CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - Residents at a South Bay apartment complex are shaken up after thieves ransacked their garages and got away with thousands of dollars in personal belongings.
Jermaine Daniels was one of several residents at the Pinnacle at Otay Ranch Apartments who woke up Thursday to find his garage had been broken into.
“I realized the light was on in the garage and then I realized I didn't turn the light on, and then when I went around the corner, I saw all my stuff just spread all over the floor,” said Daniels.
Daniels, who is in the Navy, and numerous other military members and their families call the apartment complex home. He told 10News some of his military gear and several uniforms were also taken in the break-in.
"Some of the stuff is sentimental, some I still use now; the original stuff I wore in Afghanistan … I can't get that back,” Daniels said.
The Pinnacle apartments are located across from Heritage Park, and there is a guard shack at the entrance and security patrols at night.
Daniels said he believes the break-ins happened between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Thursday.
Resident Jackie Jacquez said the intruders stole jewelry and her parents’ passports. She and other residents think the thieves are likely familiar with the apartment complex because the garages are deep in the interior of the complex.
“I think they knew what they were doing … to do 20 [garage] doors,” Jacquez said. “All the locks were popped the same exact way.”
Jacquez said the thieves left behind a glove and screw driver.
One couple had thousands of dollars in drones stolen in the break-in, 10News learned.
“Sometimes I hear noises, but I don’t pay too much attention to them. Now, I think I should,” Daniels told 10News.
