As the sun sets earlier now thanks to the time change, the South Pasadena Police Department is warning residents of the potential “season rise” in nighttime burglaries, urging residents to take more caution in dark environments.
In its monthly November newsletter, the SPPD warned of burglars driving down streets and looking for homes with no lights on — an indication that no one is home. Nighttime burglars do not knock on doors since they assume no one is home. Instead they will go directly to the backyard and force an entry into the home. Most burglars target the backyard since they are out of view from the street and neighbors.
Burglaries tend to last only a few minutes in homes, as suspects ransack the bedrooms and take cash, jewelry, and high-end bags. Jewelry should be appraised, photographed, and kept in a safe, which should also be bolted to the floor. A good prevention measure is to always make your home appear occupied and to deny access to the side and backyards by keeping side gates locked.
Here are some other safety tips to remember:
- Have lights on timers so lights turn on at dusk around 5 p.m.
- Consider having a radio or podcast playing to make it appear that someone is home.
- Be sure alarm signs are clearly visible both day and night, and always activate alarm systems no matter how long you are away.
- Don’t ignore video doorbell activations.
- Report any suspicious activity to the police department.
LICENSE PLATE SAFETY
Many residents may not think license plate theft is a big crime, but the reason license plates are stolen is so thieves can put them on similar cars to commit crime.
The SPPD has reported two residential burglaries occur where surveillance video captured the suspect vehicle. However, the license plates were found to be stolen from another vehicle. Even if one license plate is missing, report it immediately to the police department and DMV, which will issue you a new set. California Vehicle Code 5200 requires a front and rear license plate on vehicles.
Here are some tips to remember:
- Periodically, check your vehicle to make sure both plates are mounted on your vehicle.
- Consider using bolts instead of screws to secure your plates.
- To prevent thefts of registration tabs, make diagonal cuts across the sticker.
First published in the December 14 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
