2 Arrested After 11 Cars Burglarized Overnight In Sunnyvale Amid Spike In Break-Ins
SUNNYVALE (KPIX 5) – Two suspects have been arrested in a rash of recent car burglaries in Sunnyvale, including more than 10 break-ins along the same block late Tuesday night.
The most recent break-ins took place outside the Parkwood Apartments on Rockefeller Drive, near Sunnyvale Middle School, shortly after 11 p.m. When officers from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety arrived, they found at least 11 vehicles were burglarized. Broken glass littered the sidewalk, glove compartments were opened and people's belongings were strewn about.
Neighbors said they had been previously warned about break-ins on this street. But beyond taking stuff out, there's not much they can do when parking on the street is the only option for many.
"I just bought my car two months ago. And now they broke in," one of the victims told KPIX 5.
This was the fourth time Danie Robledo's car had been broken into.
"It's a shame, I just hope the city can come together and find a positive solution to whatever is causing people to feel desperate," Robledo said.
Her car was one of eleven cars broken into on Rockefeller Drive, and one of 43 that were burglarized in Sunnyvale between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. last night.
Public Safety officers began investigations immediately.
"We were able to work with the victims and track some stolen property up into Oakland. We contacted the Oakland Police Department and they did a great job of helping us," said Capt. Dan Pistor of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.
Sunnyvale DPS said investigators tracked two suspects to Oakland and announced the arrests late Wednesday morning. The suspects were identified as 28-year-old Ismael Murillo-Rodriguez and 25-year-old Brayan Burgos-Vargas, both of Oakland.
Investigators said the two were in possession of numerous stolen items from Sunnyvale and other jurisdictions. Police are working to identify additional suspects.
A rise in number of auto burglaries have also been reported elsewhere in the Bay Area in recent days. Early Tuesday, police arrested two teens following reports of at least 30 break-ins in Fremont. On Monday, Palo Alto police arrested five teens for allegedly breaking into nearly a dozen vehicles.
Sgt. Michael Low, with Santa Clara County's multi-agency car burglary task force, says often the crimes
are committed by repeat offenders.
"Oftentimes with these crimes people do get away with a citation or if they do get jail time, it's very minimal," Low said.
