.png)
Lock your doors and windows when away from your home, comes a reminder from the South Pasadena Police Department.
“We have seen a rise in residential burglaries,” noted Crime Prevention Officer Richard Lee, noting that most have occurred during the daytime hours.
He encourages residents to “always make your home appear occupied, as burglars will often knock on your door to see if anyone is home,” he said. “If no one answers, they will look for an opened window, or pry a door open. If a resident answers, the burglar will ask for a ‘friend’ that is supposed to live there.”
Lee stressed the importance of making a home appear occupied and “lock all doors and windows,” he said. “Have radios on timers during the day and lights on timers at night.
Video doorbells are a great deterrent as well as alarms. Place alarm signs clearly in the front yard and keep side gates locked.”
Lee said two hot prowl residential burglaries occurred in the city recently. “Hot Prowl burglaries means that the burglar entered the residence while the homeowner is inside,” he explained. “Thankfully, in both incidents the homeowners were not harmed and the burglars ran away when confronted.
If you are home and hear unexpected noises, make noise and let the burglar know you are home. If you have an alarm, activate the panic alarm and call the police.”
If possible, in that situation, Lee recommends exiting the home safely. “If you can’t safely exit, lock yourself in a room and call 9-1-1,” Lee said. “Should you return home and discover a door or window unexpectedly opened, do not go inside! Call the police immediately. If you see a burglar exit your home, don’t chase after them. Note their clothing and direction of travel and immediately call the police.”
