Crime & Safety

Police Alert: Residential Burglaries

Police warn residents about the techniques used by burglars.

Here is a message from the Los Angeles Police Department:


A recent burglary in this area is a reminder that there is a history of short spikes of residential burglaries throughout the year here and for the last several years. Although each spike typically involves less than five incidents, the frequency of revisits throughout the year is troublesome.

The area is attractive to burglars, as many residents are in their later years and often times forget to secure windows or doors prior to leaving the house. The bathroom window is the most often entered as many leave it open for ventilation during the morning shower and forget about it. As with most all residential burglaries, those in this area occur during working hours and work days. Most burglars don’t want to be seen or confronted.

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 Secondly, one of the most often used techniques of residential burglars is to knock on the front door or ring the doorbell to see if the residents are home. If the owner answers the door, the burglar will ask for some fictitious person or inquire about a runaway dog, etc.

If no one answers the door, they will go to the rear or side and find a way to enter. If you are home and in doubt of anyone’s true identity, talk to them through the door and ask them what they want. If they seem suspicious, call the police and wait. You are not bothering us. You have the right to be secure in your own home. Be vigilant…help us help you. Get a picture or write down a description of the person and their vehicle. They may be waiting down the street for you to leave. If you absolutely have to leave, tell a neighbor to watch your house until we get there.                                                                                                                                                                                       

While the Los Angeles Police Department is making every effort to combat this problem and since community awareness is the key to prevention…we need your assistance:

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY

Lock all doors and windows before leaving your residence and ensure that sliding glass doors cannot be lifted from their tracks. We are all busy and forget. Write yourself a reminder on an index card and place it on the inside of the door you leave through to remind yourself to secure your home.

Burglars nearly always look for valuables in bedrooms, especially master bedrooms. Find an unlikely place inside your home to secure them. Tell only those that need to know where that place(s) is. If you have a small safe, expect it to be taken from the house if you are burglarized. Criminals will NOT take the time to open it while inside your house. So hide it well, bolt it down or don’t leave anything valuable in it. If you have the need for a safe, get a “real”safe that can’t be removed or opened.

If you observe suspicious activity which may be linked to these crimes, contact the police immediately by calling 911 (emergency) or 877-ask-lapd (non-emergency). Do not confront suspicious individuals. This is what we do, we are not being inconvenienced…call!

Finally, please consider joining an existing or starting a new Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood.

FOR MORE CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION, LOG ON TO LAPDONLINE.ORG

If you have additional questions or can provide any information about the above crimes, please contact West Valley Area Detectives at (818) 374-7730. Or you may contact your Senior Lead Officer, Officer Rob Trulik, at (818) 374-7637.

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