Belmont Burglaries Prompt Neighborhood Meeting

On the heels of three burglaries and other suspicious activity in the Central neighborhood of Belmont neighborhood Friday, several residents have organized a community meeting to discuss the incidents, and hopefully raise concerns with police.

Belmont police say that on Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., burglars hit homes on the 1600 block of Manzanita Avenue, the 1700 block of Valley View Avenue and the 2000 block of Mezes Drive. Police are looking into whether they are linked to recent burglaries in Hillsborough and San Mateo.

Central neighborhood resident Jeff Mannie, whose home on Valley View Avenue is located next door to one of the victims, says he organized the community gathering to raise awareness and reinforce the importance of neighborhood watch. Mannie also says he is unhappy with the Belmont Police Department’s communication surrounding the burglaries.

“Our neighbor was gone for less than 2 hours and came back to find their house ransacked and precious jewelry, an iPad and wine missing,” said Mannie in a flyer distributed to 125 homes in the neighborhood.

 “I will again invite the Belmont Police and see if they are willing to attend.  We'll have a full agenda to learn more about this incident, what we can do to protect our homes and loved ones, how we might catch the persons responsible for this, and send a clear message we are not going to be a community of idle victims.”

In addition to Belmont police, Mannie says he’s invited members of city council to attend the Sunday meeting at his home.

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