Fed up with crime, an Almaden homeowners' association has sued San Jose in the latest escalation of its longstanding gate dispute

"Many residents blame the city for the area's crime issues, believing gates could have blunted some of the harm. Mike Barna, president of the homeowners' association, said he has come face-to-face with thugs in his home. Other residents report burglars routinely casing their multi-million-dollar homes or following them home from the nearby Safeway. A man who was not apprehended was observed on surveillance cameras stopping at houses with a rented U-Haul truck and stealing packages from their porches."

"A commercial boot camp operator has even brought hordes of people onto their private property to exercise without repercussions. Barna shared data with The Mercury News that showed Country View Custom Estates' burglary rates, both per capita and per household, were 10 times that of the city as of 2022, before filing the most recent gate application; homeowners also have seen insurance premiums skyrocket, with some reporting increases of 500% to 1,000% even without filing a claim."

Country View Custom Estates residents say repeated waves of home invasions, burglaries, robberies, car break-ins, hate crimes, mail and package thefts, and trespassing have plagued their private streets. Residents sought permission to install gates but faced three denials from San Jose's planning department. Homeowners filed a $160 million lawsuit alleging violations of constitutional, civil and property rights and claiming bias by planning officials. Reported incidents include burglars casing multi-million-dollar homes, U-Haul package thefts, and unauthorized commercial groups using private property. Data provided by homeowners indicate burglary rates about ten times the city rate in 2022 and steep insurance premium increases.

Read at www.mercurynews.com