Dear Atherton Resident:
During late 2018 and early 2019, Atherton experienced a series of burglaries involving the same method of operation (MO). This MO targeted the second floor master bedrooms with a window smash to gain entry. Investigation of these burglaries revealed they were being committed by organized Chilean gang members operating out of Southern California. Over the last weekend, three very similar burglaries occurred in Atherton on Greenoaks Drive, Nora Way, and Kilroy Way. Our initial investigation has revealed these burglaries may once again be tied to the same group of organized Chilean gang members.
The purpose of this Burglary Prevention letter is to provide you, our resident partners, with information to assist you in helping to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of a burglary. One of the best things you can do to prevent a burglary is to make your house look like someone is home when you are away from your home. There are steps you can take to help make your residence a harder target for burglars. The tips we provide here are part of a concept called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTED is part of the National Crime Prevention Council’s tools to create and support a climate of safety in a community. The website is available at the following link: https://www.ncpc.org/resources/home-neighborhood-safety/crime-prevention-through-environmental-design-training-program/.
The following tips and information are tangible actions you can take to protect your home from burglars and to assist your Police Department in helping prevent burglaries:
Schedule a CPTED review of your home. To arrange a visit, call Jennifer Frew at 650-752-0503 or via email to jfrew@ci.atherton.ca.us to set up an appointment.
Install an alarm system and have it monitored directly by the Police Department with no monthly monitoring fees. For details, call our Dispatch Center at 650-688-6500.
- Install a security camera system.
- Keep your doors/windows locked and keep your garage doors and gates closed.
- Secure and hide your valuables. If you use a safe, make sure it is hidden and secured to the floor and/or wall.
- When away from your home ensure you use lights, TV, radio, to make it appear someone is home.
The Atherton Police Department’s crime prevention efforts are meant to strengthen the partnership between our residents and the community that we serve. The best deterrent to burglaries is you and we need your help. But none of these ideas will help unless they are used properly. Failing to lock doors and windows or to turn on security lighting and alarms will represent a failure of the overall protection system for the home.
We hope that together, we can enhance the quality of life in Atherton and make our great community as safe and secure as possible.
Sincerely,
Steven D. McCulley
Chief of Police