GILROY
– City police are no closer than they were a week ago to solving
a case involving a string of cat burglaries on the city’s south
side.
GILROY – City police are no closer than they were a week ago to solving a case involving a string of cat burglaries on the city’s south side.
Basically, Detective John Marfia is waiting to hear back from a fingerprint lab and waiting for police officers to locate a loosely described car the burglar(s) might have used to flee one of the crime scenes. With what Marfia has to go on, there’s not much else he can do but wait.
“There were some real vague reports,” Marfia said, adding that “There is no substantial physical evidence (pointing to a suspect).”
Police sent the few fingerprints they were able to collect to the San Jose Police Department’s lab.
On the positive side, he said, “We haven’t had any reoccurrences, so that is encouraging.”
One or more people entered and stole items from two houses, four garages (including those of the two homes) and as many as 10 cars between 2 and 4 a.m. on Oct. 16, according to the victims and police.
Members of the Reggiani family say they almost caught the burglar(s) at their 713 Carignane Drive home, near Gavilan College. The burglar(s), who may have entered through the rear sliding-glass door, stole Bob Reggiani Jr.’s sport-utility vehicle and abandoned it in a driveway around the corner after the Reggianis gave chase. The Reggianis never saw the culprit(s) but reported three sets of keys and a cellular phone missing. The burglar also took a Push-Up ice-cream pop from their freezer, they said.
Police believe the Carignane burglary is linked to several on Stephen Court, off southern Princevalle Street, which were reported about an hour-and-a-half afterward. Police arrived at Stephen Court after resident Jason Penzo said he saw a dark-colored car speeding away from his house at 4 a.m. Penzo’s garage door was open, police said, and two expensive softball bats were missing.
One or more burglars also entered the Calderon home, on Stephen Court, between 3 and 4 a.m., according to Miguel Calderon. After stealing items from two unlocked family vehicles, the culprit(s) reportedly entered the Calderons’ house using a garage-door opener from Mrs. Calderon’s minivan.
Debbie Amaro, who also lives on Stephen Court, reported the burglar(s) entered her garage through an unlocked window, stole power tools and tried to get into her house – but was foiled by a deadlocked door.
Several other unlocked vehicles on Stephen Court were ransacked that night, police said, but nothing was reported stolen.
“What’s unique and dangerous about these is that, rarely does a burglar enter an occupied residence,” Marfia said. “The individual (seems to have been) doing it – in part, at least – for thrill. … We don’t know what he’s capable of, if and when he is confronted.”
