Crime Prevention Tips

Today's burglars are almost exclusively street gang members from out of the area: usually out of Los Angeles. There are many reasons why burglars choose to target homes in Glendora and similar communities. Most residential burglaries in Glendora occur during the daytime hours, usually between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, when residents are least likely to be home. The most common tactic is for a crew of burglars (usually 3-4 subjects) to drive through residential areas looking for their target home. They do not want confrontation, so they look for the house that appears unoccupied. The most unassuming of the group (often a female) will approach the front door and ring the doorbell/knock several times, peering in any available windows. Once they are satisfied that no one is home, a signal will be made to the waiting burglars or some type of communication through a cell phone. Entry is usually made by entering the backyard and breaking a window or prying open a door. Sometimes, the front door is actually kicked. One of the crew members will usually wait in the getaway vehicle to act as a lookout. These types of burglaries are referred to as "Knock-Knock Burglaries." Burglars are looking for jewelry, cash, guns, and electronics.

If you are home during the day and hear a knock at the door, do not ignore it. Respond verbally by asking who is there. Look outside through a peephole or a front-facing window. If you do not recognize the person knocking on your door, feel free to call the police regarding a suspicious person.

Educate your children on the appropriate response in a potential burglary situation. Remind them to call 9-1-1 if someone tries to break in or open the door. If a child calls a parent instead of the police, it will delay police response.

Being a Vigilant Neighbor and Good Witness

Residential burglaries are some the most difficult crimes for police to solve. Investigators are forced to rely on evidence that oftentimes does not exist. Catching burglars in the act is the best way to get them in custody. On many occasions, residents witness suspicious activity or an actual burglary in progress and never call the police. Don't be that neighbor.

If you see a vehicle driving slowly down your street occupied by 3 or 4 subjects and you do not recognize the vehicle or people, call the police and report the suspicious activity. It is better to have an officer investigate it and determine that it is nothing than to not report it and have it turn out to be a carload of burglars. If you see one or more subjects jump over your neighbor's wall or exit a neighbor's house holding a pillowcase or electronics, please call the police.

Police dispatchers will ask the make, model, and color of the suspect's vehicle, the license plate if you can see it, and the number of occupants. Regarding the subjects, the dispatchers will ask gender, race, age, clothing description, and any other physical descriptors. This information will immediately be broadcast to responding officers to help them identify the correct vehicle and subjects. Know your directions (the mountains are north) and give a good timeframe. You would be surprised how far a car can drive in five minutes.

Get to know your neighbors. If you and your neighbors are in the same frame of mind, suspicious activity is less likely to go unnoticed and unreported.

Internet Scams

The United Stated Postal Inspection Service provides current information on many common internet scams. Click the links below to learn more about these types of common scams to protect yourself from them:

• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/romance-scam
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/mystery-shopper-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/work-from-home-scams-and-reshipping-schemes-2
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/fraudulent-tax-returns-and-refunds
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/home-improvement-and-home-repair-fraud
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/land-sale-scam
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/fake-job-offers
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/pyramid-schemes
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/telemarketing-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/inheritance-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/elder-fraud
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing

Telemarketing Fraud

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Moneygram/western Union Scam

Also Referred to as the "Grandpa/Grandma" Scam

You receive a telephone call at home and a person claiming to be a relative (usually a grandson) tells you they are in trouble, often stating they are in Mexico or Canada. The caller may be very persuasive, and might use the actual name of your grandson or relative to try and convince you they are legitimate, even though you do not recognize their voice. The caller may already have your name or refer to you as "Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, etc." The caller will tell you they have been arrested, detained by the police, involved in an accident, or other similar story.

The caller, pretending to be the relative, will either request money be sent to them or ask you to speak to someone claiming to be a lawyer, police officer, or other official. The other person who comes onto the telephone will explain that the money is needed to avoid court fines or pay bail, pay for hospital expenses and other fictitious reasons. They will request the money to be sent via a wire transfer, usually via Western Union or MoneyGram. They may tell you not to tell anyone else, and to send the money immediately. Only after the money has been sent and you call the actual relative do you realize your family member is not out of the country or in trouble and you were victimized.

