Burglars are targeting valuables left in the cars parked at a Hercules Starbucks parking lot.

Shattered glass on the ground is a sign of recent smash-and-grab auto burglaries in a Starbucks parking lot on San Pablo Avenue in Hercules. There were two auto break-ins in the past seven days.

“It has been an ongoing problem,” Hercules resident Kent Vonaspern said.

Vonaspern says he has an idea why thieves are attracted to vehicles parked at this location.

“It’s a target of opportunity,” Vonaspern said. “A lot of cars coming in. People get tied up in the Starbucks or the Kinders, that kind of thing here. They know that they’re going to be in there for a few minutes. They got time to nail it and get out.”

On May 27, this Starbucks was the location of a grab and run laptop theft from a woman seated at A table inside the coffee shop.

“If people have been robbed then that does shake you up,” Hercules resident Kismet Moondancer said.

This woman says she had no idea thieves are targeting people here.

“Yeah, I am surprised to hear about it, but I don’t ever leave anything visible in my car. I always put it in my trunk or take it with me,” Moondancer said.

On Thursday morning over on Willow Avenue, a backpack was stolen from a vehicle during a smash and grab auto burglary in this Starbucks parking lot

“I figure people think nothing is ever going to happen, that it is just safe and it’s Ok to leave your stuff in plain sight,” Hercules resident John Solis said. “Really it is not, man you know, I think when people think things are less likely to happen, that is where things happen most.”

Hercule police have limited information about the suspects in these laptop and auto burglary cases.

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