Tips for Preventing Residential and Vehicular Burglaries

Week after week, you an read it in the Patch crime blotter: property crimes are the most prevalent offenses in La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta.

Residential and vehicular burglaries are the two crimes to which authorities respond most often, said Dep. Jorge Valdivia, community relations coordinator for the .

And because thieves typically get a return of only 10 cents on the dollar when fencing merchandise, burglars often break into several homes or several cars to get the money they want, he said.

Valdivia pointed out that once burglars have succeeded in entering a home, they don’t want to stay there long. They try to grab small items that will fetch them money easily and quickly.

Typical items that burglars target are jewelry, small sized electronics, credit cards, check books, cash and coins, video games and guns. The most commonly swiped items from cars include GPS systems, money and Jewelry, cameras, IPOD’s, cell phones, CD and DVD’s, satellite radios, electronic games, computers, and sunglasses.

Currently, gold prices are at an all-time high and any jewelry and/or electronics containing any amount of gold have recently been a highly desirable target for burglars, Valdivia said.

Ways to cut down your chances for being a victim of property crimes:

•Keep all doors and windows locked.

•Get - and activate - an alarm system. Even if you’re only leaving for work, best to turn on that which thwarts thieves.

•Secure valuables in a safe place. 

•If you must leave valuables in the car, keep them out of plain sight.