BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) A Chevy Suburban was reportedly stolen from a Bakersfield hotel parking lot earlier this week, with surveillance video showing a suspect breaking into the vehicle and driving off.
Video surveillance obtained by Eyewitness News shows an individual appearing to get out of a car that pulled up next to the Suburban.
The suspect then appears to knock on the vehicle before eventually breaking in. After about a minute, the suspect is seen starting the Suburban, and both vehicles back up, nearly colliding with one another, before leaving the area.
Jillian Borders, who lives in Tehachapi, said she often stays at the Holiday Inn when she needs to visit her father, who is in the ICU. She said she contacted police after the theft.
Video shows suspect stealing Chevy Suburban from Bakersfield hotel parking lot (KBAK/KBFX)
“So, when I contacted the police department, they got back to me about four hours later. I answered all their questions in detail. And they went from there,” Borders said.
Police later found her father’s Suburban, Borders said.
“I want to definitely thank the Bakersfield Police Department. They gave me piece of mind. They got my father’s vehicle back,” she said.
When asked about the break-in, Holiday Inn staff said the general manager was not around.
Other businesses in the area said they have also dealt with thefts and burglaries.
“Through our location they cut through the fence. There was one break in that was at like 4:30 in the afternoon. We leave at 3 p.m. So, it’s in the middle of the day. They don’t really care,” said Jeneva Ellis, office manager at Alianza Recycling.
Video shows suspect stealing Chevy Suburban from Bakersfield hotel parking lot (KBAK/KBFX)
Alianza Recycling, located across the street from the hotel, said it has been getting robbed regularly for years.
“You know they park across the street behind the hotel and then they walk over, come through this. You can kind of see the remanence of my guys fixing it because it’s every night. So, it is exhausting,” Ellis said.
Other business owners said they have seen suspects use nearby parking lots as staging areas before carrying out burglaries.
“And sometimes it’s early. Sometimes they’re here you know and we’re leaving the office at night. So, it doesn’t even have to be late at night. Sometimes it’s not in the middle of the night sometimes its broad daylight,” said Ivana Puckett of Vortex Construction.
Video shows suspect stealing Chevy Suburban from Bakersfield hotel parking lot (KBAK/KBFX)
Anyone with information about thefts or burglaries in the area is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department.