Suspect sought in Washoe County car burglary at Tahoe

The public's help is being sought in locating a person of interest in a vehicle break-in on January 1 in the parking area of a trail head off Mt. Rose Highway.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office detectives say their suspect broke through the window of the vehicle and stole a number of credit cards along with identification and keys. Subsequent investigation discovered that the credit cards had been used at multiple locations in Kings Beach, a gas station in San Ramon, California and at several locations in Reno, including Walmarts.

Surveillance photos of the suspect were obtained from Walmart and in this story.

Anyone with information about the suspect in this investigation is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.

Trailheads are always vulnerable to potential vehicle burglars. Suggested vehicle burglary prevention tips for park and trail users include:

- Don’t leave valuables in the car. If you don’t need to take valuables with you for an outing, leave them safely at home. If valuables must be left in a vehicle, be sure to lock them in the trunk or glove compartment not under jackets or blankets behind the seat as that is one of the first places criminals look
Leave no trace. Don't leave any sign that there might be valuables hidden in a vehicle by leaving items such as docking stations or connector cables visible. Leave nothing in plain sight that might make the vehicle a target for thieves, not even loose coins.

- Be sure to set the car alarm or anti-theft devices. These are still effective deterrents against criminals who are looking for the easiest target
Keep windows completely closed. Partially open windows may make your vehicle an easier target for thieves.

- Lock the door when leaving the car. Still one of the most common issues with vehicle burglaries.

The South Lake Tahoe area has been plagued with vehicle break-ins for months. The suspect(s) are going through neighborhoods during the night, checking for open car doors. Most of the victims leave their doors unlocked, though a couple of recent break-ins along Highway 50 broke through windows.