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

Crime Fighters,

One can obtain information on just about anything. Whether the information comes from a book, word of mouth, the Internet, or any other resource the information can be dangerous to the well being of others. For example, recently a few ice bombs were detonated at a local middle school and another group tried to detonate an explosive device on a city street. Fortunately, no one was injured, the property damage was minimal but in both incidents the suspects were teenagers. We may never know where the suspect(s) got the idea and why the suspect(s) decided to set-off an explosive device but we need to unveil the inherent hazards and damaging effects so that they do not engage in dangerous behavior. These ice bombs are extremely destructive, can cause serious injury and death and because of this severe hazard the act is classified as a felony. Many see these ice bombs as harmless because they do not comprehend the destructive power of these devices. Let’s work together and stop this behavior before someone gets hurt, maimed, or killed.

Purchases typically increase during the holiday season and the use of those credit cards is commensurate with the amount of purchases. With the credit cards getting a workout and our lives becoming increasingly busier, it is easy to overlook or forget to review the credit card statements. Please make time to periodically review those statements because one can minimize the damage and loss suffered the sooner the fraud is detected. These losses not only involve the use of credit cards but the checking and savings accounts can be also compromised. The number of financial crimes being committed is increasing so be on-guard and protect your assets.

During the summer we experienced a rash of thefts from truck beds. The thefts ranged from landscaping equipment to construction tools to personal mementos. With your help by taking preventative measures and alerting your neighbors and friends, the amount of these thefts decreased. These types of thefts, however, are back and those unattended and unsecured items are being taken from truck beds at all hours of the day. If you value what is in the truck bed, please do not leave the property unattended.

Once more a thief is targeting the parking lots of exercise facilities. When the victim goes inside for the workout, the thief is breaking into the vehicles and taking items that were left in plain view. In these thefts, the method of operation (MO) has been to drill a small hole under the door handle and defeat the locking mechanism. These crimes of opportunities could have been prevented if the victims did not keep visible valuables inside the vehicles and if they were alert for suspicious persons and vehicles. Whether you are parking at a shopping center or at a gym facility, please be observant for crooks that are looking for victims and try to park in areas that have surveillance cameras. The vehicles in these thefts were not parked in areas that were covered by surveillance cameras.

More deceitful e-mails are being sent. In this old scam the new twist is that the e-mail is supposedly sent from someone the victim knows as the ‘from’ line has the acquaintance’s name. The impostor asks for money to be sent because of some hardship. The true acquaintance, however, never sent the e-mail, never asked for money, and has nothing to do with the e-mail. In these scams, the e-mail addresses are typically taken from some sort of membership that the victim belongs to. Please scrutinize any request for funds and ensure that the circumstances are legitimate so that you do not fall prey to these scoundrels. Remember that the fictitious e-mails can be sent and received on hand held devices.

As always, to report crime, suspicious persons or vehicles, or to request an officer, please call 805-654-9511.

Lastly, we teamed with our good friends at Thousand Oaks Television (TOTV) and made a public service announcement (PSA) regarding loss prevention. Look for the PSA on TOTV this week. A great thank you to TOTV.

Take care,

Jim (DeSoto)