On one quiet Kensington block, older residents say their sense of safety has been smashed along with their windows. A recent streak of home and vehicle break-ins has left elderly neighbors rattled, comparing notes on ransacked houses, stripped cars and a growing fear that their street has become a target. The flare-up has neighbors pushing hard for more patrols and an emergency community meeting.
The latest victim is an 84-year-old woman who asked to be identified only as Josie. She told reporters that burglars tore through her home and made off with cash, jewelry, her checkbook and her car. Photos from inside show dresser drawers dumped out and belongings scattered so badly that Josie said she cannot even reach one bathroom because the debris is "so deep." Another neighbor, Dennis Lauck, said thieves broke into his car last Sunday and stole his search-and-rescue equipment bag and a defibrillator, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
Police Resources And How They Work
Kensington falls under the San Diego Police Department's Mid-City Division, which has access to division-based Crime Suppression Teams. Those units are tasked with directed patrols and proactive enforcement when crime spikes, according to the City of San Diego. The teams are meant to supplement regular patrol officers and concentrate resources on problem blocks when neighbors report clusters of thefts or burglaries.
Neighbors Capture Video And Suspect Description
Neighbors say their Ring cameras have picked up suspicious vehicles cruising the area at night with headlights dimmed. They shared video that appears to show a suspected burglar bolting from the scene while wearing a petticoat-style mini skirt. By residents' accounts, the group they have seen consists of two men and one woman.
In an email to NBC 7 San Diego, police said there are two burglaries in the immediate area that may be connected. Investigators have canvassed the neighborhood for security video, and Mid-City's Crime Suppression Team has carried out proactive enforcement and directed patrols in response.
What Residents Want
Neighbors on the block say they are looking for concrete action, not just kind words. They are asking for stepped-up patrols day and night, informational flyers so everyone knows what is happening and an emergency community meeting where police can share updates and safety advice. One resident said the repeated break-ins have left older neighbors afraid to sleep and desperate for a clear plan to restore a sense of security on the street.
