By Salvador Ponce
Special to the Outlook Valley Sun
Your sheriff’s station is often asked what types of crimes are commonly committed in our jurisdiction.
Burglaries and other thefts account for approximately 60% of the reports we receive daily. The question has been raised to law enforcement: How can we prevent these crimes from occurring?
The truth is we cannot always prevent crime from occurring; however, there are certain precautions that can be taken by residents to avoid becoming a victim of residential burglaries.
Here are some simple, but effective, tips that can help prevent your home from being burglarized:
• Lock your doors.
As simple as this sounds, we have contacted several burglary victims who indicated they do not lock their homes because they believe they should not have to. In today’s culture, we do not believe leaving the doors unlocked is a viable option.
• Install a monitored alarm or similar alert device(s).
A monitored alarm system alerts the security company of window breaks, motion, or other trespass events that can be monitored to alert law enforcement prompting a response. Another less costly alternative is the use of a non-monitored system which can activate a siren to deter burglars. Lastly, the use of noise simulation devices, such as motion-activated barking dogs, people, or television can assist deterring would-be burglars from targeting your home.
• Get security cameras.
Criminals often look to see if there are cameras on the house. If the suspect sees a location has security cameras, he or she may move onto another location. If the suspect does break into the home, the cameras may help law enforcement identify suspects and make arrests. When investing in cameras, you should invest in cameras have enough visual quality to be helpful in identifying the suspect(s) as well as other identifiable information (such as car color, license plates, etc.).
• Consider a house sitter if you leave town for an extended period.
Suspects tend to look for homes that appear as though no one is home. By having someone at your home, the suspect will be less likely to target the home. If you are not able to have a house sitter, leave the lights on and park a vehicle in an area where it appears that someone is home.
• Simulate people are home or there is activity in the household.
For example, watching the home by installing a doorbell camera. The doorbell camera alerts the resident of any activity at the front door. The resident can respond through the doorbell camera with two-way audio via a cell phone or mobile device. This gives the impression someone is either home or actively monitoring. This method has helped prevent homeowners and businesses from getting burglarized.
• Get a large dog.
The crime of burglarizing homes is a crime of opportunity in which criminals want a quick and easy location. If they see a large dog in the front or backyard, they are less likely to attempt to get into that home.
By using as many of these tips as possible, you will reduce your chances of being the next victim of burglary. The California Penal Code Section 459 defines burglary as every person who enters any house, room, apartment, tenement, shop, warehouse, store, mill, barn, stable, outhouse or other building, tent, vessel, floating home, railroad car, locked or sealed cargo container, whether or not mounted on a vehicle, trailer coach, any house car, inhabited camper, when the doors are locked, or mine or any underground portion thereof, with intent to commit grand or petit larceny or any felony is guilty of burglary.
Ponce is a 21-year veteran of the Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He had worked nine years of patrol at Century Station and had been a detective for two years at Compton Station. He has been assigned to Crescenta Valley Station Detective Bureau for the last year and specializes in burglaries and catalytic converter thefts.
