‘I just wish they would stop,’ Mira Mesa neighbors look to increase security after string of home burglaries
MIRA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — It’s part two of the home burglaries in Mira Mesa, with San Diego Police confirming 11 related cases. Police have also released video from inside a home that shows one of the burglary suspects inside.
Lieutenant David Bautista with SDPD said there are at least three suspects, but there could be as many as five.
Neighbors tell FOX 5 they are now thinking of increasing their security measures around their homes.
“They’re pretty bold, a couple of them, they just busted right in,” said Robert Berg, HOA president for Mesa View 2 in Mira Mesa.
VIDEO: Home burglary spree suspect caught rummaging through bedroom
The rash of home burglaries in Mira Mesa are now up to 11, according to Lt. Bautista.
Lt. Bautista said the first burglary happened on Feb. 8, with the most recent on March 3. Police said they believe all suspects are men in their late teens to early 20s.
Police provided a photo of one of them, and in newly released video it shows what appears to be the same suspect from the photo.
“There is one of a guy just sitting on a bed,” FOX 5’s Alani Letang told Berg.
“I guess they had cameras on the inside of their house,” Berg responded.
“Digging through the stuff in the room,” Letang added.
“It’s just crazy, I don’t understand why people…,” Berg said.
Berg has lived in Mira Mesa since 1974. He said as HOA president, neighbors are mostly complaining about congested parking. However, Berg said, he has seen neighbors sharing Ring camera videos of the burglaries on the Nextdoor App.
“It bothers me that it’s continuing, nobody’s been caught,” Berg said.
Mira Mesa homeowner speaks out after string of burglaries
“I’ve actually lived in the neighborhood for over 2 to 3 years and I haven’t really experienced anything like that, so it’s a little scary of a shift,” said Jay Chong, who lives in Mira Mesa.
Chong said he and his sister have been discussing the burglaries.
“And it really got us thinking to like beef up our security,” Chong said. “So I started wanting to transition to wireless cameras, I’m also thinking about even as far as getting a firearm, just to protect my home.”
Police said the suspects broke into unoccupied homes, targeting mostly corner homes. Police are asking the public to look out for a small dark colored SUV the suspects might be using.
Video shows one of several homes burglarized in Mira Mesa
“Hopefully everyone out there stay’s safe. Hopefully these guys get caught, and (police) put a stop to them,” Chong said.
“Because I’m worried someone is going to get hurt these days. Someone is going to walk in on them and they are going to hurt them, if not kill them. That’s one of the things that worries me the most,” Berg added.
SDPD has some tips for home owners; lock windows and doors and activate alarms when gone from your home, leave on lights or TV to give an appearance the home is occupied, put in a vacation house request with SDPD, which will send a retired senior volunteer to do a house check, and call police if you notice any suspicious activity.
Click here to learn more and to request an SDPD vacation house check.
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