First thing I did when I clicked on this was to see your location. Saw Colorado and thought hmm.. then started reading. It's bonkers over here dude. I'm wrapping up my last semester in a grad program at Berkeley and rent a small apartment there but work and have my permanent residence in the south bay. I almost never drive my 4runner up for this very reason, and for not wanting to risk an accident in a new vehicle. I take my 20 year old land cruiser instead despite the hit on gas. Walking to class on Monday I saw a smash and grabbed car with two officers across the street just talking.
A few months back I was walking my dog at night in Berkeley and saw two dudes breaking into cars on my street, just going down the line smashing every window and looking inside. I called 911 and reported it. Shortly after the guys get into their car and start to drive off and, no joke, as I'm on the phone with dispatch describing this a police car turns the corner, hits his lights, and the perps hit the gas and take off with police in pursuit. The tow trucks are crazy too, I somehow managed to talk a meter maid into lowering my truck off a flatbed in Hayes Valley (SF) for a simple expired meter.. wrote me a citation instead.
Anyways, I basically never leave anything of value in my vehicles, at least not accessible to a quick smash and grab. I'm a 5th generation Californian and my family keeps a nice written, photographed, and oral history of the area.. it sucks to witness what's gone on over the years relative to how it used to be and what it could have been. My brother is staying in the area but I'm looking to move out of state. If you can check out the south bay, I'm not sure where you're at exactly but it tends to be sunnier down here with good food and a little more open than the peninsula or east bay. Sorry this happened, unfortunately you're one of many.