Full Notification

Last week, the following Part 1 crimes occurred in Zone 5 (Valencia). 

A vehicle burglary occurred near the 24500 block of Town Center Drive.  Suspect(s) unknown broke into the victim’s vehicle and stole his personal items.  The victim left the stole items in plain view on his seat and the suspect broke the glass and took the items. 

A grand theft occurred near the 23800 block of Sarda Road.  Suspect(s) unknown entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and stole several items from inside the vehicle.  No signs of forced entry were observed. 

A vehicle theft occurred near the 25800 block of Tournament Road.  The victim had his 2001 Volkswagen Passat stolen from the location. 

During that past week we had several petty thefts occur in the local area.  Several of the cases resulted in suspects being arrested.  

Please remember these few crime prevention tips as the weeks move along.  Thank you and have a great weekend.  Stay safe, until next time. 

Burglary Prevention

Barriers to Burglary

Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Make their work risky and difficult, and you stand a

good chance of stopping them before they get in.

Your first line of defense

To a burglar visibility means vulnerability. They hide behind fences and shrubbery. The

key is to keep trespassers out while keeping your property visible. Use picket or chain

link fences. Keep hedges clipped down around waist level.

On the outside looking in

Burglars try the doors and windows first. If burglars have difficulty here, chances are they will move on to another property.

Doors

• Locks. The strongest are deadbolt locks with a minimum 1" throw bolt containing a

hardened, saw-resistant steel insert. Attach the strike plate to the door frame with 4"

screws. The double cylinder deadbolt lock requires a key from both sides, preventing

a burglar from breaking glass in the door and turning the knob from the inside. Make

sure the cylinder of the lock has a steel guard — a ring around the key section. The

cylinder guard should be tapered, or it should rotate around the key section to prevent

wrenching.

Remember, though, a double cylinder dead- bolt can also block your exit in an emergency.

Check with your local law enforcement agency or building inspector to see if

these locks are permitted in your area.

• Hinges. Doors that swing out have hinges on the outside. A burglar can easily

remove the hinge pins and lift the door out. To foil this, remove the center screw from

each side of the hinge and insert a metal pin or headless screw on one side. When the

door is closed, the end of the pin will fit into the opposite hole. Thus, even if the pins

are removed, the door will remain bolted to the frame.

• Padlocks. Overhead doors, receiving doors, garage doors — all are typically secured

with padlocks and hasps. Look for sturdy padlocks that don’t release the key until the

padlock is closed. The padlock should be case-hardened with a 3/8" shackle to resist

repeated smashing. Remember, a padlock is only as good as the hasps on which it is

mounted; so bolt hasps securely to a metal plate, and make sure the bolts are concealed

when the padlock is closed.

• Door construction. Burglars can kick in a weak door. Replace hollow core doors with

solid core doors, or strengthen the existing ones with metal sheets. Replace weak

door frames, or reinforce them with steel or concrete. Protect glass in the door with

steel bars or mesh; or place a polycarbonate sheet over the glass on the inside.

Windows

Protect windows by putting grates, grill work, or bars over them; or cover the glass on the

inside with a clear polycarbonate sheet. The sheet should extend 1-1/2" beyond the

perimeter of the glass and be bolted to the door. Space the bolts approximately every 3

inches. Unbreakable safety glass is also available, but it is more expensive.

Other entrances

Skylights, ventilation ducts, and fire escapes tempt burglars because these openings

usually are not visible from the street. Protect skylights and ducts with metal grates and

iron bars. The first stair of a fire escape should be too high for the average adult to reach

from the ground. The door or window leading to the escape should be equipped with

emergency exit features: window guards should be removable or hinged to allow for an

emergency exit. Keys to locked windows or door should be kept nearby.

Key control. Because any lock gives way to a key, practice good key control.

• Label keys with a code indicating back door, receiving door, display case, etc.

• Engrave “Do Not Duplicate” on all keys.

• Restrict key-access to your most trusted employees; maintain a log to record removal

and return.

• Consider having locks re-keyed when an employee leaves your business.

Guards

Join neighboring businesses to hire a uniformed guard from a reputable security company.

Check references. The security staff should be familiar with your employees, your

store hours and your shoplifting/internal theft policies.

Lighting

Light is a great crime deterrent. In fact, some states have minimum standards for exterior

lighting. Light up all dark areas, especially doors and windows. If your business is in a

poorly lit commercial area, join with other merchants to petition local government for more

lights or pool funds and underwrite the cost yourselves.

Alarms

Before you invest in an alarm system, weigh the cost against your need. How valuable is

your merchandise? How great is your risk? After installing an alarm, let burglars know

by putting warning signs in windows and entrances.

Every alarm system should include:

• a fail-safe battery backup

• fire-sensing capability

• a feedback device to check the system

For an expert appraisal of your security needs, ask for a premise security survey by your

local law enforcement agency, or check with a reputable security consultant.

Operation Identification

Mark your property with your California driver’s license number (preceded by the letters

“CA”). Then put Operation I.D. decals (obtained from your local law enforcement agency)

on all windows and doors to warn burglars that your property can be traced.

Keep a complete, up-to-date inventory of your merchandise and property: office machinery,

personal belongings, etc. Put a copy in your safe deposit box or at a location away

from the business site.

Remember

Locks and alarms can’t prevent a burglary unless they’re in use. Establish a routine for

“closing up shop,” locking doors and windows, setting up alarms.

