Authorities in Anaheim said they are seeing a rising trend in burglaries, mirroring a high frequency of similar crimes occurring in Los Angeles County.
In the past month, mobs or big groups were seen attempting to burglarize four jewelry stores, police said. Five thieves are now in custody after hitting the same jewelry store in Anaheim a week prior, according to officers.
“There’s been bank robberies, jewelry store robberies, but not this frequency. It seems to be the new trend,” Sgt. Matt Sutter with the Anaheim Police Department said. “They’ve gone or stepped up from high-end clothing, maybe bags, purses to now diamonds and gold.”
Don Roberto’s on La Palma Avenue in Anaheim has been burglarized twice in one week with the latest incident on Tuesday by four men wearing hoodies. Police said the men got away in an olive green Dodge Charger on the 91 Freeway.
Don Roberto’s on Brookhurst Street was almost burglarized on Monday by 15 to 20 would-be thieves until the owner managed to scare them off, firing a single warning gunshot. The group wore hoodies and face coverings and attempted to break the door with a sledge hammer before escaping.
Police said they are not recommending firing off a warning shot as a way of protection but urged jewelry store owners to step up security.
“We call it hardening the target. Make it difficult for these suspects to get into your property and steal your merchandise,” Sgt. Sutter said. “They’re going to keep hitting these targets if it’s an easy target.”
According to authorities, they are working with other cities to determine if the burglaries are connected after other areas have reported the same suspect vehicles being used in crimes throughout LA County.
In Glendale, seven people were arrested July 1 in connection with a burglary at a family-owned jewelry store that happened in May. The thieves cut a hole in the business’ roof and stole millions of dollars worth of merchandise, police said.
Thieves wearing face coverings also broke into an El Monte jewelry store in June through the ceiling, stealing more than $1 million worth of products.