By Khalida Sarwari
Saratoga residents walked away from a recent crime prevention forum emboldened and equipped with new knowledge about how to safeguard against the types of crimes that stubbornly persist in the city.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office held a crime prevention forum on Oct. 26 to discuss recent crime trends in Saratoga and provide residents with safety tips. Among the topics of discussion were home and vehicle burglary prevention, how to be a good witness and reporting suspicious people and vehicles.
Deputies at the West Valley substation explained tactics that residents can use to make their homes more visible. It’s important, they advised, that house numbers are easy to read, whether they’re on the sidewalk curb, mailbox post, front lawn or on the house itself. It’s best to have house numbering in a readable size and illuminated or reflective. The numbers should also be in multiple locations, the deputies said.
They also encouraged the use of a property gate or fence with a code or key that they encouraged residents to share with their alarm company or a neighbor.
To prevent home burglaries, the deputies advised changing the locks when moving into a new home, keeping the doors locked at all times and investing in a wide-angle door viewer installed in the entry door. They cautioned against hiding a key outside and instead encouraged keeping a locking spare key holder.
Residents are advised to secure and lock their windows whenever they aren’t being used and whenever they leave their home. Blinds and curtains should be closed after dark so as not to advertise expensive property inside the house.
To further guard against burglaries, residents should cover their garage windows and consider replacing doors with a window. It’s important to keep a well-lit house, the deputies said, and that includes outside the front door as well as the side and back yards. They encouraged installing timers on interior lighting and setting them for random times during the day and night.
Alarm systems were another big topic at the forum. The deputies not only advised having a working alarm and testing it regularly, but they also told residents to maintain updated contact information with their alarm company and to install signs and place window stickers on windows.
Residents were also told to keep an emergency contact on file with their alarm company, one that includes any gate and alarm codes and keys to the home.
The deputies extolled the virtues of a surveillance camera system, indicating that it is one of their best tools for enforcement and a useful resource in investigations. They recommended installing a passive system that records around the clock. An HD system, as opposed to an analog system, has a higher resolution and provides awareness and identification.
The deputies explained the advantages and disadvantages of wired versus wireless camera systems. Wired cameras, they said, do not depend on WiFi and are high resolution, with a wide variety of systems and price points and an on-site DVR. However, these cameras can be expensive and difficult to install, and the on-site DVR can be stolen or damaged. Wireless camera systems can be easily installed, have high resolution and no on-site DVR. The downside to these cameras is that they are not recommended for outside use, and they require computer connectivity and must record to the cloud.
In general, the deputies advised investing in a camera that has a resolution of at least 1,080 pixels with 30 days of storage and immediate access to footage. The cameras should be installed in a place where they can be pointed toward the street, at the front porch, side gate and rear door or back sliders.
When going on vacation, it’s important to let neighbors know, the deputies said. They recommended that residents place a hold on their mail and newspaper delivery. As an extra precautionary measure, residents can fill out a patrol check request online or by calling the West Valley station. This is also a good time to check in with their alarm company. Deputies, however, encouraged refraining from posting on social media and advertising that no one is home.
The officers also shared information about how to start a neighborhood watch group and suggested that those who are interested can order a handbook from the National Neighborhood Watch Institute, as well as signs, although permission must be obtained from the city regarding the size and type of signs and before the signs are posted on public roads.
Vehicle burglary prevention was another important topic at the forum. The deputies shared several tips to help residents protect themselves against this crime. For one, they encouraged residents to always lock their doors and to activate the alarm. Don’t invite a break-in, they said, by leaving behind valuables such as purses, wallets and laptops and tablets. Items such as house keys, financial documents, credit cards and extra vehicle keys should never be left in the car. Doing so leaves people at risk for a host of other problems, such as residential burglary and identity theft. It is also best to lock vehicles in a garage and to place motion-activated lighting in the driveway.
The deputies shared tips about what it takes to be a good witness. Such a person is aware of his surroundings, cooperates with dispatchers and takes note of anything suspicious. A good witness also pays attention to details about a potential suspect and collects information about suspect vehicles, such as their color, license plate number, any distinguishing features, their make and model, and the state they are registered in. Information about the number of occupants and last direction of travel can also be useful, they said.
Another measure residents are encouraged to take is to create a list of high-value possessions that includes electronics, art, firearms and jewelry.
On the topic of solicitation, the deputies noted that in Saratoga most solicitors are required to have a permit issued by the city, so when confronted by one, ask to see the permit or otherwise call the sheriff’s office. It also helps to post a “No Soliciting” or “Soliciting Prohibited” sign. Even with a permit, ignoring the sign would be a violation. The only folks that are exempt from the solicitation rules are those soliciting for religious, political, charitable or educational purposes.
When confronted by strangers at the door, it is best to respond to the knock by talking through the door instead of opening the door for them.
Finally, the deputies said that when witnessing a potential crime, make a mental picture of the suspect and, if applicable, the suspect vehicle, and to call 911 as soon as possible. Residents should take care, however, to never follow or confront the suspect or do anything to place their own personal safety or the safety of those around them in jeopardy.
“Be a good witness, not a potential victim,” the deputies advised.
Link: Sheriff’s office offers crime prevention tips at forum in Saratoga
