When Thieves Attack

San Diego police are investigating three burglaries that occurred on March 22 in North County communities. The break-ins appear to be related, according to an SDPD news release.

A Rancho Bernardo resident confronted a burglar immediately after the perpetrator entered the victim's home. The intruder, who was covering his face with a black bandanna, attacked the resident with an unknown chemical and fled the scene. No property was taken. The victim said he saw a suspicious gray sedan with black tinted windows driving slowly through the neighborhood prior to the incident.

Another break-in occurred in Miramar Ranch between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. A family returned home to find their dog had been attacked with a chemical and their home ransacked. It is unknown whether anything was taken from the home. Days earlier, neighbors had reported a suspicious vehicle similar to the one seen in Rancho Bernardo.

A third burglary occurred in Scripps Ranch. An intruder (or intruders) forced their way into the home between 9:55 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Again, it appears there was no property loss, though the home was ransacked. A neighbor said they saw a vehicle similar to the one described in the other neighborhoods parked in front of the home before it fled the scene.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male between 20 and 30 years old, 5'7", with a thin build. He had been wearing black jeans with a long sleeve blue and black flannel shirt when he allegedly attacked the victim in Rancho Bernardo.