ELK GROVE, CA - One Elk Grove homeowner's investment may pay off big time for police.
The homeowner's surveillance camera captured three burglars on the prowl around 4 a.m. Sunday; as families were sound asleep, burglars hit up cars and trucks.
"I guess I slept real good, I didn't hear a thing," neighbor Roger Sava said.
A driveway camera captured flashlights shining along Great Egret Court in Elk Grove. Minutes later, the camera captured a guy hopping into a SUV. He takes chump change, and then hops out.
"It looks like there might be some images we can use identifying the person," Elk Grove police Officer Chris Trimm said.
Trimm said the string of break- ins were crimes of opportunity. The thieves were going to door to door, looking for cars left unlocked.
"If the doors are unlocked, then it's considered a petty theft, so it's a misdemeanor offense, as opposed to if someone were to break into a vehicle, using a rock or some type of device, that kind of break-in would be a felony," Trimm said.
Detectives plan to use the footage as helpful evidence in their investigation. Neighbors plan to do more too.
"I think the lesson to be learned is I'm going to keep my car in the garage," Sava said.
"I think people tend to stay away," neighbor Marta Kingsbury said. "You know, we have an alarm too, but dogs are the best deterrent."
News10/KXTV