental offices and two auto dealers. The same suspect also has struck businesses in Burlingame three times since Feb. 27.
The male suspect chats up employees and sticks around until they become distracted, then swipes iPhones and iPads from their desks, police said.
He was described as being in his mid- to late 30s, 6-foot-2 to 6-4, with shaggy brown hair. But he has since shaved his head, police said, and “appears to like wearing a T-shirt with a prominent LRG brand logo on the front.”
The man calls himself Mike or Michael and boasts about having recently inherited a large sum of money.
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/law-and-disorder/2013/04/chatty-thief-hits-offices-south-san-francisco-burlingame#ixzz2Qg2V6T3l
Posted by: Joe | April 16, 2013 at 05:46 PM
This technique has been used for several years-- one party distracts the owner, while the other gets in the home through the back. Unfortunately, many of us who get teams of canvasers through the neighborhoods have also learned not to answer the door. The Jehovahs, and other religious groups fall into this category, as well. I've also started to ignore the supposed students, selling newspapers or lunch coupons supporting sports teams. Awhile back, I heard that it is illegal to canvas without a license (?) not sure if anyone has ever been successful tracking down the offenders.
Posted by: jennifer | April 17, 2013 at 09:03 AM
Opened IRS Envelopes in Burlingame
Is anyone receiving opened IRS letters with a red stamp titled; "received in damaged condition".
In reviewing letter, this wasn't a situation of a letter getting caught in a roller.
Posted by: Tony Bonano | July 07, 2014 at 01:51 PM