Break-ins

According to information provided to the SADM Administrator, there has been a series of break-ins and attempted break-ins over the past week and a half.

1) The most recent incident (reported 4/22/2010) was the theft of a computer from a residence in the 100 block of Cantil. This theft occurred sometime during the night/early morning in an office area of the residence while the occupants were present in other areas. In this incident, the perpetrator gained entrance through an unlocked window.

2) At approximately 2:30 am yesterday (April 21), a perpetrator attempted to break into an occupied residence in the 400 block of Farallon, but was driven off by the residents.

3) Last week, we received reports of an individual running across roof-tops adjacent to the 600-block pool. In the same week, attempted break-ins occurred in 2 occupied homes in the 800 block of Roca during the early morning hours. In both cases, it appears only one perpetrator was involved, and in one, the residents left bedroom sliding doors unlocked. An unoccupied house in the 700 block of Roca was forcibly entered. Relatively inexpensive, small items were taken from the residence but it was ransacked. The thief entered through a small side window (12 x 12 inches) which he had broken.

4) Sometime during the past ten days while the homeowners were away, a burglar broke down the entrance of their house in the 400 block of Farallon and stole a computer and other small valuables. This crime was reported today. Our security stated that there was evidence the burglar had turned off the electricity, perhaps in an attempt to determine if anyone was present before committing the burglary.

Based on the limited information available, it is our opinion that these incidents are a pattern of criminal activity committed by one individual who is apparently of medium build, thin (entrance through very small window at Roca house), agile (athletic), most likely young.

These are the incidents that have been reported to the Administrator’s office. It is critically important, as we pointed out in our recent Security Bulletin of April 14, that residents report IMMEDIATELY to the guard caseta (631 30 26) any crimes and/or suspicious activity or behavior. DO NOT HESITATE TO REPORT ANYTHING OR ANYONE THAT CAUSES YOU CONCERN. Also, if a crime has been committed in the past and you discover it now, even minor thefts, report them to the Administrator, Dr. Alvarez (631 33 63).

In two of these incidents, the perpetrator entered through an unsecured window or door. Make certain that all entrances into your house are locked at all times, even if you are present in your residence or leaving it for a short period of time. This is especially urgent for those houses which have entrances that are easily accessible or immediately adjacent to the street, vacant lots, unoccupied residences, etc.

Also in two of the incidents, ladders were conveniently available for the thief to gain access to upper levels of the residences. Do a security inventory of your residence and its surroundings to make certain that items are not present that can aid or encourage a break-in. We have continually recommended that residents install a security alarm system in their houses. If you are not able to do this, at least have motion detector lights placed strategically around the perimeter of your property. In the case of one of the attempted break-ins on Roca, the motion-sensitive lights which turned on when the perpetrator entered a patio area contributed to scaring him off.

Finally, San Antonio is a large community. We have over 800 lot parcels with houses on most. Our security team can be present at only one place at any given time. In a real sense, each of us has to consider ourselves a “security guard.” We ARE the first line of prevention and defense for ourselves and our neighbors.

We hope with your support, your extra vigilance, the strengthening of your house security and encouragement of neighbors to do the same, we will put an end to the current string of property crimes and eliminate the need for notices such as this.

Your San Antonio del Mar Homeowners Committee and Administrator

Al Rosen, President

Dra. Martha Alvarez, Administrator

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH BREAK-IN REPORTS - Ladders & advisory correction

At noontime on Thursday, April 22, the occupant at Calle Farallon, Nº 414, returned home to discover that her house had been burglarized.

SAM security and a team of TJ police officers arrived soon thereafter. If you find evidence of burglary when you return home, do not enter it. Call SAM security (631.3967)and the Tijuana police (066) and let them enter first. Also, please contact your neighborhood watch Captain.

