Police say they had 16 reports of cars and residential garages being broken into last Friday night.
On Monday, they said there are a number of steps you should take to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.
More than a dozen break-ins and thefts in just one night in Los Altos.
Police say all of the incidents had one thing in common, people left their car doors unlocked.
“We are not immune to crime so that’s why we always tell everyone to lock your belongings up and keep your belongings safe,” Agent Jessica Vernon with the Los Altos Police Department said.
Vernon says most of these crimes happened in neighborhoods all within a mile of each other including Truman Avenue, Elmhurst Drive and Oakhurst Drive.
“They probably hopped off of the freeway and said hey look let’s hop in this town and see what we can get,” Vernon said.
Adding insult to injury, some people also left their electric garage door openers in their unlocked cars, making them even more vulnerable to theft.
“You got to also take that garage door opener out because they will get into your garage and they can potentially get into house if you leave your door open as well,” Vernon said.
Police say some other things to keep in mind include:
- always lock your car doors
- remove important personal belongings
- consider getting an alarm system if you don’t have one
Police say the City of Los Altos is often considered one of the safest cities in California but criminals will take advantage no matter where you live.
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