MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNITY ALERT
For Immediate Release No. 20200325-011
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
SMPD Asks for Community’s Help to Prevent Auto Burglaries
While the San Mateo Police Department continues to make arrests of auto burglars, we ask for active prevention participation by our residents and those visiting our city.
San Mateo, CA – The San Mateo Police Department has been scouring our neighborhoods looking for opportunistic property crime suspects and taking them to jail. During the first quarter of this year, SMPD made multiple arrests of auto burglars targeting vehicles in both residential and commercial areas. However, within the last week, we saw the Hayward Park neighborhood targeted during the late night / early morning hours. Auto burglars mostly targeted unlocked cars and stole various items from them.
In response, we’ve increased uniformed patrols for high visibility enforcement. Although it seems like many people aren’t outside this week, criminals are still looking for opportunities to commit crime. We implore our community to partner with us and take preventative measures to protect yourself from falling victim. Together, we can show crooks that we are not a target rich environment during this COVID-19 health emergency.
Crime Prevention Tips
How can you help? It’s simple. Don’t leave valuables in plain view. Better yet, don’t leave them in your vehicle at all. This includes electronics, backpacks, wallets, luggage, purses, etc. It takes only seconds to break a window and steal your property. Thieves watch an area before they target vehicles. You don’t want them watching as you move items to your trunk.
Lock your doors! We found many unlocked cars had been burglarized in Hayward Park. Consider a mental checklist as you exit your vehicle. For example, are my valuables hidden, windows rolled up, doors locked, and did I hear the beep of my alarm?
Do you own a Tesla? Sentry Mode is a feature that allows you to monitor suspicious activities around your Tesla when it’s parked and locked in specified locations. When suspicious motion is detected, your car will react depending on the severity of the threat. If a significant threat is detected, the cameras on your car will begin recording, and the alarm system will activate. You will receive an alert from your Tesla app notifying you that an incident has occurred.
Be aware of your surroundings. Did you park in a well-traveled and well-lit area? Are you in an area where there are a lot of cars and what makes yours more appealing than the next? Are you in a rental vehicle (believe it or not, these are high priority for crooks). Do you see suspicious people walking up and down the aisle of the parking lot looking into vehicles? If you see something suspicious, please call SMPD immediately, (650) 522-7700. We will ask you questions like what the person was wearing, direction of travel, associated vehicle/license plate etc.
If your vehicle was broken in to, call SMPD and do not touch or adjust anything in, on or around your vehicle so that we can process it for evidence.
For more information on Crime Prevention please visit https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4027/Crime-Prevention
Media Contact
Michael Haobsh
Public Information Officer
Media & Community Relations
San Mateo Police Department
Direct: (650) 522-7700
Email: [email protected]
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