Burglary on Occidental Road

[jryeo]

My house on Occidental Road was burglarized in the morning on Sunday, June 21.

I arrived at home around noon, and was met by a woman loading my possessions in her car. She fled, along with most of my valuable possessions, and left significant damage to my property.

She drives a silver Lexus SC-400, similar to the attached photo, with license plate# 5XQT995.

She apparently lives (lived?) somewhere on Ross Road between Green Valley Rd and Graton Rd, but the cops aren't doing much to find her.


Neighbors tell me that a woman with a similar description is suspected in burglaries on Jonive and Furlong, and maybe other areas in West County.

If you suspect this woman in a crime on your property, send me a private message.

If you have any information regarding her location, please call the Sheriff at 565-2121

[Geni Houston]

I know I am going to kick myself later for responding, and I pre-apologize if I am way off base - but your email strikes me odd -

It would seem fairly easy to the Sheriffs department to find someone with the car model and license - and you infer she is known in the neighborhood. Did you know this woman? You cited the license but no description of her. Why would you want private response emails from other victims? Seems if you wanted to prosecute you would want public responses.

[jryeo]

Hi Genihouston,

Good questions. Thanks for asking. Re-reading my post, all your concerns are legitimate.

After my place was burglarized, my neighbor told me they have heard other reports of a woman burglarizing west county properties recently. I am mostly posting this so other recent victims of burglary can maybe identify the suspect, if the suspect is currently unknown.

Specifically, I heard about a caretaker on Jonive who arrived home and encountered a woman in the driveway who claimed to be lost. He gave her directions, she left, and he went inside to find the place ransacked. I would like to contact this individual, to maybe help solve his crime.

The reason I asked for other burglary victims to send me a pm, is so I can give them my case #. If they want to contact the police about their own case, they can give the police my case # as a reference to a possible suspect. I don't want to post my case # to the public forum.

I do not know this woman. I got her license plate number as she fled. The police showed me a photograph lineup, and I identified her in the photograph. The police told me she lives on Ross Road, and a friend saw a bunch of cop cars at a particular house on Ross Road between GV Road and Graton, right after the robbery. I've been cruising down Ross Road frequently looking for her car, but haven't seen it yet.

The police are waiting to get an arrest warrant from the DA so they can go arrest her.

[jryeo]

Regarding a description of the suspect... I didn't post one because I'm not very good at describing people. Maybe some of the features I think I remember are wrong. I posted the license plate # and vehicle description, as it is much more concrete than a vague person descripton.

Here is what I can remember and describe.
Female
Approximately late 40s or early 50s
Approximately 5' 8", and 130 lbs
Razzled, wirey somewhat curly dark hair just past her shoulders
Caucasian, but a slightly darker complexion. Maybe mixed eastern-euro ethnicity.

She tried to be very convincing that she was on my property legitimately. She said she was waiting for her real estate agent... meanwhile her car was packed with all my stuff!

[Geni Houston]

And thank you, J, for taking my post in the manner intended, curious and inquisitive.
G

[jryeo]

The guys at the Graton Fire Department told me there have recently been many things stolen in the town of Graton.

Given this less-than-honest person lives/lived on Ross Road, she may be responsible for those thefts also.

["Mad" Miles]

This back and forth is beginning to have the smell of a witch hunt / vigilante posse action.

An opposite point is that giving a physical description of the alleged perp, and an indication of where she lives and what she drives, means that if she has friends on this board she may get a tip to get the hell out of Dodge. Or stash the loot somewhere that is unlikely to be linked to her.

The following discussion about the use of "mutt" no longer applies, since jryeo has changed it to "mixed", a term to which I have no objection. But I'll leave it up since the general point is important. I looked to see if his post was edited. But I couldn't find it. I hope I wasn't just tripping, reading too fast and saw something that wasn't there!?

I stand by the rest of my comments here.

When describing someone's ethnicity, it might be best not to refer to them as a "mutt" of any kind. Kinda pejorative from where I sit. Someone describing themself as a such and such mutt, that's cool. Describing another, a stranger, an alleged burglar, anybody? Borderline racist.

Similar to the N-word. Used by anyone but an African American, racist. From one Black brother to another, in-house slang. Although that question is subject to debate within their community.

