KING CITY — Every holiday season there is an uptick in the number of thefts, residential and vehicle burglaries and robberies — this year is no different.
“We are already seeing a rise in the number of reported thefts in the City and are sure that there are many more that go unreported,” stated King City Police Department on social media Dec. 5. “We are doing our best to address the problem, but we need your help.”
The department offered the following tips for the community to reduce the chance it will fall victim to one of these crimes:
Prevention
Vehicle Burglaries — Lock your car doors when not using your vehicle and remove all items of value. If thieves look in your window and see nothing, they will likely move on. Park under streetlights if at all possible. Thieves prefer to operate in the dark where visibility is diminished.
Vehicle Thefts — Lock your doors and take your keys when you park your vehicle to prevent easy access. Do not leave your vehicle running unattended. Doing so gives would-be car thieves easy access. “Warm-up” thefts are common and completely preventable.
Residential Burglaries — Lock your doors when you are not home and close your windows. Do not allow burglars easy access to your residence. Consider investing in residential security cameras if you do not have them already. If you already have residential security cameras, make sure that they are operable. They are of no use if they are not working. Know which neighbors have residential security cameras so you can rely this information to the police should you report a crime. In addition, consider registering your security camera system with the police department. Doing so helps us know who has camera systems and whom to contact to view footage.
Porch Thefts — The pandemic ushered in the growth of the shop-from-home industry. The number of packages delivered to private residences has multiplied exponentially. With that, there has been an increase in porch thefts. Thieves either see the boxes sitting on the porch or follow the delivery vehicle into the area. Please try to arrange to be home when your packages are delivered and/or have a trusted neighbor keep an eye out for the delivery. Do not leave the packages sitting on your porch any longer than absolutely necessary. You might also arrange for a pickup at the post office or other delivery service if that option is available.
Robberies — Be aware of your surroundings and know who is around you. When possible, have another person with you when running errands, shopping or conducting business. Robbers most often target people that are alone. Park in well-lit areas if possible. Do not wear flashy items, such as jewelry, and do not openly display cash. Secure your cell phone in your purse or pocket.
Reporting
“You are our eyes and ears in the community,” said King City Police. “There is no way for us to be everywhere all the time and we cannot address what we do not know about.”
Residents can help prevent thefts from occurring by being diligent and reporting all suspicious activity that they see. If it doesn’t look right or feel right, call Monterey County Communications non-emergency line at 831-385-8311 to report it.
“If you have the unfortunate experience of being a victim of theft no matter how minor, call and report it to us,” police said. “We will respond and investigate. Even if we are unable to identify a suspect, this data helps us track criminal activity occurring in particular areas of the City.”
Residential Security Grant Program
The City of King has a residential security camera grant program, which is available to residents looking to purchase a new system. It allows a resident of King City to be reimbursed up to $200 for the purchase of a new system.
To be eligible for reimbursement, the following requirements must be met:
- Resident must submit a Surveillance Camera Program Grant Application to the police department and receive approval prior to purchasing the new residential security camera system;
- The camera system is for outdoor use only and must have at least one camera facing the street;
- The system must have video storage capabilities and recipients agree to provide the police department access if requested for the purpose of investigating a crime in the neighborhood; and
- Recipient agrees to register their residential security camera system with the police department’s registry.
Applications for the residential security grant program are available at the King City Police Department and online at kingcity.com.
“We appreciate your assistance. Working together, we can make a difference,” police said.
