Oakland youths behind multiple Alameda burglaries, police say
By Peter Hegarty
Alameda Journal
Article Last Updated: 07/08/2008 11:09:23 PM PDT

ALAMEDA — A 10-year-old boy was among four Oakland youths who carried out a string of residential burglaries during the past month, stealing laptops, iPods and other electronic equipment, investigators say.

The youths would travel into Alameda on bicycles during daylight hours and target properties where no one was home, making off with items that were easily carried in backpacks, according to police.

The group includes two brothers, who are ages 10 and 15, and their 12-year-old sister.

The third boy is 15 years old and their friend.

Investigators did not disclose the names of the suspects because they are minors.

When police searched their homes following their July 4 arrest, they found as many as 50 items that allegedly were stolen in at least six Alameda burglaries.

"Items were everywhere," Alameda police detective Sgt. Jill Ottaviano said today. "We found stuff under beds, in dresser drawers. It was incredible."

Among the victims was a NASA employee, whose laptop for work was stolen, and another man whose IBM "think pad" was stolen.

The youths were caught after they broke into a home in the 3200 block of Bayo Vista Avenue, where they used a crescent wrench to remove a window screen and then forced open a locked window, Ottaviano said.

Patrol officers were dispatched to the area after a witness thought the juveniles were suspicious as they cruised through the neighborhood on bicycles.

After
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linking them to the burglary, police searched their homes, which are in the 2900 block of Galindo and the 3000 block of Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland.

Ottaviano described the siblings as the children of immigrant parents who work long hours and who apparently did not know their children were allegedly carrying out burglaries.

Along with the Bayo Vista Avenue case, Alameda investigators are linking the juveniles to break-ins on Adams Street, Broadway, Washington Court, and Versailles and Lincoln avenues. The burglaries occurred between about the middle of June and July 4.

Police suspect the group also may have been riding stolen bicycles when they crossed into Alameda via the Fruitvale Bridge and so seized the bikes as part of their investigation.

The youths were released from custody after each received a Notice to Appear in Juvenile Court.

Each could face up to six counts of burglary and multiple counts of conspiracy — because they allegedly planned the break-ins together — after prosecutors finish reviewing the case.

Reach Peter Hegarty at 510-748-1654 or phegarty@bayareanewsgroup.com