Suspects wanted in business break-ins, ATM thefts
SAN JOSE >> Police are searching for a group of people who used vehicles to smash through or pull off the doors of six businesses across the city in a one-hour overnight span, apparently targeting freestanding ATM’s located inside.
The destructive breakins occurred between 3 a.m. and about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday starting at a liquor store on East Capitol Expressway near McLaughlin Avenue and ending at a Safeway grocery store on Berryessa Road. Other businesses that police believe were targeted in the same string of breakins include a liquor store on Branham Lane near Camden Avenue and a liquor store on Camden Avenue near Canna Lane.
In all of the burglaries, people in multiple vehicles either drove into a storefront or tied straps to a front door and used a vehicle to tear off the door, according to San Jose police.
Sgt. Christian Camarillo, a police spokesman, said the intrusions were “more than likely connected” and are being investigated accordingly.
The common target of the burglaries appeared to be standalone ATM’s. In the Branham incident, an ATM was fully removed from the property, and an ATM was broken open in the Camden incident.
Another of the burglaries occurred at G&A Color Nail Salon on McKee Road near North White Road, and owner Steve Nguyen said security footage showed that at about 4:15 a.m., two men wearing masks and gloves backed a truck into the ATM, used a crowbar to pry the front door, and then used a grinder saw to cut locks.
The men were recorded wrapping the ATM with a chain, with the apparent aim of pulling it out of the shop, but fled after a security alarm went off, Nguyen said.
“As soon as the light came on, I think it startled them,” he said.
Nguyen said he was told by responding police officers that the truck had a license plate that was either phony or stolen. He added that this was the fourth break-in his business has experienced in four years.
“This is disheartening all of this stuff going on,” Nguyen said. “We’ve taken precautions.”
Security footage showed that about 4 a.m., a person backed a vehicle into the front door of Santa Clara Smoke Shop, located at 565 East Santa Clara Street near North 12th Street, according to the owner, who didn’t wish to give his name. Nothing appeared to be stolen but repairs will cost between $15,000 to $25,000.
There was still broken glass on the ground and people were attempting to clean up the front of the store on Tuesday afternoon.
The owner said he took over the business around two to three years ago. The store has around six security cameras.
“It’s a big hit,” he said. Anyone with information about the overnight break-ins can contact the SJPD burglary unit at 408537-1310 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org.