Carmel and Monterey see increase in car break-ins

“I think that’s a correlation with people who start shopping and then leaving things in their cars,” said Carmel Police Commander Paul Tomasi.

In both Carmel and Monterey those thefts have increased from last year. Carmel Police said it’s really just a crime of opportunity, as thieves tend to go after the easy target. And on the residential roads of Carmel there are no street lights and so it’s those cars that are getting broken into the most.”

“Just don’t leave things visible for people to take. If your car is locked and there is nothing visible you’re not going to get your car broken into. But if they see something they’re going to take it,” said Tomasi.

Police say there’s typically two types of thieves; the criminal who goes car to car looking for an unlocked door then takes everything they can. And then the one who sees something expensive and decides to break the window in order to get it. A reality that local window repair companies see all too often.

“Especially during the holidays there tends to be a lot more door glasses and vent glasses,” said C & J International Inc. Sales Manager Cesar Nunez.

Typically fixing a window will run you more than 100-dollars.

“Find a company that’s been around for a long time. Somebody that will give you a warranty and use all the materials to make sure there is no leakage in your glass,” said Nunez.

“Think how much more that adds to you this holiday season. You have to get your window fixed, call the insurance, call the Police and file a report, and then you lost out on some gifts and valuable things. So you just have to be careful,” said Tomasi.