Lotto/inheritance Scam

A subject approaches you and tells you they have won money in the lottery, received a settlement from 9/11, received an inheritance, or other similar story. The person will often speak with a foreign accent and will flash cash or other valuables to make the story believable while explaining they are not a U.S. citizen. They will ask for help to disburse the money to a "good cause" since they cannot take it to their home country as it will be confiscated. The suspect will ask the victim to show them that they have money to prove they are honest people. They may ask you to go to the bank and withdraw money to show good faith. During the contact the victim's money is switched with cut paper which is not discovered until the suspect has left the area.

Listing Items for Sale on the Internet

A common scam is for the suspect to purchase an item you have listed for sale on an internet site and send a money order to you for much more money than the asking price of the item in question that you have listed. The suspect will explain that the extra money is to be used for shipping or claim it was an accounting mistake. The suspect asks the victim to cash the money order and forward the excess money back to them or to a third party for the "shipping." After a few days the victim learns from the bank that the money order is fraudulent and all of the money sent was actually your own money you voluntarily withdrew from your bank and sent to the suspect.

Jury Duty Scam

Someone calls saying they are calling from the courthouse. They say you failed to show up for jury duty and a warrant was issued for your arrest. You are offered a choice to pay for the warrant or have an officer sent to your house to arrest you. The fraudsters will usually demand the money be paid by money transfer or pre-paid gift cards.

Secret Shopper Scam

Same as the internet scam except you have answered an advertisement for what appears to be a legitimate business. They will ask for a resume, employment application, and references. You receive your first shopping assignment along with a money order. You will be asked to cash the money order and shop at a local store. You then are asked to send the remaining money, minus your commission, via a wire transfer. The money order that was sent is fraudulent and the victim is not notified by the bank for several days after the transactions have been conducted.

Distraction Burglary Scam

Be wary of people coming to the front door of your residence that you are not expecting via an appointment. If someone unexpected comes to the door and needs to conduct business in your home or backyard do not allow them into the home without verifying who they are. If they are with a utility service they should be displaying a company ID and have a work order. You can contact the company at the listed phone number to verify they have workers in the area. Do not call the number the person at the door provides. Do not accompany them into your yard if they state they will be going into the yard. There have been several instances where criminals distract the homeowner outside or within the home while a second person enters the home while you are distracted allowing the second "worker" to steal items from within your house.. If you see suspicious subjects in your neighborhood or at your door contact the police department immediately.

IRS Scam

This scam uses your fear of the Internal Revenue Service. They say your Social Security number was found at a crime scene, your number was somehow compromised, or you owe unpaid taxes. They demand payment immediately or you will be arrested. They want money wired or put on prepaid gift cards. The IRS does not make contact with you by phone.

Utility Scam

This scam is also based of fear. The caller will try to convince you that if you do not pay the bill they will turn off your utility. They will ask you to send payment using prepaid gift cards. Hang up and call the utility company. You will probably find out it is a scam.

Alarm Systems

Learn more about Alarm Permitting Requirements and False Alarms

During a majority of break-ins, burglars gain access to the home through unlocked doors or windows. In addition, many homeowners forget to set their security system. While making sure to lock the doors and set the alarm are the foremost priority in securing any home, homeowners do have other precautions they can take.

Alarm systems should be connected directly to the alarm company's central monitoring station, which can alert law enforcement if the alarm is triggered.

Installing a back-up cellular dialer in case a burglar cuts the power or the standard phone lines enables the system to still contact the monitoring station.

Alarm systems which incorporate motion sensors and/or glass break sensors can help first responders and residents know if an intruder has actually gained access to the premise.

Displaying the signage provided by the alarm company serves as an initial deterrent for thieves.

Making sure the alarm system's central panel is located in a locked cabinet or an indoor utility room prevents would-be invaders from tampering with the system.

Lighting

Sufficient lighting, both internal and external, can help deter thieves from even targeting a home. Burglars typically select a poorly lit home, as darkness affords additional cover from watchful neighbors or passers-by.

Motion detection lighting alone only activates once a thief's movement is detected; installing low-wattage dusk-till-dawn light fixtures, which emit a soft glow around the perimeter of the home all night, insures that thieves cannot conceal themselves in the shadows. The addition of sensors that shut off the lights when the sun rises and energy saving fluorescent or sodium-type light bulbs makes this an affordable and effective light deterrent.

Using basic timers for interior lamps set to alternating times, gives the appearance of movement throughout the house while it is unattended. Adding t.v.'s or radios on timers is another great deterrent, giving burglars the impression that someone might be at home.

