Parked cars targeted for burglaries

Three burglaries from cars early last week make a pretty persuasive case for not leaving your purse in the car when you go for a walk. Deputies said that parking lots at wineries are frequently targeted and another hot spot is parking at trailheads, such as the entrance to Sonoma Valley Regional Park on Arnold Drive.
On Sunday, Feb. 1, a couple of out-of-towners visited the Chateau St. Jean winery on Highway 12. They locked their gray 2006 BMW 530i, but when they came back, the window had been smashed and a purse was stolen. The damage to the vehicle totaled about $500.
The next day, two vehicles parked on Arnold Drive near the entrance to the regional park were broken into while their owners were walking in the park. The thief smashed the passenger-side window of a 2000 Volvo C70 and stole a red leather jacket from the front seat worth $300. Within the same time period, someone smashed the window of a 2006 Toyota 4Runner. The person stole a Kate Spade handbag, Kate Spade wallet and Kate Spade sunglasses, collectively worth $530, plus $50 in cash. More troubling, when the victim returned home to cancel her credit cards, she found one had already been used for $500 in purchases at a Target store in Santa Rosa.