The French Cellar, owned by Robbins-Druian and her husband, Jay Druian, had an attempted break-in on the night of April 25, and they say the incident is just the most recent in a string of vandalism, break-ins and robberies of Main Street businesses. In this time of economic hardship and town cutbacks, Robbins-Druian said such incidents could possibly be the downfall of Los Gatos businesses if they continue—and she feels now, more than ever, locals need to come together and look out for each other.

"I arrived [the next] morning and it looked as if somebody had used some sort of tool, like a crowbar, to pry open the front door," said Jay Druian. "The wood was splintered and the bolt of the lock had been torqued out of position, at the middle of the door and the bottom."

The Druians say that since their store's alarm is set about 3 feet into the entrance of the store, it did not go off that night.

The attempted break-in has Robbins-Druian fearful of what is happening to Los Gatos, a seemingly quiet and friendly town.

"Naturally, we're in a state of shock. We're stunned. We're grateful there wasn't any further damage," she said. "It's disconcerting because of the location of our store. [Nearby] we have businesses and apartments and even the police station a few blocks away. It's a dose of reality after eight years of business."

Sallie said she has heard of other neighboring businesses on Main Street having similar incidents recently.

The Antiquarium, located not far from The French Cellar, fell victim just a few short weeks ago, said Denise Harr, the store's owner.

"We got vandalized," Harr said. "I don't think they were trying to break in, though."

Harr said the outside of her store was littered with broken tree parts and pots. She said that, although the police ordered those they think were responsible to pay Harr for the damage, it was hard to have such a thing happen to their long-running business, especially during a time when many are struggling to stay afloat in the current economy.

"It was, to me, one of the most offensive things you can do," she said. "It was heartbreaking. It was also frightening. I'm thinking, 'I'm going to be robbed, like those other stores,' and in lean economic times, that's more than a lot of us can deal with."

Another store that was vandalized just a few weeks ago was Del's Antiques, owned and operated by Del Martines. However, Martines said the incident is just the most recent in a long history of crime at her store.

"My orchids get pulled out all the time in the front window. [The perpetrators] broke my topiary trees out front; they broke them right in half and pulled out all the branches. [My tree] was dead and demolished. They were also trying to knock down my pots, and they're expensive; they're 19th century. They're always trying to steal them," she said. "I get vandalized all the time. Where are the police officers? I don't know."

Martines said the police caught the teens who were responsible, but they only paid about $70 to replace the chipped cement that usually seals the pots into the ground. Martines said she was left to pay the hundreds of dollars worth of costs to repair damage and replace her flowers and trees.

"I want to believe [the kids who did this have] learned their lesson, but I don't know," she said. She added that since those responsible were caught a few weeks ago, she has not had any further vandalism at her store. "I just wish the police would patrol more often."

Perhaps one of the Main Street businesses that has been hit the hardest recently is Los Gatos Antiques. On April 6 at around 3 a.m. the store had a front window broken with a sledgehammer, and the tool was then used to shatter a jewelry case. The thief or thieves made off with around $15,000 in jewelry, said Marcia Smits, the owner.

"They were in and out within five minutes," Smits said. For that reason, Smits said, when the police arrived the thieves were already long gone. However, the sledgehammer was left behind.

Smits said she spoke to police on April 28 and she was told they had not yet received a report back from their lab as to whether or not fingerprints were left behind on the sledgehammer.

After talking with friends of neighboring businesses who have been the victims of vandalism or break-ins recently, Smits said she now believes the thief or thieves may have been on foot and escaped down the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and that's why no one saw them getting away. She said she also thinks that the recent incidents up and down Main Street have perhaps been committed by people coming out of nearby bars late at night.

Either way, Smits said she wishes more would be done to keep an eye on Main Street at night.

"I think maybe [the police] should have undercover people walking a dog or something at night. It seems there's a lot of vandalism and stuff going on at Main Street at night," she said. "Maybe undercover people should walk around after people get out of the bars."

Detective Mike Barbieri of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department said he does not believe there has been an increase in crime such as break-ins on Main Street recently.

"Not in particular. As [people may be] aware, we had a rash of auto thefts and car break-ins lately, but we believe we may have cleared that up with the arrest we made recently," he said, referring to the April 8 arrest of 25-year-old Matthew Ryan Hahn of Los Gatos. Hahn was arrested for possession of stolen property and for suspicion of selling stolen items on the popular Internet auction site, Ebay. Hahn is being held without bail in the Santa Clara County Jail.

Barbieri said that patrolmen are circling the area around Main Street whenever they have time in the evenings.

Robbins-Druian said, however, that she feels Los Gatos residents and business owners need to start working together more.

"We hope people will be vigilant and listen for noises that are not typical or usual, and pick up the phone and dial 911. No one has to be personally involved," she said. "With the economic downturn and everyone knowing town services are being cut, we have to look out for each other. Just because we're a charming community doesn't mean violence and crime can't happen."