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Taking a closer look at burlaries, vehicle thefts and prevention
During my employment as a Police Officer for the City of Lemoore, I have been assigned to the Kings County Gang Task Force and the patrol division. I have investigated numerous calls for service related to residential and vehicular burglaries. Unfortunately, a vast majority of these crimes go unsolved. As a police officer, I know that I have contacted several people in my career who were in possession of stolen property that I could not identify as being stolen property. Most property that is stolen contains a serial number. If the serial number is documented and turned over to the police during the time of a burglary or theft report, the likelihood of the property being located and returned to the owner increases greatly. Serial numbers are entered into a state wide database accessible by all law enforcement officers. If your belongings contain serial numbers, please take the time to record and store that information in a safe location.
Vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles are crimes frequently investigated by the officers of the Lemoore Police Department. The difference between a vehicle burglary and a theft from a vehicle is determined by the condition of the vehicle when the items are stolen. If your vehicle is locked with all the windows rolled up and someone uses force (other than just lifting a door handle) to enter your vehicle, it is a felony and punishable by time in state prison or county jail. If your vehicle is not locked or the windows are not rolled up, the value of the property stolen determines if the theft is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. The dollar amount of the stolen items has to exceed $950.00 to be considered a felony.
The officer's and staff at the Lemoore Police Department would like to encourage all citizens to make sure that you take an extra second to look through your vehicle before you leave. Please secure your vehicle and make sure that you leave nothing of value in plain sight to entice criminals to enter and steal your property. Also, never leave purses, wallets, cell phones, iPods, mp3 players, lap top computers, or money inside your vehicle. Electronic charging cords can also lead criminals to wonder what else is inside your vehicle.
Several residential burglary reports have been reported to the Lemoore Police Department. Homes being burglarized tend to be a result of vehicles being accessed and the criminal using the garage door opener to get inside the house. If you have a garage door opener inside your vehicle but do not park your vehicle in the garage, take it out. A garage door opener in a vehicle parked outside is a key to your residence.
Surveillance cameras positioned around your residence to monitor doors, windows, and vehicles in your driveway are a benefit to law enforcement in assisting to identify and capture criminals. Surveillance systems have dropped significantly in price and are a great addition to the security of your residence. If the price of a quality surveillance system is still out of reach, fake (or dummy) cameras are available at a fraction of the cost and still act as a deterrent if placed in a visible location for criminals to think they are being recorded. Also, the addition of motion sensor lighting around your residence is another form of security. If a motion sensor light is activated by a criminal, they are more likely to leave because they can now be seen by neighbors and/or people passing by. Criminals lurk, hide, and commit crimes in the dark. The addition of motion sensor lighting will assist in the clarity of your surveillance cameras as well.
With all the things I've mentioned, the best advice I can give is to get to know your neighbors. Talk to them about being actively involved in watching out for each other’s property. If so inclined, you can contact CSO Soledad Perez or me at the Lemoore Police Department (924-9574) to see how you can become an active participant in the Lemoore Police Department's "Neighborhood Watch" Program. Remember, if you see suspicious activity or a crime occurring, call 911. The Lemoore Police Department needs your assistance to help reduce crime in our city. We want to keep it a safe place to live and raise our children.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me, Officer Thomas Duvall, at (559) 925-6878 or by email at thomas.duvall@lemoorepd.com.
