As we close out the week and head into the holiday weekend, we wanted share some tips on how to help prevent your home from being burglarized while you're away:
• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock ALL outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.
• Most windows can be pinned for security.
• An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners and a variety of systems to choose from.
• If you have an alarm system, use it! Alarm systems are only useful when you remember to activate them.
• Trim shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.
• Form or join a Neighborhood Watch Group. We can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary. Contact our Police Community Relations Unit for additional information.
If your home has a security camera system installed, consider registering it with the Milpitas Police Department's Camera Registration program.
https://forms.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/cameraregistry/
By registering your cameras, we can quickly assess whether any cameras are near the vicinity of where crimes have occurred. Officers may then request to view resident's footage to identify suspects or additional leads. We will NOT have remote access to your system. Footage is provided to us solely at the camera owner's discretion.
If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:
• Do not enter your home.
• Immediately call the Milpitas Police Department from a safe place.
• Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.
