By Khalida Sarwari
While most of us are spending the holidays doing what we can to spread goodwill and cheer to our family, friends and neighbors, a few bad apples use the time to prey on others. The good news is that West Valley residents can take proactive measures to safeguard against holiday-related crime.
“During the holiday season, we tend to see an increase in property crimes related to package theft and mail thefts, burglaries and fraudulent activity,” said Lt. Clint Tada, a spokesman for the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
That means now, more than ever, it’s important to secure all windows, doors and side gates and remove garage door openers from cars parked on the driveway or along the curb. Go a step further and activate all alarm systems and surveillance cameras.
If you’re going to be out of town for a significant period of time, go ahead and notify neighbors you trust so that they can keep an eye on your property while you’re gone, said Tada. What you shouldn’t do, however, is tip off people on your social media sites to the fact that you’re away. And don’t forget to halt the delivery of your mail and newspaper service.
Residents are also encouraged to use a vacation check provided by the police department. Officers can conduct routine residence checks while homeowners are away.
“Our officers and employees assigned to the [vacation check] program conduct thorough daily checks of the residences, walking the perimeter and checking for suspicious activity at the residence or in the surrounding areas,” Tada said.
The department also offers a video surveillance database program where individuals and business owners can register their surveillance systems with police to help them solve crimes in neighborhoods. Surveillance systems can be registered online at JoinOnWatch.com.
Fraud is another unfortunate part of the holidays. To prevent against fraud, Tada recommends checking your bank statements regularly and setting fraud alerts through your bank. When using your credit card at gas pumps or ATMs, do a quick scan for credit card skimmers on the machines, and when possible, choose credit versus debit, he said.
A few more tips: avoid giving payment information over the phone and use secure websites to do research on suspicious phone calls and to verify companies.
The holidays are no time to abandon safe drinking habits, but unfortunately drunk driving-related fatalities tend to spike this time of year. This year, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has a message for anyone who will be imbibing in drinks at their holiday parties: “Drive sober or get pulled over.”
As part of a national enforcement campaign period, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers throughout the South Bay through Jan. 3. A DUI saturation patrol in Saratoga is scheduled to take place on Dec. 26.
To prevent yourself or your loved ones from becoming a DUI-related statistic, designate a sober driver or call a cab, Uber, Lyft or Curb.
A few more tips: avoid giving payment information over the phone and use secure websites to do research on suspicious phone calls and to verify companies.
The holidays are no time to abandon safe drinking habits, but unfortunately drunk driving-related fatalities tend to spike this time of year. This year, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has a message for anyone who will be imbibing in drinks at their holiday parties: “Drive sober or get pulled over.”
As part of a national enforcement campaign period, sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers throughout the South Bay through Jan. 3. A DUI saturation patrol in Saratoga is scheduled to take place on Dec. 26.
To prevent yourself or your loved ones from becoming a DUI-related statistic, designate a sober driver or call a cab, Uber, Lyft or Curb.
“Just make sure before you go out, you have a plan: you know who your designated driver is going to be or you have Uber or Lyft in your cell phone,” said Sgt. James Jensen, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. “Getting a DUI is a lot more expensive than buying an Uber trip.”
This is the time to take advantage of the California Office of Traffic Safety’s DDVIP app, which allows users to “map a spot” with their current location to find partnering bars and restaurants in their area that offer free incentives for designated drivers. The app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices.
Other tips to get home safely after a night of drinking include: plan a safe way to get home before you attend the party, because when you’re impaired you’re more likely to choose to drive drunk; designate a sober driver, take public transportation, use a car service or call a sober friend or family member to drive or walk you home; and if you see someone you think is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them find a way to get home safely.
Above all, staying vigilant goes a long way toward personal safety, said Tada.
“We understand that the holiday season is busy for residents, and we ask citizens to slow down, don’t get complacent, and take extraordinary measures to prevent themselves from being a victim of a crime,” he said.
Tada and Jensen recommended alerting the authorities of any suspicious circumstances. Los Gatos and Monte Sereno residents are encouraged to call 408.354.8600 to report suspicious activity or people. Saratoga residents can do the same by calling the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office West Valley Station at 408.868.6600.
