GILROY
– A man police caught in the act of breaking into and stealing
from a locked car downtown was a repeat auto burglar, police
say.
GILROY – A man police caught in the act of breaking into and stealing from a locked car downtown was a repeat auto burglar, police say.
Ismael Urenda Betancourt, 30, of 8323 Forest St., admitted to police that he had committed one auto burglary prior to the one he was arrested for on Jan. 23. The previous theft took place on Jan. 17, in which a leather jacket was stolen and has yet to be recovered. Both incidents took place in the parking lot behind Econo Furniture, 7390 Monterey St., according to police.
Police described Betancourt as a “serial auto burglar” and suspect he may have stolen from other cars.
“We’ve had multiple auto burglaries in the downtown area,” police Investigator Jim Gillio said.
Betancourt’s arrest was a setup by the Gilroy Police Department’s Anti-Crime Team to lure and capture whoever was breaking into vehicles.
At about 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 23, Gillio and Investigator Pedro Espinoza watched – and recorded on camera – as Betancourt reportedly drove into the Econo Furniture lot, parked next to the victim vehicle and shone a flashlight into it.
He then used a screwdriver and a pair of gardening shears to defeat the passenger’s side door lock and enter the vehicle, Gillio said, and stole the stereo, a purse, speakers and several other items. Gillio and Espinoza then called in backup officers and arrested Betancourt for burglary, a felony, and possession of burglary tools, a misdemeanor.
