Cracking down on criminals, Morgan Hill Police are focusing on
rounding up suspected burglars and preventing break-ins The
burglary suppression effort, begun April 25, has been very
successful during its first two weeks.
Cracking down on criminals, Morgan Hill Police are focusing on rounding up suspected burglars and preventing break-ins
The burglary suppression effort, begun April 25, has been very successful during its first two weeks. MHPD Lt. Joe Sampson said the department is pleased to get off to such a good start.
According to figures tallied up to May 2, officers made six felony arrests and five misdemeanor arrests during the first week of the search. One parole and one probation search was conducted, Sampson said.
“During the probation search, officers recovered $6,600 in cash and small amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine,” he said.
Steven Hereford, 30, of San Martin, was taken to county jail on narcotics charges and for a violation of his probation.
Sampson said officers searched Hereford’s residence at 13255 Monterey Road after he was stopped by officers behind the Albertson’s grocery store on a municipal code violation and found to be under the influence of a controlled substance.
While Hereford, an unemployed construction worker, was being transported to jail, he attempted to kick out the back window of the police car, but only bent the window frame, Sampson said.
The cash from Hereford’s residence was taken to the police station for safekeeping “until police can determine that it is not related to narcotic sales,” Sampson said.
Also during the suppression effort, MHPD officers made 23 vehicle stops, 29 pedestrian stops and conducted 25 field interrogations.
“The information that we gain from this type of effort is valuable to us, even if it does not immediately result in an arrest,” Sampson said.”
Lt. Terrie Booten said Friday that statistics for the second week of the focus on burglaries, officers made seven felony arrests, eight misdemeanor arrests, two probation searches, 22 car stops, 18 pedestrian stops and 25 field interviews.
“During one of the car stops, the driver was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and also on probation,” Booten said. “When officers conducted a probation search, they found narcotics and drug paraphernalia. They also found the other adult who was caring for children at the residence was under the influence of a controlled substance.”
The children were removed from the home, Booten said, and taken to a shelter, and the adult was charged with child endangerment.
“We’re able to take things a bit further than just the usual car stop,” said Booten. “Because the officers are focused on the suppression effort, we are able to be more proactive, targeting activity after business have closed.”
Booten said while commercial burglaries have increased and auto burglaries have increased, residential burglaries have not followed the same trend.
The crimes themselves, Booten said, can be crimes of opportunity, such as seeing a purse left inside a vehicle, and some of the crimes may be to support a drug habit.
“You may have people just looking for something they can quickly exchange for money, something they can exchange for narcotics,” she said.
The suppression effort will continue on an “as needed” basis, Booten said.
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.
