By Rod Sayre

Prevention Tips

Los Altos Police Department

The most frequent crimes are “crimes of opportunity.” If the opportunities are reduced, criminal activity will decrease.

Most burglars spend no more than one minute trying to break into a home. Keep your home and yourself from being an easy target by not opening your door to strangers. But don’t ignore the doorbell either. Tell the person you are busy and that if they leave their business card at the door you will contact them later. If you ignore the doorbell, they may think no one is home and start looking for ways to enter. If it’s someone claiming to need help, offer to place the call for them.

Keep your doors (including the garage door) and windows locked at all times, even if you are out on a short errand. Do not hide house keys anywhere outside; a burglar may find them. Do not put your name and address on your key ring.

Never give information to wrong number callers. Ask, “What number are you calling?”

Remove or prune bushes that hide windows or doors. You don’t want to provide a place for a burglar to hide. Light all outside entrances and parking areas. Don’t leave tools or ladders outside; a burglar could use them to break in.

Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even if you are away for a brief period. When you are parked, lock all valuables in the trunk or take them with you - even if you are parked at your residence. Remember, burglary is a crime of opportunity.

A vacant house or one that appears to be vacant is an appealing target to a burglar. You can make a trip more carefree by taking a few simple steps before leaving. Contact the post office and your newspaper to stop delivery, or have a trusted neighbor pick up newspapers and mail on a daily basis.

If you’re gone for an extended period of time, have someone mow your lawn, rake leaves, etc. Make sure a family member, neighbor or police know when you’ll be away. Tell them how to reach you in an emergency.

Turn the ringer on your phone to low or off. Before you leave, check all doors and windows from the outside to be sure they are locked. Never give a burglar an even break.

If you would like a home security survey or have any questions on this or a related topic, contact Rod Sayre, crime prevention officer at the Los Altos Police Department, at 948-8223 or rod.sayre@ci.los-altos.ca.us.