By Khalida Sarwari
One reason Saratoga repeatedly lands on top of safest cities lists is because of its residents, Mayor Howard Miller told those gathered at a recent crime prevention forum.
“It’s because of you,” he said. “We watch out for ourselves, we watch out for each other. I’m hoping out of this whole process here, we’ll watch out a little more.”
Dozens of people packed into the Saratoga Senior Center on May 19 to learn just how to watch out even more to protect themselves.
Rick Sung, newly appointed commander of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office West Valley patrol division, backed up Miller’s statement by announcing that Saratoga ranked as the fifth safest city in California this year, with significantly lower property and violent crime rates than state and national averages.
Within Santa Clara County itself, statistics show that Saratoga’s violent crime rate was 235 percent lower than the countwide average and its property crime rate was 192 percent lower, Sung said.
“Burglary waves come and go just like any other type of crime,” said Sung.
In Saratoga, he added, burglars tend to work in tandem and case their targets during the day and night. Sometimes they’ll ring the doorbell, and other times they’ll knock or simply open the side, rear or front door or window and go for goods that are easy to grab. Cash, jewelry, electronics and designer purses are their favorite prizes, he added.
To crack down on such crimes, the sheriff’s office has created a burglary suppression unit for targeted enforcement and undercover operations, Sung said.
From Jan. 1, 2014, to May 6 of this year, deputies arrested 363 people. Although many of them were nabbed on suspicion of committing drug or DUI offenses, they were found to possess burglary tools or stolen property from burglaries.
Chuck Little, a retired businessman, said he found the presentations by Sung and sheriff’s Lt. Jim Cannan–who gave safety tips on preventing home and vehicle burglaries– excellent and informative.
“I don’t have much dealings with the sheriff, thank goodness,” he said. “I learned a lot of detail about what [the lieutenant] does and what the sheriff does. I was interested in how they work. They’re our police people, and you don’t see them around.”
Another resident, Priscilla Ho, said she found the tips and advice useful, having been a victim of mail theft numerous times.
“Saratoga’s always been a very safe city,” Ho said. “I grew up here. We didn’t lock our doors, we didn’t lock our windows. Now it’s totally different.”
Cannan told the residents that the more visible a home, the easier it is for emergency responders to find. It’s important that house numbers can be read easily, whether they’re on the sidewalk curb, mailbox post, front lawn or on the house itself, he said. And it helps if they’re illuminated or reflective. The numbers should also be in multiple locations, the lieutenant noted.
Cannan suggested installing a property gate or fence with a code or key that can be shared with an alarm company or a neighbor.
Cannan advised changing the locks when moving into a new home, keeping the doors locked at all times, and investing in a wide-angle viewer installed in the entry door. He cautioned against hiding a key outside and instead encouraged keeping a locking spare key holder.
Windows should be locked when not used or when no one is home, and blinds and curtains should be closed after dark so nothing valuable inside can be seen. Cannan also suggested covering garage windows.
A well-lit house serves as a deterrent as well, Cannan said, noting that side and back yards should be lighted as well as the front door. He encouraged installing timers on interior lighting and setting them for random times during the day and night.
Cannan advised residents to not only install an alarm and test it regularly but also to maintain and update contact information with the alarm company. They should install signs and place stickers on windows warning burglars about the alarms.
Residents were also told to keep an emergency contact on file with their alarm company, which should include any gate and alarm codes and keys to the home.
A surveillance camera system is one of the best tools for law enforcement and a useful resource in investigations, Cannan said. He recommended installing a passive system that records around the clock. An HD system has a higher resolution than an analog system and provides both awareness and identification.
Cannan explained the advantages and disadvantages of wired versus wireless camera systems. He said wired cameras do not depend on WiFi, are high resolution, come in a wide variety of systems and prices and have on-site DVR. But they can be expensive and difficult to install, and the on-site DVR can be stolen or damaged. Wireless camera systems can be easily installed and have high resolution, though no on-site DVR. However, they are not recommended for outside use, require computer connectivity and must record to the cloud.
Cannan advised that in general it’s worth investing in a camera that has a resolution of at least 1080 pixels with 30 days of storage and immediate access to footage. The cameras should be installed where they can be pointed toward the street–at the front porch, side gate and rear door or back sliders.
“Having any sort of camera system is beneficial,” he said. “It’s a great tool for investigations and neighborhood awareness.”
When going on vacation, it’s important to let neighbors know, Cannan said. He recommended placing a hold on mail and newspaper deliveries. As an extra precaution, 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 one’s alarm company. He recommended that residents refrain from posting on social media and advertising that no one is home.
“The more you do to keep your home from looking like an easy target, the safer the home usually will be,” he said.
The lieutenant also shared information about how to start a neighborhood watch group and said those who are interested can order a handbook from the National Neighborhood Watch Institute, as well as signs, after checking with the city regarding specifications before posting them on public roads.
As for preventing vehicle burglaries, Cannan said that for one thing, residents should always lock their car doors and activate the alarm. Don’t invite a break-in by leaving behind valuables such as purses, wallets, laptops and tablets, he said. Items such as house keys, financial documents, credit cards and extra vehicle keys should never be left in the car either, he said, noting that their theft exposes victims to other crimes 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 lieutenant also gave the audience tips on 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 their vehicles, such as color, license plate number, any distinguishing features, make and model, and state license plate. Information about the number of occupants and direction the car was traveling when last seen also can be useful, Cannan said.
To make it easier to recover stolen property, residents should create a list of high-value possessions such as electronics, art, firearms and jewelry. This list should include a description, serial number and value as well as photos, and should be placed in a secure location. A video inventory of possessions would also work.
In dealing with solicitors, Cannan noted that in Saratoga most of them need a permit issued by the city. So when confronted by a solicitor, the resident should ask to see a permit or otherwise call the sheriff’s office. It also helps to post a “No Soliciting” or “Soliciting Prohibited” sign; ignoring the sign even with a permit would be a violation. The only people exempt from the solicitation rules are those doing it 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 it. If a delivery or repair person arrives without notice, it is best to verify with their company before letting them inside. And if they refuse to show their ID or the company they purport to represent states that there’s no appointment scheduled, the best course of action is to call 911, Cannan advised.
Link: Forum shows residents of state’s fifth safest city how to be even safer By Khalida Sarwari
