Smash & Grab

Editor,

Early Friday morning, April 22nd, my niece was on her way to work. She's a 2nd grade teacher & was taking her students on a field trip to the zoo that day. She had pre-ordered a coffee from the Starbucks on the corner of Lake Chabot Rd & Castro Valley Blvd. and dashed in to pick it up. This process took less than 60 seconds, but sadly was enough time for someone to smash her car window and grab her book bag. There was glass all over and the theft of her wallet, phone, school supplies, keys, etc. made an already stressful day even more so. I'm writing to give a 'heads up' to anyone running errands (ATM, post office, coffee shop, etc.) no matter how quick, do not leave anything visible in your car. I have lived in Castro Valley all my life and think of it as a safe place, but crime is here too. Always putting valuables out of sight might help you avoid what my niece had to deal with.

–Gail Swartzendruber, Castro Valley