Auto thefts and burglaries continue to target South Lake Tahoe residents

There has been a rash of suspicious circumstances in the Gardner Mountain area over the last week, ones that remind residents to lock their cars to prevent petty theft and other crimes of opportunity.

On March 19 between 4:04 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., 10 calls went into the South Lake Tahoe Police Department about suspicious activity on Gardner Street, Clement Street, Julie Lane, Tata Lane and Sand Harbor Road. In each incident, dome lights were on several cars as if some person(s) attempted to open them. In one incident the truck's doors were open and a stereo was stolen.

Also that night, over at a nearby storage unit on Industrial Avenue, a front door was forced open. The office was ransacked and a safe, money and drone were stolen. The burglary occurred sometime between 9:00 p.m. on March 18 and 8:30 a.m. March 19.

That same evening a silver Jeep Cherokee belonging to a local resident was stolen from the parking lot at Beach Retreat Lodge on Lake Tahoe Blvd. Surveillance film shows someone driving the car out of the lot at 2:46 a.m. The California license plate number is 6XBZ825.

On March 17, a local contractor working on a new home being constructed on Regina Road had his storage trailer broken into for the second time in a week. Several thousand dollars worth of tools were stolen, all with the initials TLC for Tahoe Life Construction written on them. On March 13 the same trailer was broken into and construction tools stolen.

Nearby, on the same evening, a car was stolen from Verdon Lane. As the local couple went to work that morning they noticed one of their cars missing. It is a white Ford Escape with California license plate 7AFS356.

A home burglary on March 20 was a different type of situation. A recently sold home in the 3400 block of Spruce Avenue had squatters living inside, including a family with a child.

In March, SLTPD reported an increase in auto thefts and auto burglaries. They need the public's help in preventing these crimes. Below is a short list provided by officers of proactive measures community members can implement to assist in theft prevention. By implementing these proactive measures, chances of being victimized are greatly reduced. Most theft crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don’t allow yourself to be an easy target for theft.

PREVENTING THEFTS FROM VEHICLES:
• Install a vehicle alarm or mechanical lock for the steering wheel or ignition.
• Lock the doors and leave the windows rolled up.
• Activate any alarms or anti-theft devices.
• Keep valuables out of sight and/or remove them from the vehicle. Expensive items in full view invite theft even if the vehicle is locked.
• Do not leave money, checkbooks, or credit cards in the vehicle at any time.

If you see these vehicles, see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, or know anything about the above crimes, please call the Police Department at 530-542-6100.

- South Tahoe Now Staff Report