Thanksgiving morning, usually a time for gratitude and family gatherings, was marred for dozens of Great Wolf Lodge patrons in Manteca, when they discovered their vehicles had been burglarized. According to KCRA 3, approximately 48 vehicles had their windows smashed, and a variety of items—including electronics, toiletries, financial documents, and alarmingly, at least one firearm—were stolen.
The Manteca Police Department released a statement indicating that the incident occurred before 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, with suspects likely jumping the parking gate. Captured on camera without face coverings, the suspects were fleeing on foot to a nearby shopping center after parking their stolen vehicle on a freeway off-ramp just south of the resort. This surveillance image, shared by the police, depicts the culprits in the act of the Thanksgiving heist. ABC10 reported the vehicle had been previously stolen from Roseville on Nov. 20 and taken on a tour through San Francisco and several other Bay Area cities, before making its Thanksgiving Day stop at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Great Wolf Lodge, in response to the break-ins, stated to KCRA 3, "Safety is always our primary focus, and we utilize a variety of security measures in our parking facilities, including gates, video surveillance and routine patrols." The resort's assertion stood in stark contrast to the lot strewn with shattered glass and personal belongings of its patrons. Nevertheless, the resort also clarified its intent to work closely with law enforcement and lend support to those guests who suffered losses because of the crime.
Despite the getaway vehicle being recovered by the California Highway Patrol while the break-ins were still in progress, the unidentified suspects remain at large. Local police are asking the community for assistance to identify the suspects from the surveillance photos. Sgt. Steven Beermann of the Manteca Police Department advised vigilance, telling KCRA 3, "if you see people climbing fences into a place like Great Wolf, that's not a normal way to get in, or you see them going around the security measures, such as their gated entrance, it would be good to give us a call." The Manteca Police Department encourages anyone with information to contact them at 209-456-8101.
