Police warn summer months are prime time for burglars

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Police in the South Bay are reminding people of something very important during these hot summer months. It's one of the prime times for burglars to break into your home.

It's vacation time for many people and that can mean an open invitation for a burglar to strike.

Police shared some tips on how you can protect your home.

"I'll open the door, open the window, let it air out and then go upstairs and go to bed. And this is right open to the street," San Jose resident Rachel Tano said.

Tano is constantly trying to remember to lock windows and doors. "I think about it all the time because I know I've had neighbors who've had break-ins before and I'm always checking all the doors and windows before I go to bed at night or if I'm leaving the house," she said.

But police say sometimes just remembering to lock up is not enough. For example, get an extra lock to screw onto the bottom of your window, make sure you have a dead bolt and buy a door jamb to make it difficult to kick in a door.

"They have to go through more steps to get into your property and unfortunately, the houses that have fewer deterrents are the easier targets," San Jose Police Crime Prevention's Sonia Azevedo said.

So far this year, San Jose police report property crimes are up compared to last year. Burglaries are up 10 percent. Larceny is at 7 percent and vehicle theft has increased 48 percent.

Divya Laguduvar feels she was close to being a victim. At 12:30 a.m. Friday, her Ring Doorbell captured a man in a hoodie looking at her open window, scoping it out.

"When we saw it, I was like totally freaked out. It's never happened and we just got this camera," Laguduvar said.

Police recommend adding layers of protection, like an alarm system. When you go on vacation, set a timer for lights to go on and off. But the best prevention is to get to know your neighbors, who will watch out for you.

Burglary Prevention Workshops

The San Jose Police Department Crime Prevention Unit and Santa Clara County District Attorney Prosecution unit are presenting several workshops throughout the City of San Jose on burglary prevention. Topics covered include:

• How to discourage, deter, and prevent residential crimes such as burglaries and auto theft.
• Burglary trends in San Jose
• Judicial process
• Information on how to host a Neighborhood Watch Meeting

For additional questions please call 408-277-4133

Join the SJPD at one of the following locations:

• Southern Division: July 11, 2017 - 6:30pm-8:00pm Southside Community Center Rooms 8 & 9, 5585 Cottle Road
• Western Division: July 12, 2017 - 6:30pm-8:00pm Bascon Community Center Multipurpose Room, 1000 s Bascom Ave.
• Central Division: July 19, 2017 - 7:00pm-8:30pm Berryessa Community Center Multipurpose Room, 3050 Berryessa Rd.
• Foothill Division: July 27, 2017- 7:00pm-8:30pm Hillview Library Multipurpose Room, 1600 Hopkins Drive

Click here for more police tips about how to prevent burglaries.