Police officer offers crime prevention tips

Residents can learn how to protect themselves from crime by following these simple, commonsense suggestions. Share these tips with your neighbors and friends too, and make it tough for criminals to work in your neighborhood.

While you are at home

Always keep your doors and windows locked. Install deadbolt locks on all your doors.

Keep your home well lit at night, inside and out, and keep your curtains closed at night.

Install a peephole in your front door so you can see callers without opening the door.

Ask for proper identification from deliverymen or strangers. Don't be afraid of asking. If they are legitimate, they won't mind.

If a stranger asks to use your telephone, offer to place the call yourself. Never let a stranger into your home.

Don't leave notes on your door when you're gone and don't hide your keys under the mat or in other conspicuous places.

Never give out information over the phone indicating you're alone or that you won't be home at a certain time.

When you're gone for more than a day, make sure your home looks and sounds occupied. Use an automatic timer to turn on lights and a radio or TV.

Tips for preventing

car break-ins

Don't leave valuables in the car.

If you must leave valuables in the car, never leave them visible. Lock them in the trunk.

Park in well-lit areas.

Park as close to inhabited areas as possible.

Try not to park between two high-profile vehicles or anywhere your car might be obscured.

Always lock your car and use an audible alarm.

Keep the inside of your car clean so the absence of valuables is obvious to anyone who looks in.

Don't advertise your car's contents with window decals, those of audio component makers, for example.

Don't store CDs or other valuables on your car's visor.

Immediately report subjects loitering or other suspicious activity in parking areas to your local police.

Sgt. Pat Buckley is president of the Ventura County Sheriff's Association and the California Attorney General's Crime Prevention Center.