El Dorado County burglars scored property worth thousands of dollars in recent weeks by entering unlocked homes and vehicles, according to Sheriff's Department incident summaries.
Five sheriff's deputies responded to an incident Aug. 17 on Travois Circle in Cameron Park. A resident called 911 after he was awakened by loud noises downstairs.
Deputies determined that someone had cut through a screen on an open window to gain entry to the home. Once inside, the burglar went into the garage to steal a 90cc Yamaha motorcycle.
The resident evidently scared away the burglar. Other property was found stacked next to a side door of the garage.
Deputies investigated two incidents on Aug. 15, with fast-moving thieves hitting homes where residents were away for a short time. In both incidents, the culprits came in through unlocked sliding glass doors.
The first incident was reported about 11:30 a.m. at a home in the 3300 block of Excaliber Road in Placerville. Residents had departed about 9:30 a.m. and came home to find about $7,500 in property missing. Their losses included a laptop computer, an iPod, jewelry and a box of .380 caliber ammunition.
Deputies were called to the 4600 block of Tennessee Drive in Shingle Springs about 5:30 p.m.
The residents were out for about an hour to have dinner. When they returned, they noticed that several items were missing, including a camcorder and two diamond and gold rings valued at more than $5,000.
A car break-in late Aug. 15 or early Aug. 16 resulted in the loss of a $5,500 road bicycle along with a purse containing several credit cards. The items had been left inside a vehicle in the 4800 block of Dale View Court in El Dorado Hills.
The bike's owner told deputies that she had locked the car doors but may have left the windows down. A brick was found next to the vehicle.
The woman also said she had activated her car alarm system, but she told deputies that it had not been working properly.
Car rifled outside sports club
A man exercising at the El Dorado Hills Sports Club on Post Street returned to the locker room about 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 to find that his car keys were missing.
He then determined that the thief used the keys to get into his vehicle, parked outside, according to the Sheriff's Department.
Total losses were more than $1,000 and included loss of his Blackberry, a portable GPS unit and an iPod. The man also had to pay to have his car locks rekeyed.
Tricycles stolen from preschool
Someone cut out the back wall of a shed to steal two tricycles from a preschool at Pinewood School in the 6100 block of Pine Street in Pollock Pines.
Officials think the theft occurred between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18.
The tricycles were valued at about $600.
Call The Bee's David Richie, (916) 608-7455.
