COMMUNITY CRIME ALERT – BURGLARS KICK DOORS IN THE HILLS

Berkeley, California (Friday, October 24, 2008) – City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) Property Crimes detectives are alerting the community about a series of daytime burglaries that have been plaguing the North Berkeley Hills in the past two months.

I have clients and friends in the hills. They know people who’s homes have been burglarized. They are scared themselves.

Gone are the days of leaving our doors unlocked during the day. Gone are the days of leaving windows open while you head out to run a few errands. Gone are the days of feeling completely and utterly safe in your home.

The burglar or burglars have been focusing on homes during daytime hours and making off with laptops, electronic equipment, jewelry and bikes. The suspect or suspects have been primarily kicking doors in order to get into the houses, however not exclusively.

According to the Berkeley Police Department, most burglaries are “crimes of opportunity.” But kicking in a door does not signify a crime of opportunity. Here are some things that you can do to try and prevent a burglary from occuring in your home:

1) Keep your doors locked and windows shut at all times
2) Track down who has keys to your house and closely monitor who you give them to
3) Install an alarm system
4) Start a neighborhood watch (we just did this in my neighborhood)
5) Keep all entrances well lit
6) Ask to see ID of all utility workers
7) Do not open your door to solicitors, unless they have a permit from the city
8) Insure any items of value
9) Inform neighbors if you will be out of town
10)Report any suspicious activity to your local police department

BPD is asking for the community’s help with stopping this series. Community members in Berkeley are urged to call BPD at 981-5900 if they note suspicious people or activity in their neighborhood. (Non-emergency dispatch line)

For Crimes in Progress please call 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cell phone.

BPD is a partner of Bay Area Crime Stoppers. (BACS) BACS offers up to $2,000 cash in reward money to those who offer information that detectives determine is helpful to any felony investigation. Anyone with information can call 1-800-222-TIPS. All Bay Area Crime Stoppers calls are completely confidential.

How safe do you feel neighborhood?