SCV Sheriff Targets Property Crime

In recent months, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has seen a small increase in the number of automobile burglaries and theft from automobiles in the Santa Clarita Valley.  As part of our crime analysis and proactive approach to reducing crime, we have documented and are tracking 45 such incidents in the Saugus area occurring between August 14, 2007, and October 09, 2007. Refer to the crime analysis map by clicking here for a detailed look.

Captain Anthony La Berge would like to remind everyone that we all need to do our part to help reduce and prevent crime in our community. We must all work together to strengthen our partnership, avoid becoming easy targets of these property crimes and send a "Not in Santa Clarita" message.

The recent incidents of theft all seem to share several common factors:

• They are generally occurring between 6:00 in the evening and 8:00 in the morning.
• They are occurring when residents leave electronic items, purses, wallets or other items of value in plain view inside their parked car.
• Many of the vehicles in these recent incidents were left unlocked or the window was smashed when the criminal opportunist apparently looked inside and saw valuable items.

Help us help you by taking a few simple precautions:

• Call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, (661) 255-1121, at the first sign of anyone casing vehicles, looking into vehicles or loitering around them.
• Call 9-1-1 if you see anyone tampering with automobiles.
• Lock your car doors.
• Remove garage door openers and all items of value, such as GPS devices, cell phones, computers, purses, and I-Pods if the vehicle will be parked in a driveway or on the roadway.
• At the very least, the items should be placed out of view or locked in the trunk.
• Residents should also ensure their main and side garage doors are closed and locked.

Captain La Berge is urging all residents to follow these simple preventative measures, even if their car is going to be parked in any public area at any hour of the day or night. Our station will be releasing a public service announcement later this month to help raise awareness in how to avoid being a victim of vehicle related property crimes. Other enforcement operations are also planned. Working together we can make the difference. For questions or additional information, please contact Sergeant Darren Harris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station at (661) 799-5814.