San Jose police investigate rash of break-ins

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - San Jose Police are investigating a rash of break-ins where at least four businesses were hit overnight Wednesday in the Cambrian neighborhood.

They all appear to be "smash and grabs." At one store, thieves took off with an entire cash register.

At 6 a.m. Wednesday, an alarm system alerted Manager Zay Tran something was wrong at the O'Reilly Auto Parts in South San Jose.

"They called me and I rushed over as fast I could to see what the situation was," said Tran. "I thought it was someone just broke a window but it was breaking and entering."

When he arrived, he discovered the store's front door smashed and merchandise scattered. Tran said thieves used a rock the size of a fist to break the glass door. While they failed to steal a generator worth $800, they made off with a few hundred dollars worth of merchandise.

"It shouldn't be like this," said Tran. "I understand the struggle is there but you are the one that put yourself in that struggle."

Sources tell KTVU similar break-ins occurred at the Radio Shack across the street, the Aloha Water in the same plaza and the President Restaurant a few blocks down. It all happened in a matter of hours.

The owner of the President Restaurant told KTVU thieves stole the register full of cash.

"We are all equally worried about our safety," said Jojo Matthews of San Jose.

"This is very disconcerting because this is where we feel safest in our hometown," said Ana Williams.