More than 60 cars broken into in one night at East Sacramento apartments

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Police Department is investigating a string of more than 60 car thefts overnight.

On Tuesday morning, victims at two different apartment complexes in East Sacramento neighborhoods found their cars vandalized, with the windows completely smashed.

Police say 47 cars were broken into at the Commons apartment complex in American River. The costly mess comes just two days after Christmas and five days before the lease is due.

“A window is like $400, $500 and I’m a college student,” Rosio Gonzalez said as she showed CBS13 her damaged car. “There’s just glass everywhere, and the fact that no one saw this happen is just ridiculous.”

Tuesday night’s rain left victims with an even worse headache.

“It’s wet. My car is absolutely wet inside,” said a second victim.

Every person CBS13 spoke to Tuesday said it appears the cars were vandalized for seemingly no reason.

“Because there’s nothing stolen, it doesn’t make any sense,” said Jamie Harrison, his sunglasses and other items in his wrecked car untouched.

“Everything they did was just like a robbery and that’s it. They didn’t take anything,” Gonzalez said.

Their car’s registration was not stolen and it is unclear whether the perpetrators were looking for something or just breaking into cars out of anger.

“Why anyone would do that, I don’t know,” Harrison said.

From the inside out, the cleanup began Monday in the Commons.

“We’re fixing the door glass, cleaning the interior,” said John Young, owner of a local Autoglass Combat Vet glass repair shop.

Young said he is busier during the holidays because of an increase in car thefts.

“Every December this seems to be the trend,” Young said.

About ten minutes down the road from the Commons, a similar sight.

Another 14 cars were broken into outside a gated apartment complex on Ramona Avenue, Crossings, where police say cars parked on the street outside the property were similarly vandalized.

It is currently unclear if the two incidents are related to the same suspect.

Back at the Commons at American River, the neighbors are frustrated. They say a similar attack on 27 cars happened just two months ago and little was done.

“We’ve never seen security. You can ask anyone here,” Gonzalez said.

CBS13 saw a security vehicle patrolling the Commons parking lot while on scene, but residents said this was a first.

“We have cameras that have been installed recently, but as you can see, that’s not going to stop anyone,” Harrison said.

We tried to get a response Tuesday from Commons management about whether a fence and better security is being considered. Management at the leasing office would not comment. A number provided for the homeowner could not be reached Tuesday night.

Neighbors in the Commons are also seeking a break in paying rent. With rent due upfront, they are taking longer to come up with the money as more than 40 residents are spending hundreds to repair their cars.

The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses to the crime to contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Click this link to submit digital evidence such as video or photos to SPD through an online portal.