String of home burglaries targeting 4 East Contra Costa Co. cities possibly connected: police

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- The cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley have warning for residents.

"From July 2025, through the end of November, we have had 16 residential burglaries. Eight of those were successful where during the commission of the burglary, they stole a vehicle," says Lieutenant Bill Whitaker with the Antioch Police Department. He heads up the investigation bureau.

Whitaker says during the investigation into the 16 burglaries, police they found that the incidents are all related. No particular neighborhood in any of the cities is being targeted, but all of the crimes follow the same pattern.

"So, we believe that suspects are juveniles. Basically, going into unlocked doors, windows, sometimes even pulling screens. And when they go into the house it appears, that they specifically targeting or looking for vehicle keys," explains Lt. Whitaker.

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The warning from police is to secure your property, especially around the holidays.

Lieutenant Whitaker advises people not to leave car keys in open places like an entryway, on kitchen counters or on tables. Instead, secure them someplace less visible. And, to double check doors and windows at night.

"It appears most these homes have open front windows and things like that where they have seen that and sometimes gone around to side yards. So, it looks like they are casing neighborhoods, so we are suggesting if people see suspicious vehicles or anything to call them into," says Whitaker.

"It's a shame. It really sucks that we have to already be extra hyper-vigilant with everything else. But now on top of the that, are cars ae getting broken into and stolen," says Tiffany Claytor, who lives in Antioch.

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Claytor had her car stolen years ago. She says, since then, her family has been vigilant about locking doors and securing car keys.

Many residents say they are not surprised by the break-ins. But happy that the police are making residents aware.

"I'm on the Nextdoor app, so I do hear about it constantly. It does help that the police are paying a little more attention to it, but it just seems like it is always happening," says Antioch resident Charmaine Steptoe.

Police say the suspects are not hurting residents during the crime. The cities are working with the Contra costa District Attorney's office with these investigations.