With some very simple window and door locking systems, homeowners can drastically restrict the accessibility of their home. With recent advances in locking mechanisms, some additional alternatives are also available to today's homeowner.

Doors and Windows

Installing window locks on all ground floor windows prevents the window from being opened far enough for someone to fit through.

The addition of a simple closet rod to the track of sliding glass doors provides reinforcement to the standard lock.

Biometric locks , which provide access by scanning a finger print, have become much more affordable lately and can prevent lost or stolen keys from being used by burglars.

The glass in windows and doors can very often be a point of weakness as well. Security window films are affordable, and can provide an extra layer of defense from thieves attempting to smash a window to gain access to the home. While a burglar may be able to muster enough force to eventually smash the window, the repeated attempts require a lot of attention-grabbing blows. Assuring the home has proper doors made from solid wood or metal, rather than a hollow-core style, along with 3.5 inch long steel screws to fasten the hinges to the door frame, will stand up to most breach attempts.

The ability to see the outside of an exterior door is also very important. If an abutting window cannot provide a view of the doorstep before opening it, a peep hold can easily be installed.

Landscaping

Believe it or not, appropriate landscaping can help deter intruders from accessing windows, while maintaining an aesthetic appeal.

Keeping trees and bushes trimmed back from the house and windows helps diminish the likelihood of an intruder using the shrubs as cover. Tree limbs should also be trimmed, to prevent an intruder from using a tree to access a second story entry point.

Planting low-growing sharp or thorny bushes such as holly, rose shrub, or barberry under windows, or adding gravel or landscape rock which makes for noisy footing, are also good ways to deter thieves from attempting to gain access to windows.

Secure the Garage

Garages are favorite targets for thieves, not only because they are often unoccupied, but because they often offer a direct and unlocked entry to the remainder of the home. A few simple countermeasures can help greatly deter an intruder's ability to access the garage.

Always keep the garage door closed; an empty garage or a missing vehicle can alert thieves that the home is unattended.

Change the factory set codes on the door's remote control often, so thieves cannot open the door with a store bought remote.

Adding motion and glass break sensors to all windows in the garage will also provide added warning of an attempted break-in.

Protecting Your Home in Layers

Layer 1 - the Perimeter

Because burglars usually choose their targets by scoping out the property first, it's important to have a layer of security around the perimeter of your residence. Such security measures will act as an initial deterrent for would-be intruders. So be sure to do the following:

• Prominently display alarm company signage, Neighborhood Watch, and/or other crime prevention program signs around your residence.
• Install adequate LED lighting around your doorways, exterior hallways, stairwells and sidewalks, including lights with motion sensors.
• Look for areas around your residence in which perpetrators can hide. Cut back bushes and other landscaping and increase lighting to eliminate dark, shadowy areas.

Layer 2 - Make It Appear Someone is Home

Many burglars want to get in and out of a home without being seen. So breaking into a home that is not occupied is what burglars prefer. By installing security devices that help give the impression that someone is home even when you're not, you can further decrease the chance of your home becoming a target. Consider the following:

• Leave a radio or TV on whenever you leave your home.
• Install a couple of light timers inside your residence.
• You can also use timers to turn on a radio or television while you're away.
• If you have a spare vehicle, consider parking it in the driveway instead of in the garage.

Layer 3 - Stop Intruders in Their Tracks

Some criminals are bolder than others. Although some will be discouraged by the above deterrents, others may not. So having security measures in place that make it extremely difficult for an intruder to break into your home is crucial. The following security measures and devices are effective ways to stop an intruder:

• Peepholes with wide-angle lenses that are within viewing level.
• Doors constructed of solid wood or metal and use only door hinges that are reinforced with 2- to 3-inch steel screws.
• Insert solid wooden closet dowels or metal rods in between the tracks of all horizontally sliding windows and patio doors.
• Windows that are reinforced with glass protection film. These highly effective security window films make breaking the glass much more difficult.
• Obscenely loud alarm systems that contain glass break sensors, motion detectors, back-up cellular dialer, wireless panic buttons, and external strobe lights.
• Install quality dead bolts and security door braces that have the ability to withstand up to 1800 lbs of pressure. Both will make it extremely difficult for an intruder to kick down your door.
• Dogs are man's best friend, but not a burglar's best friend. A large dog with a loud or aggressive sounding bark can make would-be burglars think twice about choosing your home as their next target.