Burglars Break Into Woman’s Car As She Drops Baby Off At Day Care In Boca Raton

Thieves took the purse, phone, and baby carrier of 39-year-old Caitlin Spaulding within 9 minutes as she got out of her motor vehicle to drop off her baby at a Boca Raton day care.

She didn’t notice something wrong happened until she saw her cup of yogurt flipped onto her seat. According to her, “They took my phone that has my newborn photos and those are memories I can’t get back”.

She told that she had no idea that day cares are hot spots for these kinds of crimes which the cops told her. She is trying to tell every person to keep the doors of their motor vehicle locked. “You think you’re safe in certain areas. I know gyms are hot spots but I didn’t know day cares are. Now I lock my doors all the time”.

According to police spokesman Mark Economou, “Our crime prevention officers regularly visit all day care centers, especially at the beginning of the school year, and hand out fliers to parents and warn them about not leaving valuables in unlocked cars when running into day cares”.

The incident occurred at about 3:11 p.m., when Spaulding got out of her SUV. A Boca Raton Police report showed that a camera at the Advent Lutheran Church day care at 300 E. Yamato Rd. had a recording of a white SUV approaching her vehicle. He opened the car’s door that was not locked, stole the objects and went back in the SUV.

A video recording has not been made public by the police as the case is still under investigation.

Vicki Randle, which operates the day care, told that at the beginning of the school year, the school reminds parents to lock doors of their motor vehicles and keep precious objects out of their vehicles. According to her, the rate of burglaries almost 10 years back was high, but now it is reduced. “There was the first incident I can remember in a long time. Hopefully that stays the same.”

She believes that if the installation of the security cameras contributed in getting the crime rate to a low level and cooperation of the parents in reporting suspicious activities also helped a lot. She added, “You just always have to be on your guard and watch out for your surroundings.”

After the incident, the school posted signs reminding individuals to lock the doors of their motor vehicles and not to place any precious things inside their cars.

Spaulding told that after the thieves stole the items, they went to a gas station about a quarter mile away at Federal Highway and Yamato Road and used her credit cards.

The license plate of the SUV could not be clearly seen in the video.

Spaulding faced many issues due to the burglary including calling 3 credit card companies, getting a new driver’s license and trying to remember what else was present in her wallet. She further said, “It’s also scary that someone knows where I live.”

In 2014, a burglary case occurred in the 5800 block of Taft Street in Hollywood. According to the Broward Sheriff’s investigators, a passenger of an Audi got out and broke a woman’s SUV window to snatch a purse. The passenger ran and the Audi took off but the driver collided with an undercover officer’s motor vehicle. The motor vehicle kept going and was tracked down to Miami Gardens, where the driver was taken into custody.

Spaulding told that the cops are handling her case well and they are searching for the thieves. She said, “If I can save one person from having this happen, then it’s worth it”.

News Source: www.Sun-Sentinel.com