Rancho Santa Fe Patrol reports downward trend for burglaries in Rancho Santa Fe

Burglaries are down in the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant, according to the Rancho Santa Fe Patrol’s semi-annual report. Rancho Santa Fe Patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser reported that there have only been four burglaries in the last six months, the majority of which were construction site thefts. As there were close to 18 burglaries in 2014, Wellhouser said he hopes the downward trend continues throughout the rest of the year.

According to the report, traffic collisions were up compared to the first six months of last year, with 17 collisions. There was a fatal accident in May on Via de la Valle and Patrol officers assisted in saving a life following an accident on June 24. At around 8:44 p.m. on June 24, there was a rollover crash on El Camino Real near Calle Familia and a passenger was trapped inside the burning vehicle. Two Rancho Santa Fe Patrol officers were able to help to put out the flames until the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and other fire agencies could arrive and safely extricate the driver.

Wellhouser said the RSF Association’s supplemental California Highway Patrol (CHP) enforcement has focused more time on parking enforcement at the request of village retailers and over the last few weeks have received positive feedback. Wellhouser said that while the CHP has overtime units working on parking enforcement, the CHP does want to balance the officers’ service with other life and safety issues throughout the community, such as speeding enforcement.

In the first six months of 2015, Wellhouser said the Patrol completed 15,000 security and vacation checks. He encouraged residents to contact the RSF Patrol if they are going out of town — vacation check forms are available on the website at rsfpatrol.blogspot.com.

For the RSF Patrol dispatch, people can call (858) 756-4372.