Recent Rash of Residental Burglaries in La Mesa: Don’t Assume You’re Immune

Last week, the LMPD released a Crime Alert regarding a rash of recent home burglaries throughout La Mesa.  Targeted streets have included Stanford Avenue, Normandie Place, Harbinson Avenue, Eastridge Drive, Valley View Circle, Black Mountain Road, Rockledge Road, Shirlene Place, Spring Street, 4th Street, Palm Avenue, and Chevy Chase Drive.  

Suspects have used various tools to pry or break open doors or windows.  Common items stolen include televisions, computers, jewelry, and cash.

50% of these burglaries took place during work hours, between 7am and 6pm. During the day, many La Mesa streets are bare of vehicles.  This is an indication to potential burglars that no one is home and no one is watching. 

What can you do? 

The first thing you can do it not assume that it won’t happen to you.  That is one of the hapless assumptions I made several years ago when I left my home vulnerable by leaving the back sliding door unlocked. 

I came home while 3 males were ransacking our house, packing up our computers , flat screen TV’s and laptops into our suitcases. The 2 juveniles and 1 adult were all caught and all of our belongings were returned.  Unfortunately, our case is not typical. Many of these perpetrators get away with it.

That day, by some stroke of luck and the good work of the LMPD, we were given a second chance and so I was determined to do everything possible to secure our home.  It’s amazing how vigilant you become after it has happened to you.   

Learn from our mistakes and take precautions.

• Install an alarm system with monitoring which is required to alert police in case of a break-in.
• ALWAYS set the alarm when leaving the house.  Newer systems offer convenient remote keys to easily arm or disarm your system without having to rush to your control panel.
• Display the alarm company sign prominently in the front yard as well as surveillance camera stickers to deter potential burglars.
• Put a No Soliciting sign on your gate or front door.
• Install motion detector lights around the house including the backyard.
• Install landscaping lights in the front yard to provide more light.
• Password protect your computer and all sensitive documents.
• Subscribe to an online secure storage service for important computer files.
• Purchase a safe for your valuables and be sure to securely bolt it to the floor.
• Keep an inventory of your valuables for insurance purposes. Quicken has a great home inventory program or you can simply take photos, organize your receipts and list your items on paper and keep all the information in a safe.

Ironically, we had just installed a surveillance camera system around the perimeter of our home one month prior to the burglary and caught the whole thing on video.  Needless to say, I am a supporter of surveillance cameras. We had ours installed for a completely different reason but I will leave that for a future blog.

Have you been burglarized? How did it affect you? Did you take any measures to secure your home? Did you become more vigilant about locking up your home? Leave your comments.