Arrest may solve rash of burglaries near Tennant Station
A 35-year-old Morgan Hill man, who may be responsible for “80-90 percent of the recent auto burglaries in Vineyard and Tennant area,” was arrested Friday morning when he was spotted by Morgan Hill Police Officer Rodney Krewson, possibly about to break into another vehicle, according to MHPD Sgt. David Myers.
Eddie Tomasetti was taken to county jail on charges of parole violation, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and providing false information to a police officer.
“Officer Krewson was conducting a patrol check through the parking lot of the new Safeway at approximately 9:06am when he saw the suspect acting suspiciously,” Myers said.
Krewson saw Tomasetti walk quickly away from a Cadillac Escalade as Krewson’s patrol car neared, and Tomasetti appeared “startled and nervous.” The officer got out of his vehicle and began to talk to Tomasetti, who gave him a false name.
Tomasetti was detained while a parole search was conducted at his Morgan Hill residence. Officers found “numerous items related to multiple car burglaries and other thefts,” Myers said.
The property was taken to the police department, where it is being identified; possible victims are being notified.
Among the objects recovered were about 15 cell phones, watches, a laptop computer, several credit cards and unopened packages.
Krewson said he suspected that Tomasetti followed UPS or FedEx trucks, picking up left packages.
There has been a rash of burglaries since the beginning of the year in the area around the Tennant Station shopping center and the Vineyard Town Center in south Morgan Hill.
MHPD Lt. Terrie Booten said the department was concerned about the number of auto burglaries.
“I was talking to Sgt. Myers this morning, saying we might need to set up a task force, but maybe now we don’t,” she said Friday. “This may have solved the problem.”
MHPD officers have had busy schedules recently, according to Lt. Joe Sampson, due to some unavoidable situations, including officers on injured leave, officers who have taken family leave to be home with new members of their family and a vacancy.
“The situation is frustrating for our officers, who want to provide the best service possible for our community,” Sampson said.
Officers have also stepped up enforcement in the downtown area recently due to complaints of rampant speeding and drivers disregarding the rights of pedestrians.
Myers said Friday’s incident is an example of the strain in coverage the department is experiencing.
“The investigation of this case required the efforts of the entire working day shift personnel and at times resulted in delayed response to other calls for service,” he said.
Assisting Krewson with the case were Officers Bill Norman, Max Cervantez, Cpl. Dave Leonard, Community Service Officer Frank McLaughlin and Police Cadet Mario Ramierz. Additional assistance was provided by Morgan Hill dispatch personnel Toni Maiquez and Sarah Savage.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202
