CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN Alameda Sun - Brick Bandit Broadway Break-in

A burglar plaguing the Park Street business district struck again Tuesday evening on Webb Avenue and likely on Broadway. According to police, the M.O. of the two recent burglaries match several others that took place Nov. 16 through 21.

The Dec. 11 burglaries took place at 9:26 p.m. at a computer shop on the 1400 block of Broadway and at 9:44 p.m. at a restaurant on the 2100 block of Webb Avenue.

In both cases, the burglar broke in through glass front doors, smashing the door of the computer shop and prying open the door of the restaurant.

According to Dave Anderson, owner of Computer Dave, a cash register and two laptops belonging to Anderson were stolen. "It was kind of weird, because I had customers' machines all over the place, but no customers' computers were stolen," Anderson said.

Although Anderson's neighbor saw the burglary, no one called the crime in to police. When questioned, the neighbor said he didn't get a good look at the criminal.

At the time of the burglary, Anderson was out on a service call and did not set his alarm.

Initially, because only his machines were stolen, Anderson said he thought the crime may have been personal. But the fact that this burglary matches so many others, he now believes he is another victim of the same criminal.

A camera was installed outside of the computer shop, but upon viewing the results, police came up with nothing of evidentiary value.

At the restaurant, an alarm went off. Police believe the robber, upon hearing the alarm, ran off before anything was taken.

Police have increased their presence in the area, due to the November burglaries as well as the additional holiday shoppers in the business district.

"We believe the robberies are crimes of opportunity," said Lt. Art Fuentes, APD Investigations Division commander. He believes most of the increased burglaries and robberies in the area are the result of more people present, offering more opportunity for criminals. Of the burglaries, "They aren't casing these businesses. In many cases, the cash register is visible through the glass door," he said.

Simple suggestions to avoiding similar crimes include placing blinds or shades over glass doors or having an alarm installed.

Anyone with information about the burglaries should call Alameda police at 337-8340. Witnesses to crime in progress should immediately call 911.