Chief Steckler dispenses advise on burglar alarms on my favorite Niles chat group:

Hi Everyone:I don’t want to get into the debate of alarm systems and the Police Department response policy, other than to say they generally act as a deterrent and most burglars would rather attempt a burglary at a residential structure that is not alarmed.

With that said, I would strongly suggest that any alarm company you choose should be one that will respond to an alarm activation with private security to determine if the alarm is a malfunction or a real attempt at a burglary.  National statistics for the past 30 years, and what held true in Fremont since I have been here is that 99.3% of all alarms are a malfunction.  The three primary casual factors for malfunctioning alarms are human error (the homeowner forgets to reset), substandard alarm equipment, and substandard installation and training for the alarm owner. Read the rest of this entry »

A reader recently asked me for an update on the investigation into a Mission San Jose High School teacher who received an anonymous threatening letter back in March.

The letter was sexually suggestive in nature and made reference to the Virginia Tech shooting.

The teacher and her husband, who also worked at the high school, were placed on paid leave shortly after.

Well, it’s been four months later, and investigators don’t have any new, solid leads.

“Pending new information, the case is suspended,” Fremont police Detective Bill Veteran said this month.

Meanwhile, the school district’s assistant superintendent of human resources, Steve Betando, told me that the teacher and her husband will return to work with Fremont Unified. Whether either one will be assigned back to MSJHS has yet to be determined, he said.

Image from s.Bradi.’s site at flickr.com.

Have any of you been pulled over today to for talking on a cellular phone without a hands-free device while driving? If so e-mail (baguirre@bayareanewsgroup.com) or call me (510-353-7011). I’m looking for people who have been cited.

(Update: Link to story) 

Cops this morning have identified the three men arrested following the beating at The Saddle Rack on Tuesday night during “Hooter Palooza,” an event held to celebrate the 19th anniversary of a Bay Area radio station’s morning show. They also say that the assault that left one man unconscious appears to be gang related. Cops are not discussing the actual motive, saying only that the victim and suspects knew each other.

(Update: Link to story) 

A 19-year-old man was hurt last night in a drive-by shooting on Everglades Park Drive. Man was shot once in the side and is expected to survive. No motive for the shooting. Short story should be on our side in a few …

A 30-year-old man was beaten unconscious at “Hooter Palooza” Tuesday night. The story is already on our Web site. But what is “Hooter Palooza?” Check out the link to see for yourself. Don’t worry, it is the radio station’s Web site.

I know you’re sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what’s going to happen to the people arrested early Thursday after a shooting in Centerville. But now you’re going to have to wait a few more days. Two of the arrested people were expected in court today, but the case had not been submitted to prosecutors for review. They’ll be arraigned Monday.

The two-alarm fire that ripped through Bob’s Foam Factory in south Fremont last week has been deemed accidental. Fire sources told me last night that an extension cord is believed to have sparked the fire, which burned for about 30 minutes and caused about $1 million in damages.

(Update 3 p.m.: Link for story) 

The 26-year-old Fremont man arrested this week in a string of bank robberies has been charged with eight crimes and is being held on $820,000 bail. Story to come ….

(UPDATE 11:02 A.M.) Link for story. 

Did you hear gunshots overnight? Two people suffered very minor injuries early this morning near Thornton Avenue and Post Street in what police are calling a gang-related incident. It’s unclear what prompted the thing, but cops seem to think it’s got some gang overtones. The story will be posted on our site soon enough. I’ll link to it when it appears.