And I'm not calling you, jryeo, a racist here. I'm saying it comes off, a little, that way. I doubt you meant it as an insult. I'm sure you were just trying to be descriptive. This subject, as always, is complex, slippery and highly subject to personal interpretation. Just like most important things!

Perhaps waiting for the cops to get the warrent for arrest from the DA, and exercising it, might be the prudent course for now? Instead of raising a hue and cry that flushes their/your prey away and beyond their/your grasp.

Sorry you got ripped off, that royally sucks. I hope they catch the thief, and return your things to you. Your original post was fine, gave the make and license of her car, gave us a warning and a request for information. Fine neighborly citizen action.

But linking this suspect (I know for you she's guilty, guilty, guilty. And you're probably right. But legally she's a suspect until proven guilty in court.) to other crimes, through pure speculation, that's what I'm uncomfortable with, and what mostly prompted me to write.

Just cause there's one thief in the area, doesn't mean they're the only one. I believe it was in the discussions about the tanking economy two and a half years ago, it was mentioned by several people here that property crimes would likely go up.

In my three years teaching in The Q, I met many a young adult male tweaker from Sonoma County. Most, if not pretty much all of them, ripped others off to pay for their crystal. Now they don't get education or drug rehab while inside. The results are predictable.

And their ethnicity? All kinds, White, Latino, Black, American Indian, Asian, Multi-Racial, etc. Drug addiction hits all kinds of people.

As times get tougher, and more and more people are suffering materially, there will be added emotional incentives to raise a hue and cry against perceived threats. Scapegoating is an old social response to uncertainty and stress. We see plenty of examples in the political debates here and in our society in general. And it's one group reaction that we have to be vigilant against. Doesn't everyone remember the "Twilight Zone" episodes from the sixties that made this very point? (Probably not, and the question marks me as a Boomer, I suppose.)

For an example of appropriate social networking community action against a person that everybody needed to be aware of, check out the recent "Crying Girl" incident in Davis.

Stay Safe, Be Cool, Stay Strong,

[jryeo]

Hi Miles,

Thank you for your well thought-out constructive criticism response. It sounds like you have many wise years dealing with less-than-honest people.

Regarding the mutt comment... sometimes I try to write in a somewhat humorous tone and it is not interpreted as humorous. I am a white man born in Africa and raised in the company of many mixed-race individuals. There is no racist bone in my body. I have edited my post out of respect.

Yes, at this point she is still a suspect, and innocent until proven guilty. Maybe I get my guilty tone from the sheriffs I have dealt with - they speak like she is already behind bars.

I started this process of advertising the crime / suspect after several days of non-response from the police. I got the news today that they are finally working on getting an arrest warrant so I will tone-down my efforts now. If anybody feels I have gone too far with this, please let me know. It's not my intention to start a lynch-mob - simply to help other crime victims possibly find solace.

I think she's already got the message to "get out of dodge." The police called her on her cell phone, which didn't seem like the brightest move in my opinion.

Once there is a warrant out for her, there's no escaping. I don't really care about getting my stuff back. It's just stuff. The two most important things didn't get stolen. My computer and shotgun. I kept all my memories on my computer, and there is not another gun floating around on the streets.

Again, thanks for your support and advice,
John

[realfire]

Hello waccovians,

Been away from this lovely venue for a few months , and upon my return similar banter often not keeping the focus where it may need to be . That is, the safety our our community and the homes we live in . Solutions to how we can be less vulnerable of being robbed would be a positive step .
We are such a creative bunch , what can we do to ensure greater safety and awareness in your community . Things like alternative day or night watches , being more aware of doors/windows being locked , alarms systems installed , putting more pressure on the local police for effective action in response to incidents such as the one referred to in this posting.
Another suggestion is to drop the belief that our area is immune to such invasions of person and property . Most of all pray( in whatever form you like ) about the healing of the unconscious people in our town who are drawn to behaviors such as stealing or those who are truly desperate because of hard times .

