At least 18 businesses across Pleasanton were burglarized early Thursday morning in a rapid series of break-ins that left shattered windows, stolen cash and damaged storefronts across several shopping centers.
Police said four suspects were involved. The group reportedly smashed through front windows to get inside businesses, took cash and other items, and then left in a sedan without license plates. Most of the businesses targeted were restaurants.
The first reports came in during the early morning hours. Police responded to a burglary alarm around 4 a.m. on Stoneridge Drive and soon afterward received another report of multiple businesses being broken into at Mission Plaza on Valley Avenue.
Businesses targeted across Pleasanton
Mission Plaza was among the areas hit during the spree. Several storefronts had broken windows, including businesses that were preparing to open or had recently been preparing for new operations.
At TP Tea, owner Carol Rhen said burglars broke into the shop and took cash. The damage was another setback for businesses already dealing with the costs of operating and repairing their storefronts.
Other businesses reported similar damage. At Pacific Pearl, multiple restaurants were targeted, with surveillance footage showing suspects moving quickly through at least one business and taking a cash register.
Police later said at least 18 businesses throughout the city had been identified as burglary victims. Six restaurants at Pacific Pearl and four businesses near Santa Rita Road were among those reported to have been targeted.
For some owners, the financial loss was only part of the concern. One restaurant owner said burglars took hundreds of dollars in cash and that conversations with neighboring business owners had left workers worried about what another break-in could mean for their businesses.
Police chase ends before suspects are caught
Officers located a vehicle they believed was being used by the suspects and attempted to stop it.
The driver did not stop, leading officers onto Stanley Boulevard. Police eventually ended the pursuit because of concerns about public safety. The vehicle continued away from the area, and the suspects remained at large.
No arrests had been reported in the latest available information. Police said the investigation remained active and that additional victims could still be identified.
The scale of Thursday’s spree stands out in Pleasanton’s recent burglary numbers. Police said the city had recorded 18 commercial burglaries during the year before Thursday. At least 18 more were reported during the overnight spree alone.
Similar break-ins reported elsewhere in the Tri-Valley
The Pleasanton burglaries came shortly after a separate series of early-morning business break-ins in Danville.
Danville police said approximately 14 incidents were identified after businesses were targeted around downtown on Sept. 1. Investigators there said they were aware of similar incidents in neighboring communities and were coordinating with other agencies to determine whether the cases were related.
Similar smash-and-grab activity was also reported in San Ramon in August.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the Pleasanton burglaries were carried out by the same people involved in the other Tri-Valley incidents. That connection remains under investigation.
Investigation continues
Police are continuing to work to identify the people responsible for the Pleasanton burglaries. Surveillance footage from affected businesses could be important to the investigation, particularly because several businesses had cameras operating during the break-ins.
Pleasanton police encourage businesses and residents with relevant information or video to contact the department at 925-931-5100.
The department also maintains a voluntary camera registry that allows investigators to identify businesses and residents who may have relevant footage after a crime occurs.
