Car break-ins are rising in San Jose ahead of the holidays, police warn; here is how to keep your car from being next
Thieves have hit several cars at once in some cases, police said. Most break-ins happen late at night or early in the morning.
San Jose police are seeing more car break-ins as the holidays approach, including several cases in which thieves hit multiple vehicles, the department’s Financial Crimes and Burglary Unit said in a post on X Friday.
Police did not say how many break-ins have been reported or where.
The department asked drivers to:
- Take valuables out of the car, including electronics, garage door openers and car and house keys.
- Not move items to the trunk where people can see you do it.
- Hide the registration, insurance cards and anything else with personal information.
- Park in well-lit spots near security cameras or busy sidewalks.
- Lock the doors, roll the windows all the way up and double-check before walking away.
Police asked residents to call 911 to report suspicious people or vehicles, especially late in the evening and early in the morning, when most car break-ins happen. Tips can be emailed to burglarytips@sanjoseca.gov.
What it means
Holiday shopping puts gifts and bags in parked cars. Taking them inside, or out of sight before you park, removes the reason to break a window.
Source: San Jose Police Department post on X, Nov. 13, 2026.