Thanks,

Betina

[Leslie]

Last year, a woman driving a nice car showed up on the property I live on.. I live in the back in a cottage. On Ross Station. She walked right into my house. Luckily my husband was home. She said she was looking for her dog. Yeah right... her dog was in my house?? and she felt she could just walk in without knocking??? She left. BUT a week later the main house on the property was burglarized, jewelry, paintings and more ). There were a number of burglaries right around then that I know of.
There is a woman that lives on Ross Rd. that was eventually caught and a lot of "things" were at her house. Some of the items from the main house on my property were identified and recovered... not all. I am not sure what happened to her. I know she was arrested at the time.

Her fingers must be hot again...she is brazen. All I can say is LOCK YOUR DOORS and if you get robbed.. report it to the police right away.


Hi Genihouston,

Good questions. Thanks for asking. Re-reading my post, all your concerns are legitimate.

After my place was burglarized, my neighbor told me they have heard other reports of a woman burglarizing west county properties recently. I am mostly posting this so other recent victims of burglary can maybe identify the suspect, if the suspect is currently unknown.

Specifically, I heard about a caretaker on Jonive who arrived home and encountered a woman in the driveway who claimed to be lost. He gave her directions, she left, and he went inside to find the place ransacked. I would like to contact this individual, to maybe help solve his crime.

The reason I asked for other burglary victims to send me a pm, is so I can give them my case #. If they want to contact the police about their own case, they can give the police my case # as a reference to a possible suspect. I don't want to post my case # to the public forum.

I do not know this woman. I got her license plate number as she fled. The police showed me a photograph lineup, and I identified her in the photograph. The police told me she lives on Ross Road, and a friend saw a bunch of cop cars at a particular house on Ross Road between GV Road and Graton, right after the robbery. I've been cruising down Ross Road frequently looking for her car, but haven't seen it yet.

The police are waiting to get an arrest warrant from the DA so they can go arrest her.

[kpage9]

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate this deeply civil exchange. A pleasure to listen in, instructive and calming.

kathy




Hi Miles,

Thank you for your well thought-out constructive criticism response. It sounds like you have many wise years dealing with less-than-honest people.

Regarding the mutt comment... sometimes I try to write in a somewhat humorous tone and it is not interpreted as humorous. I am a white man born in Africa and raised in the company of many mixed-race individuals. There is no racist bone in my body. I have edited my post out of respect.

Yes, at this point she is still a suspect, and innocent until proven guilty. Maybe I get my guilty tone from the sheriffs I have dealt with - they speak like she is already behind bars.

I started this process of advertising the crime / suspect after several days of non-response from the police. I got the news today that they are finally working on getting an arrest warrant so I will tone-down my efforts now. If anybody feels I have gone too far with this, please let me know. It's not my intention to start a lynch-mob - simply to help other crime victims possibly find solace.

I think she's already got the message to "get out of dodge." The police called her on her cell phone, which didn't seem like the brightest move in my opinion.

Once there is a warrant out for her, there's no escaping. I don't really care about getting my stuff back. It's just stuff. The two most important things didn't get stolen. My computer and shotgun. I kept all my memories on my computer, and there is not another gun floating around on the streets.

Again, thanks for your support and advice,
John

[jryeo]

Leslie,
A very similar thing happened to my neighbor. A woman knocked on the front door asking for help charging the battery on her car. When the husband went outside, the lady was gone. She had just been checking if somebody was home. This happened just a few days before my house was burglarized.

I think the take-home message here, is what I learned in first grade when a police officer visited the class. It was my first instinct when I confronted the woman, and is the only way the police would have been able to solve the crime.

Always get a license plate number

Camera phones are also an excellent tool which are frequently forgotten.

Scary stuff!

John

[Sara S]

Hey, try putting an NRA poster in your front window; or one of those "Protected by Smith & Wesson" signs; or "Forget the dog; beware of owner". Of course, if she's as bold as these incidents seem to indicate, it'll probably just cause her to look extra hard to find the guns.....




Leslie,
A very similar thing happened to my neighbor. A woman knocked on the front door asking for help charging the battery on her car. When the husband went outside, the lady was gone. She had just been checking if somebody was home. This happened just a few days before my house was burglarized.

I think the take-home message here, is what I learned in first grade when a police officer visited the class. It was my first instinct when I confronted the woman, and is the only way the police would have been able to solve the crime.

Always get a license plate number

Camera phones are also an excellent tool which are frequently forgotten.

Scary stuff!

John