Thousand Oaks City Watch Update - December 15th, 2008

Here is the latest "City Watch" alert from Deputy Jim DeSoto of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. If you are interested in receiving these updates directly from him via email, click here for more information.

Greetings Crime Fighters,

The last two weeks have been busy around the city and different activities are taking place in separate areas of the city. We must all work together in preventing crime and by forwarding these e-mails to others we can help put the bad guys in jail. Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign-up for City Watch at tocity.watch@ventura.org

Our friends in Newbury Park are being victimized by residential burglaries. The burglaries are occurring during all hours of the day and the criminals are making both forceful and non-forceful entries into residences. A typical ploy is for the criminal to knock on the door or ring the doorbell and when no one responds or answers the door, the criminal walks into your backyard to gain entry into your residence. Neighbors look out for each other and report all suspicious activity or make a note about the descriptions of the people and vehicles that you observe. Also, be alert to legitimate looking vehicles that are used to ruse residents about the vehicle’s occupants authenticity. For instance, business vehicles are typically stolen in one city and then used in another city to commit residential burglaries. As a helpful reminder to help thwart residential burglaries, lock all doors and windows whenever the residence will be unoccupied and lock your side gates so easy access cannot be made into your back yard. A person jumping over a fence or gate is a lot more suspicious than a person opening a side gate and walking through.

The north end of the city has been experiencing thefts from mailboxes. These crooks are looking for easy credit and your personal information. The thieves typically will steal from mailboxes soon after the postal person delivers the mail in the residential area. Be on the alert for these types of thefts as they will not go away anytime soon as the crime is easy and can be profitable. If at all possible, please consider using a P.O. Box or a locked mailbox.

Locked and unlocked thefts from vehicles continue to occur in all areas of the city. Please do not store valuables in your vehicles particularly overnight or when the vehicles will be unattended for extended periods of time. There is another type of theft that is as common and happens just as easily as thefts from unsecured vehicles. Many landscapers, construction and contract workers leave their tools and equipment in the beds of their trucks. Unfortunately, many thieves drive around looking for such vehicles and make the most of this criminal opportunity. Be on the watch for these types of crimes because they often happen.

Lastly, this is the season of giving gifts and, sadly, illegally taking property of others. People have already been duped and conned out of their earnings. Well-versed people may approach you in need of help (not necessarily for financial help) and the victim ends-up being tricked and scammed out of property or money. Do not make rash or spontaneous decisions. Please help others who are less fortunate but be judicious in your generosity.

Take care friends,

Jim (DeSoto)