Tips for Burglary Prevention by Sac PD

This time of year the city of Sacramento sees a general increase in property related crimes. This year is no exception. The Police Department is seeking your assistance in reducing this increasing problem in your neighborhoods. The most important thing you can do is to call the police if you happen to see any suspicious activity. We also want you to make your residence uninviting for the potential burglar. This can be accomplished by the following:

• Develop rapport with your neighbors. Start a Neighborhood Watch
• Have plenty of lighting around the perimeter of your residence, as well as all entries into the home.
• Install a burglar alarm that rings inside/outside your residence.
• Install screws in the track above the sliding door frame.
• Have solid doors with strong locks and strike plates at all entrances.
• Install door viewers with wide-angle lenses.
• Use deadbolt locks that extend at least one inch from the edge of the door.
• Lock your doors when you are away and when you are home. Dont leave your garage doors open when you are not in them.
• Close and lock all your windows when you are away even for just a few minutes.
• Keep a radio or TV on during the day to give the appearance that someone is home.
• If someone knocks on your door and you dont want to open it, make lots of noise so it is apparent someone is home. If it appears no one is home they may enter the back yard and attempt to get in.

Just remember to look for clues that someone may be casing your neighborhood. A stranger at your door asking for someone you dont know may be checking to see if someone is home. Many burglars simply gain entry through unlocked doors and windows so please close and lock all doors and windows when you are away!

Keep your hedges and trees trimmed away from your house. Provide a good line of site for your neighbors to observe your property to see what is going on. Tall hedges and overgrown trees provide cover for someone to break in to your home unnoticed.

If youre gone for an extended period of time dont make it obvious. Use timers on lights inside and outside the home. Stop the mail and the newspaper. Have a family member or friend keep an eye on your residence while you are away.

Keep your valuables in an unlikely place. Most burglars go directly to the bedroom, and especially to the dressers and night stands.

For more detailed information please review crime prevention tips on www.sacpd.org.

Remember that a crime can only be committed if three elements are present:

1. An offender who is intent on committing the crime;
2. A victim who is seen by the offender as vulnerable;
3. An environment that brings them together in the same area.

Also, most criminals dont want to be seen or observed. Keep your eyes and ears open to anything suspicious or unfamiliar and call the police. We are here to work with you to make Sacramento the best place to live and work.