SAFETY TIPS TO PREVENT RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

• Remember, an unlocked lock is not a lock. Always lock your doors and windows even when leaving for just a minute.
• Don’t leave notes indicating you are not at home or when you will return.
• Familiarize yourself with the people and cars in your neighborhood.
• If you see a suspicious vehicle, write down the license plate, if it can be safely obtained.
• Watch out for suspicious people knocking on doors. They may be a potential burglar checking to see if anyone is home. Please cal for police assistance if you suspect a person has suspicious intentions. 
• Screen all work crews and contractors appropriately.
• Never have a name or identification tag attached to your house keys or on the front of your home. If they are ever lost or stolen you might get an unwelcome visitor.
• Never leave a house key hidden outside your home whether it’s under a doormat, in or under a flowerpot, under a rock, or on a door ledge.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked when you are not in or near it. Burglars can enter an open garage and remove bikes, tools, and other expensive items in just a few seconds.
• Keep trees and bushes trimmed so they do not block your view. Overgrown trees and shrubs can also provide concealment for burglars and large tree limbs make great ladders for burglars.
• Make sure that your address numbers are visible both at night and during the day. Also include them on your back fence if your property is adjacent to an aley, as this wil assist police in locating your residence in the case of an emergency.
• Lighting is the number one deterrent of crime, so always keep your home well-lit.
• Keep your porch light on during the night or consider instaling a photocel sensor.  This sensor wil automaticaly turn your lights on at dusk and off at dawn.
• Use timers to turn on lights throughout your house for times when you may not be home.
• Burglary alarms and home surveillance systems, in addition to good locks and lighting, add an extra means of security to your home.
• Engrave your valuables with your California driver's license number.  This makes your property more difficult to pawn and helps law enforcement to identify your property if it is recovered.
• Remember, if you come home and see a broken window, open door, or evidence that someone has been in your home, DON’T GO IN!  Call the police immediately!
  

  Long Beach Police Department
  Call Police Dispatch at (562) 435-6711 to report suspicious activity or dial 9-1-1 for emergencies.