There have been four residential burglaries in Morgan Hill between Feb. 22 and March 3, 2009. In each of the incidents, the suspects entered through a rear window or door by smashing glass. The suspects stole various items such as computers, Ipods, jewelry and other valuables. The burglaries occurred in the areas of Bluebonnet Way, Sara Jane Lane, Calle Florencia and San Carlos Place.
The Morgan Hill Police Department believes the suspects have been canvassing neighborhoods and homes to identify which ones may by unoccupied during the day. In one recent incident, a victim reported that someone had ringed the residence’s doorbell several times at 9:30am, and the victim did not answer.
The suspects, believing no one was home, went to the rear of the residence and attempted to break the window. The victim yelled at the two suspects, who then ran and fled the area in an unknown direction. The two suspects were described as being Hispanic males, short, 20 -30 years old and wearing black jackets.
During another incident, officers recovered surveillance video that showed an older white Jeep Cherokee with black trim parked in the driveway of the victim’s home. The suspect went to the front door twice, and then went around to the rear of the home. After about 20 minutes, the suspect was seen in the video exiting the home’s front door and walking to the passenger side of his vehicle, presumably dropping stolen items into his vehicle. The suspect then reentered the home for about 10 seconds until he ran back to the vehicle and drove away.
Three of the burglaries occurred between 9am and 12pm, while one occurred at approximately 6pm. The Morgan Hill Police Department encourages citizens to lock and secure their homes prior to leaving, and to report any suspicious persons or vehicles in their neighborhoods to the police.
Berkeley woman associated with numerous forgeries and identity thefts arrested in Morgan Hill
At 1:30pm on March 4, 2009, Morgan Hill Police received a call from Bank of the West, located at 206 Tennant Station, about a woman attempting to cash a forged check. As the woman exited the bank, the police spotted her, and when they approached, she reportedly said, “Okay I tried to cash a check that was not mine.” She was identified as Maria Haverstock, a 55-year-old woman and Berkeley resident.
Haverstock was on active probation for possession of stolen property out of Contra Costa County. According to the Bank of the West manager, their corporate office sent out photographs of a female that was cashing forged checks in the area. When she saw Haverstock enter the bank, she recognized her immediately as the person in the photographs. She informed the rest of the employees and held the check until the police arrived.
Haverstock was arrested and taken to the Morgan Hill Police Department. She was interviewed while there, and it was established that Haverstock committed similar thefts at other Bank of the West’s and Washington Mutual’s in Newark, Campbell, Lathrop and Patterson. The total loss to all banks was over $24,000.00. Haverstock was booked into the Santa Clara County jail for commercial burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a forged driver’s license, forging access card, identity theft, grand theft and violation of probation.
Anyone with information regarding residential burglaries or Maria Haverstock is encouraged to contact Morgan Hill Police Department Detective Howard at 408.779.2101.
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