Crime & Safety

Police Search for Suspects Related to String of Burglaries

In the past 10 days, five businesses in downtown San Rafael and near Northgate have been burglarized.

San Rafael police are investigating a rash of commercial burglaries in downtown San Rafael and near Northgate that occurred between March 26 and April 4, according to the San Rafael Police Department.

During that 10-day period, five businesses were forcibly entered in the late evening when the burglar or burglars smashed the front windows with bricks or other heavy objects. The burglars then stole cash and miscellaneous items.

“The method of entry and time of day [these burglaries took place] are very similar,” San Rafael police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher said. “So we are assuming they are related.”

San Rafael police cannot tell if this is the work of an individual or multiple people, she said. The businesses burglarized in downtown San Rafael were a car wash, an optometry office, an animal wellness center and a resale store. In Northgate, a law office was hit.

There is no estimate of the total cost of the damages, according to Rohrbacher.

“From time to time, we’ll have a string of burglaries like this,” she said.

San Rafael police have increased patrols in the area and urge anyone to report suspicious activity by calling 415-485-3000, or by leaving an anonymous tip at “Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-8477.

They advise merchants to consider installing motion alarms to protect from such incidents. They also said to check the perimeter of your business and remove any loose items that could be used as projectiles, since the suspects used a loose brick in the front of one business to break the glass.



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