Rash of thefts hits Arbuckle area

Residential and vehicle burglaries have become as much of a holiday tradition as Christmas trees and caroling.

This year, however, the criminals have kept the spirit alive and well through the new year — and especially in the Arbuckle area.

Colusa County sheriff's Lt. Shane Maxey said Arbuckle residents need to take extra precautions to protect their valuable items.

"Some of them are crimes of opportunity, like people leaving valuables on the seat of their car and someone walking by and smashing the window," Maxey said.

He said the easiest way to prevent that is to secure the items and keep them out of sight.

The Colusa County Sheriff's Department has seen an increase in complaints of both vehicle and residential burglaries since December. While Maxey did not have a precise number, he said they have not been limited to any specific area of town.

"They are all over town, so either (the thieves) are moving all around, or there's more than one set (of criminals)," Maxey said.

His personal theory is there is more than one group involved.

The thieves are targetting homes that are unoccupied, something that is not unusual during the holiday season when people are traveling.

"And it seems the target of the residences ... is jewelry," Maxey said.

That is because there are more and more places that buy jewelry just to melt the items down for the gold or other valuable material — and rarely is the issue of ownership part of the transaction.

Maxey said residents need to keep an eye on their own homes and vehicles and to watch out for their neighbors' property, too.

Any suspicious activity should be called in immediately at 458-0200.