Crime prevention is not seasonal

While the change in weather allows flowers to bloom on the hillsides in beautiful colors and the warmer air allows for more outdoor activities, it does not deter crime and criminal activities.

There are many things that we can do to help ourselves reduce the opportunity of becoming another statistic on the “police blotter” by taking the time to be more cautious in our daily routines.

Always make your home or apartment appear to be occupied. Keep your doors locked, even when you are home. Lock up your house when you are away, even if you leave for just a few moments. Be cautious about leaving windows open more than three inches at any time.

Most residential burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when children are at school and parents are at work, and take less than 10 minutes.

Advise family and trustworthy neighbors when you are going to be away for any length of time, and the Sheriff’s Department offers free security checks of your home while you are away.

For many more ideas to consider, call the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 451-3124 for a free in-home security consultation.

Leaving things in plain view in your car is an invitation or challenge for a thief to take those items. If you do not want anything stolen from your car, do not leave valuables in your car. As you leave your vehicle, roll the windows up, lock the doors, set the alarm if you have one and leave nothing in view of a passerby, even when you park in your own driveway.

Report suspicious activity when you see it. If you see something that does not look right, call the Sheriff’s Department as it happens, if you are able, and have the deputies check it out. The important thing, above all, is to report the activity as soon as you can.

Be a good witness by getting a suspect’s description, the make and color of the car, license plate numbers and the last known direction of travel. Do so safely and do not put yourself in harm’s way; let the trained professionals investigate suspicious activity. It may be nothing, but then again, you may have just prevented a criminal activity from taking place.

Establish and maintain an active Neighborhood Watch Program, a simple three-step program in which people of all ages can participate. You and your neighbors know your area better than anyone else, so become involved in crime deterrence by being an active member of your Neighborhood Watch.

To establish a program in your neighborhood, call the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 451-3124.