The door strike in the wooden door frame had been jimmied to gain access to the house at ground level of the home.  The thieves turned off the circuit breakers located at the front of the house, apparently to ensure that the house was unoccupied. After no one turned the breakers back on, they entered the property at night over/through the back fence, which was located immediately adjacent to the carretera. Neighbors were unable to observe any disruption or activity because side and front walls completely obscured observation from those perspectives.  They completely ransacked the home, among items taken were a personal computer, jewelry, a telephone, foodstuffs, and a white sweatshirt with the word "ENGLAND" printed on the chest.

This blue/purple mochila (backpack) was used to carry items up the bank behind the home to the fence. The items were apparently handed to another accomplice over the fence; it belonged to one of the burglars.

All or most of the food in the refrigerator had spoiled, and had to be discarded.
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Two recent break-ins in SADM were facilitated by unsecured ladders in occupied homes thoughtfully left in an area near homes where the burglars could use them to gain entry.

Intruder Event Follow-up - Neighborhood Watch

At approximately 2:30 this morning a black-clad male intruder wearing a baseball cap attempted to break into a second-story window at the rear of the occupied residence at Nº 422, Calle Farallon.

The rear of the home is completely fenced with cyclone fencing and barbed wire, separating the home from a vacant lot and the carretera, which was breached by the intruder. Awakened by noises, one of the occupants awoke to see the outline of a man at a window as he was breaking the window in an attempt to gain entry into the home.

BROKEN SCREEN – VIEW FROM ABOVE THE WINDOW – THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW LEDGE IS APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL

BROKEN REAR WINDOW

At that point, a ladder the man had found at the rear of the home to reach the window became unstable and he returned to the ground. The occupant then awoke her companion and went to the front of the house to call the police. As she did this, the intruder went to the front of the house, and climbed to the second-story terrazza of the home, apparently unaware that the house was occupied. When he approached the front sliding-glass entry door, he encountered the male occupant, turned and fled down a couple of steps and jumped to the top of a wall separating the home from the adjacent building. He ran along to top of this wall and leapt up to the top of another wall which abutted the wall he was on, and jumped or fell about 15 feet to the street below.

A team of six Tijuana police officers and a security guard from the colonia arrived no less than ten minutes after the call to emergency services was completed. After they made a quick search of the immediate scene, they departed.

Although the intruder was described as “ … the fastest man I have ever seen.” and “very agile” he may have suffered an injury during his flight from the terrazza.  Please be on the look-out for a male of medium height who has recently suffered an injury, especially to the hip, leg, or ankle.

Neighborhood Watch Advisory

INTRUDER ALERT: At approximately 2:30 AM a male twice tried to break into the home at Calle Farallon #422. San Antonio del Mar Security & Tijuana police team are presently searching for suspect.

The suspect is described as "fast and agile."

Rosarito Spanish Study Group

The Study Group holds formal classes every Monday at Las Mañanitas restaurant on Bulevar Juárez cater-corner from Waldo's $1 store in Playas de Rosarito. The intermediate session meets at 12 Noon, beginners at 1:30 PM. The advanced session is at 3:00 PM and is conducted entirely in Spanish. 

Each group member is expected to bring a personal English/Spanish or Spanish dictionary, 3X5 cards, note paper, and a writing instrument. A study guide is provided by the instructor which costs $12.  A nominal fee $24 is required for completion of a six-week class module. If an individual does not attend a class during a module he or she has registered in, the missed class must be completed by a "make up" assignment with the teacher, or the fee for the missed session will be forfeited.

No members of the study group will be required to pay a class fee for a session in which the Profesora is absent.

The classes are held whenever the teacher is available. If the teacher is not available for some reason, the group maintains the class schedule, meets at the same time and studies material which she assigns to each class session for completion in her absence.

The Spanish Study group publishes a loose ongoing discussion at this blog site which covers material presented during classes, points emphasized by the Profesora, questions by students, or class logistics.  Any participant in The Rosarito Spanish Study Group can contribute material for the blog.

Caution must be observed when parking your vehicle, as a student was recently carjacked at gunpoint when he dismounted from his vehicle in the parking lot next to the restaurant.