Auto burglary arrests eliminated

DALY CITY

A new police unit, created last week in response to a rash of recent vehicle break-ins in two areas of Daly City, has already made arrests in two cases, police said.

The auto-burglary unit was created in response to break-ins in the parking lots of the BART station, at Junipero Serra Boulevard and D Street, and at two fitness clubs in the 300 block of Gellert Boulevard, said Daly City Police Sgt. Joe Crivello.

The unit, which works adjusted hours to patrol both areas and is funded by federal grant money, started April 21.

Since January, there have been 34 break-ins at the BART parking lot and 23 in the area near the fitness clubs, Crivello said. There has been none in either spot since the recent arrests.

Officers made the first bust around 2 p.m. April 22, after receiving a report of a burglary in progress in the parking lot at 24-Hour Fitness, 373 Gellert Blvd.

Crivello said officers soon stopped a man matching the burglar's description driving from the area, and the witness identified him.

Charles Hatch, 19, of San Francisco, was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of auto burglary and possession of burglary tools. Items taken from the car were found nearby, Crivello said.

On Friday morning, an officer with the burglary detail spotted two men looking into cars in the BART parking lot and watched one of them smash a car window, Crivello said. Officers soon found another burglarized car in the lot.

Police arrested the men -- South San Francisco residents Jeremiah Hardy, 26, and Eliseo Billiones, 20 -- on suspicion of auto burglary and conspiracy to commit auto burglary.

Anyone with information on the case or any other auto burglaries is asked to call Detective Bocci at 991-8171.