The first six months of 2012 brought increased crime to Altadena, compared to the first half of 2011. Overall, crime is up 17.6-percent, and there has been a large increase in armed robbery, burglary, theft and property crime.
The has released the following tips on how to deter burglars and protect yourself:
Personal Information:
- Keep valuables in a safe deposit box
- Use a locking mailbox
- Complete Operation ID (which involves marking your property and keeping a running list so law enforcement will be able to identify it) and display proof on your windows.
Dealing With Strangers:
- Never let strangers enter your home
- Verify workers by ID cards and calling their employer
- Never give keys to workers
- Never leave notes for anyone on the door
While on Vacation:
- Hire a house sitter
- Ask neighbors to help with your trash bins and newspaper
- Install an approved and monitored residential alarm system
- Park a neighbor’s car in your driveway
- Use timers on indoor lights to give the impression you are home
- Deliver merchandise to a neighbor’s house instead of yours
- Request the LASD to perform Vacation Home Checks
Bright Ideas:
- Install lights by all exterior doors. Use lights at night.
- Install outside light fixtures where bulbs are hard to reach
- Illuminate house numbers for quick emergency services response
- Trim shrubs back from doors and windows... don’t give burglars places to hide.
Vehicle Smarts:
- Close the garage door and cover windows so no one can see inside
- Hide the garage door opener from open view in your car
Doors and Windows:
- Change the locks when moving to a new residence
- Always lock your doors and windows
- Give your neighbor the spare key and don’t hide it outside
- Use solid core or metal exterior doors
- Use dead bolt door locks on exterior doors and double cylinder dead bolt locks if glass is within three feet of the lock
- Add auxiliary track-type locks, removable drop bars, wooden dowels, or pinning devices to windows and sliding glass doors
- Install peepholes on doors with 160-degree views
- Upgrade locks to defeat bump keying
Landscaping:
- Trim tree branches seven feet off the ground
- Prince shrubs to under three feet from the ground
- Use motion sensors and photocells on exterior floodlights
Make Safety a Habit:
- Lock your home at all times
- Create a Crime/Neighborhood Watch Group
