Palm Springs Homeowner Describes Burglary

CREATED Oct. 24, 2012

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  • The homeowner said her window was open just a bit to cool things off, but a burglar let himself in and stole her laptop. It happened at nine Tuesday night on Avenida Caballeros, a busy Palm Springs street. Video by kmir6.com

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It is a homeowner's worst nightmare -- someone breaking into your house, while you and your family are home.
We have a safety alert for people leaving their windows open for some fresh air.

The homeowner said her window was open just a bit to cool things off, but a burglar let himself in and stole her laptop.
It happened at nine Tuesday night on Avenida Caballeros, a busy Palm Springs street.
Luce Forestal was watching TV when she heard a noise and went to investigate.
"I went into the guest room and the window was open."
Then Luce noticed her computer was missing.
"I was scared to death, I didn't know whether somebody was in the house with me, and had left, or was still there, or what," said Forestal.
Luce dialed 9-1-1.
Police brought a K-9 dog and started searching  -- in the shed they found 40-year-old Christopher Wilson of Twentynine Palms.
"So they found him on the floor saying he was homeless and that just wanted a place to sleep," said Forestal.
But police found the laptop in a trash can and arrested Wilson for first degree burglary.
It's that time of year where many of us open our windows to let the breeze in the house.
"Turning off the AC, opening up the windows and doors, letting that cool air in, it's a time to enjoy it, that's why we live here in the valley," said Sgt. Mike Kovaleff with Palm Springs Police.
But unfortunately letting in the cool air in, also leaves your windows cracked to crime.
"Burglars will take advantage of the easiest opportunity to get into anything, and if you leave your window or door ajar or if you leave it just a screen latched, you need to be aware that burglars can easily get into your home," said Sgt. Kovaleff.
And police say the time of day doesn't matter.
"We have daytime burglars who will take advantage of people who are away from work, maybe at school or whatever, and we have nighttime burglars that will attack residences when people are asleep or maybe they're not home," said Sgt. Kovaleff.
Luce encourages people to check their security, and their windows.
"The idea that I need to stay closed up is very tasteless to me, but we can't be too careful," said Forestal.
Palm Springs Police also recommend using an alarm system and checking that you have the right equipment to keep your doors and windows more secure.