Home Burglaries

Home Burglary

Little-Known-Facts

  • Most burglaries happen during the daytimes when many homes are unoccupied.
  • Most burglaries start with a suspect knocking on a front door to check if anyone is home. If contacted by a resident, most burglars pretend to be lost or looking for "a friend."
  • Sometimes a burglar will pretend to be some sort of worker and will ask the resident to step outside for a few minutes. During this time, the burglar's partner goes inside the home to steal things.
  • Most burglars enter the homes from the rear of the residence. Many times the burglar locates unlocked doors or windows.
  • Most burglars work in teams of 2-4 people and have a vehicle nearby.

When to Call the Police

Emergency: 911//Business line: (650) 877-8900

  • You notice unknown people lurking in vehicles or on sidewalks
  • Try to write down/remember the license plate
  • You notice an unknown person knocking on neighborhood doors
  • You notice an unknown vehicle parked in a neighbor's driveway
  • You believe your home has been broken into
  • Do not go inside your home; call the police and wait
  • If you are inside your home already, exit immediately and call the police – the suspects may still be inside
  • You believe your neighbor's home has been broken into
  • Be a good witness – find a safe location from which you can monitor activity at your neighbor's house while on the telephone with the police

Ten Simple Steps to Increased Home Security

  1. Don't leave your belongings outside in plain sight (including BBQ's, bicycles and gardening equipment). Also, be aware of what is visible inside your home – move valuables out of view or close window shades. Close your garage door.
  2. Consider putting lights or radios on timers inside your home to give the appearance of it being occupied.
  3. Invest in a home security system if you can afford one. If you cannot afford a system, put a security sign in your front yard anyway.
  4. Lock your doors and windows. Consider upgrading to deadbolt locks. Secure sliding doors with a dowel or bar. Install stoppers in windows so they cannot be opened past a safe point.
  5. Avoid "hiding" a spare key – instead, invest in a combination lockbox to hold the key securely.
  6. Install motion detecting lights outside of your home.
  7. Have a neighbor or friend keep an eye on your residence if you are away for a trip. Arrange to have your mail and newspapers held so they don't stack up. Don't "advertise" your absence (updates on social media or your outgoing voicemail message).
  8. Be cautious with unexpected guests at your front door. If you do not recognize the person, consider not opening the door and telling them to leave. Try to safely (through a window) look at the person and their vehicle while calling the police so you can provide a description. Be leery when people claim to be from a utility company unless you called for service.
  9. Take an inventory of your property. Take photographs of important items (jewelry, art) and write down serial numbers. Keep these in a safe place so you can provide them to the police in the event your home is burglarized.
  10. Be alert and if something makes you suspicious, report it!

Tips to Prevent Vehicle Burglary

Additional Helpful Tips, Guides, and Checklists

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