If a burglar breaks in

Your best protection against an intruder is visibility: Well-lit open spaces, low counters,

and large, uncluttered display windows — these precautions keep the burglar in the

spotlight.

Put your safe and cash register up front so that the burglar’s activity will be visible from

the outside. Empty your cash drawers and leave them open so a burglar won’t be

tempted to break them open. Anchor safes in concrete, and make sure they have

combination locks. Put locks on all interior doors and hook them into your alarm system.

(Always check fire regulations before installing such locks.)

If you suspect a burglary:

• Don’t go in — the burglar may still be inside.

• Don’t open for business — your employees and customers may unwittingly alter

valuable evidence.

• Call police immediately.

Vehicle Security

You can prevent vehicle theft!

Most cars are taken by amateurs who can be stopped fairly easily. You can increase

your protection against this type of crime by taking the following sensible precautions:

Lock up

• An unlocked car is an open invitation to a car thief. Lock up when you leave your car,

and take the keys with you.

• Lock the trunk or tailgate.

• Close all windows — professional thieves have tools that unlock cars through the

smallest openings.

• Be sure vent or wind-wing windows are shut tight.

• When you park the car, remove cellular phones, cassette players and other valuable

possessions. Do not leave gift-wrapped packages or cameras lying on the seat. Lock

all valuables in your trunk or take them with you.

• Lock your car even if you are making a quick stop at the gas station, convenience store

or mini-mall.

Park carefully

• Don’t leave an auto in unattended public parking lots for an extended period. A car is

five times more likely to be stolen from an unattended lot than from the street or

attended lot.

• If possible, park your car in a lot where you don’t have to leave your keys.

• Never attach a tag with your name and address to your key ring. If the keys are lost or

stolen, the tag will lead the thief directly to your car and your home. If you have to leave

your keys with a parking attendant, leave only the ignition key.

• At night, park in well-lit areas with lots of people around.

• Turn wheels sharply toward the curb when parking, this makes it extra difficult for

thieves to tow your car.

Operation I.D.

• With an electric engraver, etch your driver’s license number (preceded by the letters

“CA”) on cassette players and other valuable items.

• Record your vehicle identification number (located on a small metal plate on the

dashboard of newer cars) and store it in a safe place.

Keep the vehicle registration in your wallet or purse, not in your car.

Use anti-theft devices

• When buying a car, check the manufacturer’s list of anti-theft options, such as interior

hood and trunk releases, locking steering columns and others.

• Consider the purchase and installation of security devices, such as:

– Interior hood lock release.

– Second ignition switch or “kill switch” to prevent electrical current from reach

ing the coil distributor.

– Fuel switch to prevent fuel from reaching the carburetor.

– Locking gas cap.

Crime and Violence Prevention Center • California Attorney General’s Office

– Locking devices for batteries, wheels, decks, etc.

– Alarm device to activate a siren, horn or lights – or all three – to frighten the thief

away.

– Device that attaches to the steering wheel or brake pedal.

Carjacking

This violent, random form of auto theft is on the rise. A driver of any vehicle can be a

target of someone with a weapon. It can happen anywhere, day or night. Here are some

precautions:

• Keep your doors locked.

• Park in well-lit, busy areas.

• Be alert of your surroundings, of people approaching your vehicle.

• Stick with the traffic, avoid lightly traveled streets, especially after dark.

• Keep car and house keys on separate key chains.

• Keep the garage door opener in your purse or briefcase.

• When stopped in traffic, always leave enough room to make an emergency getaway.

• If someone is threatening you with a weapon, give up the vehicle — it’s not worth

your life.

How to prevent theft of other motor vehicles

Thefts of snowmobiles, motorcycles, boats and trail-bikes are also increasing. Many of

the same precautions that apply to cars also apply to recreational vehicles.

Lock It

• Make sure all easy-to-carry items like motors, water skis and camping gear are locked

up before leaving your vehicle.

Chain It

• Vehicles carried on trailers should be secured with a strong chain and padlock.

• When the trailer is not attached to your car, secure it with a heavy chain and lock to a

stationary object.

• Chain your motorcycle or snowmobile to a stationary object such as a lamppost or

sewer grating. Even when your vehicle is in the garage, use a heavy chain and padlock

that resists conventional steel hacksaw blades.

Hope the above tips help you and give you a better understanding on how to make yourself become a tough victim.  Until next week stay safe and enjoy your weekend. 

As always please feel free to call me or email me.

Thank you, 

Deputy Brian Heischuber

[email protected] 
661-255-1121 EXT. 5164 
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station 
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 
Twitter @SCVSheriff http://www.twitter.com/scvsheriff 
Twitter @jdLASD http://www.twitter.com/jdLASD 
SCV Station Homepage - http://www.santaclarita.lasd.org 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SantaClaritaValleySheriffsStation 

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station polices the City of Santa Clarita and the unincorporated communities and a portion of the Angeles National Forest, as well as Bouquet Canyon, Canyon County, Castaic, Gorman, Hasley Canyon, Newhall, Neenach, Sand Canyon, Santa Clarita, Saugus, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Sleepy Valley, Southern Oaks, Stevenson Ranch, Sunset Point, Tesoro del Valle, Valencia, Val Verde, West Hills and West Ranch: http://www.SantaClarita.lasd.org