Police Say, 'Don't Be a Victim in 2012'

Have you made New Year's resolutions for 2012 yet?

If so, the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) invites you to add one more to your list - the resolution to not be a victim of crimes of opportunity this year, and to help keep your neighborhood safe.

Recently, MPD received a report from a resident who had accidentally left his garage door open overnight, and an opportunistic thief stole his snowboard. A woman’s purse was stolen from her car when she left it on the front passenger seat. Elsewhere, a child’s bicycle was left outside, then stolen.

"Obviously, no one asks to be a victim," says Officer Mark Doyle of the Community Relations department, who coordinates many efforts in town such as . "However, each of these cases may have been avoided if the owners had been more cautious."

Doyle says, many thefts are "crimes of opportunity."

"The easier you make it to steal your property, the more likely you are to become a victim," he explained.

In contrast, cautious safeguarding and early reporting of suspicious activity can keep residents, their possessions, and their neighborhoods safe.

"It should be your goal to deter and delay a would-be thief’s efforts to steal from you, so that the risk of making you the target outweighs the potential gain," Doyle explained. "More simply, if a thief doesn’t see any temptations in plain view or thinks he might get caught, he’s likely to leave you and your property alone."

Officer Doyle and the MPD encourage residents to follow these simple tips to reduce the chances of becoming a victim at home:

• Close and lock your doors and windows at night and while away.

• Install secondary locks, rods, or dowels to prevent opening of closed windows by force.

• Be sure automatic garage doors close completely and stay closed before leaving the area - pets and small debris may trigger the safety mechanism and reopen the door.

• Do not leave valuables such as bicycles, tools, toys and the like unattended in your front yard or on your porch.

• Record the serial numbers of and engrave your driver’s license number into electronic devices for easy identification and recovery in case your property is stolen.

• Keep side gates closed and padlocked.

• Install a home burglar alarm and use it consistently.

• Keep trees and bushes trimmed to prevent privacy for burglars or prowlers.

• Use motion sensor lights to properly light the front door, driveway, and other pathways around your home.

• Never leave valuables unattended in parked cars, especially in plain view.

• Familiarize yourself with your neighbors and their vehicles in order to recognize strangers to your neighborhood.

• Immediately report any suspicious activity around your home or neighborhood to the police. Call 911 if necessary.

• Immediately call 911 to report the activation of a burglar alarm in your neighborhood. Your call may give the police the head start necessary to catch a fleeing thief.

• If a crime occurs, report it. Report major or recent crimes to the police immediately. Minor or prior cases may also be reported by phone or online for your convenience.

Officer Doyle also suggests, if your neighborhood does not have an active , please consider calling MPD to start one.

In summary, "Be vigilant in protecting yourself, your property, and neighborhood," Doyle says. "The Milpitas Police Department wishes you a safe and crime-free New Year, and we are always here to serve you."

The Milpitas Police Department may be contacted at 408-586-2400. Information can be also be given anonymously by calling the crime tip hotline at 408-586-2500, or via the Milpitas Police Department website.