During the last few months, the city has experienced a significant rise in residential burglaries. Most of these burglaries are being committed by groups of teenagers or young adults during the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. This crime trend is not isolated to Culver City, as neighboring cities are experiencing similar trends.
CCPD attributes the increase, among other things, to the fact that teenagers and young adults are out of school for the summer and many families are on vacation, leaving their homes unattended. Thanks to the help and sup- port of the community, our neighborhood watch groups, and the hard work of the men and women of the Culver City Police Department, there have been 21 arrests, seven of which were women, related to the burglaries in Culver City.
Despite the 21 arrests made and with burglaries seeming to be slowing down, CCPD would ask that everyone stay vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to the Culver City Police Department.
Below are some helpful tips to help protect all homes from burglary:
One: when leaving home, always close and lock all doors and windows, including small bathroom windows or any second story window that is accessible by a patio cover or otherwise. Use secondary locking devices on windows, such as wooden dowels or security sash pins.
Two: avoid displaying valuables through open windows. Leave blinds closed when nobody is home and place computers and other electronics in rooms that are not visible from outside of the home.
Three: consider getting an alarm system and use it. Alarm companies that install and monitor your alarm are great, but there are less expensive options too. Wireless alarms can be purchased on the internet, do not require permanent wiring, and can be monitored from a cell phone. An even less expensive option can be purchased at a local home improvement store. Personal alarms designed for the home usually cost less than $20 and can be installed on windows and doors. They emit an audible alarm when they are tripped.
Four: lock gates and secure backyards. Many burglars enter from the side or rear of a residence where they are out of public view. Don’t make it easy for them by leaving a gate unlocked.
Five: work with neighbors and let them know when leaving on vacation. Leave a contact number with them and make sure they know who should and shouldn’t be at the home and during what hours. Ask them to pick up your newspapers and collect mail while gone, as stacks of both are an indication that a home is empty and makes it a target. If possible, leave a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence to give the appearance that some- one is home.
Six: burglars often knock on front the door to see if anyone is home. If a resident answers the front door, the burglar will often try to engage that person in conversation while their confederates break into the home through a rear door or window. Oftentimes, burglars send a female to knock on the door as they are generally less intimidating. CCPD recommends that residents do not answer the door if unsure of the legitimacy of the person knocking. It’s important to make the person aware of the fact that someone is home, since they may break in if they believe the house is unoccupied. Yelling through your closed and locked door, “No thank you” or “Go away” typically works well.
Seven: look for people who seem out of place, are going door to door, or are acting suspiciously in the neighborhood and immediately report this activity to the Culver City Police Department. Many of the aforementioned arrests were made after a citizen called 911 to report suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
Eight: photograph and record the serial numbers to valuables so that they can be identified if stolen.
Nine: stay connected with the Culver City Police Department by subscribing to Nixle and Smart 911, and follow the department on Twitter (@Culver_citypd) and Facebook.
Be smart, stay safe, and remember, if you see something, say something.
For additional information contact Lieutenant Jason Sims at (310) 253-6258.