Full Notification

Nature of Incident: "Prevent Crime While You Dine"

Report Number: Multiple

Location: Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village

Date & Time: Evening Hours

Unit(s) Responsible:
Thousand Oaks Police Department; East County Investigations

Narrative:
A recent increase in residential burglaries has been occurring in the city of Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities. These burglaries share some commonalities, including being located near open space.
 
Recently, residential properties have been targeted that are typically near open spaces, or have large open spaces or hiking trails to the rear of the residence. Several of these homes are within gated communities that employ private security. While this is an extra layer of security for the resident, it has not prevented the suspects from approaching the properties on foot through these open spaces and entering the backyards.
 
Suspects look for indicators that the residence is unoccupied and then force entry inside. A large number of these crimes have been occurring between 5 pm to 9 pm. Suspects have been targeting jewelry, small safes, and valuables, mostly within the master bedroom. It is possible in some cases that the suspects watched the residence and waited for the occupants to leave. Some of these victims discovered their home was burglarized after returning from dining out.
 
The Thousand Oaks Police Department is currently investigating these cases and taking additional measures to try and prevent further burglaries.  The Thousand Oaks Police Department would also like homeowners and residents to take extra precautions to protect themselves and their property:
 
When leaving your home, leaving lights on inside can be a deterrent.
Install high quality interior and exterior cameras with clear day and night time resolution.
Have cameras cover common entry points such as front door, back windows and back sliding doors.
Choose camera systems that can alert you of activation with an app on your phone.
A camera which can capture vehicle license plates on the street can be very helpful.
It is also important to become familiar with your camera security system so that you can access and or download the footage if needed.
 
Remember to call 911 if you witness a crime or discover you are a victim of a crime.  If you are away from your home and receive an alert from your camera system and confirm suspicious activity, make Sheriff’s Dispatch your first call at (805) 654-9511.  If you call 911 from another jurisdiction, your call will be delayed while the agency answering routes your call to us.
 
While away, store your jewelry and valuables in a safe place such as a safe, separate hidden location, or security deposit box. Avoid keeping jewelry in easily accessible dresser drawers and night stands. If you choose to own a safe, having a high quality heavy safe that is bolted to the foundation is a better option. It may be a good option to photograph and document any valuable jewelry you own, so that in the unfortunate event it is stolen, a record is kept of the jewelry that is still outstanding. If you choose to keep currency in your home, be sure to also keep this in a secure place.
 
An alarm system which detects glass breakage is helpful. Motion sensor alarm systems that cover your master bedroom and entry points are a good option. Talk with your alarm system company about how they alert Police Dispatch to alarm activations to ensure police are notified in a timely manner and can respond appropriately. Some security systems can send alerts and live video to your smartphone, so you can in turn quickly notify Sheriff’s Dispatch of a crime in progress at your home.
 
Take note of the make, model, and license plate of any suspicious vehicles that are parked in the neighborhood that look unfamiliar. Immediately report suspicious persons that are trying to conceal their identity or are acting nervous. The Thousand Oaks Police Department requests that you do not approach suspicious persons or vehicles. Call Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805) 654-9511 to report suspicious activity, and a deputy will respond to investigate. Becoming a member of your neighborhood watch can allow you to participate in protecting your own community by reporting suspicious activity.
 
Prepared by: Detective Theodore Stern
 
News Release Date: March 1, 2019
 
Media Follow-Up Contact:
Detective Theodore Stern
[email protected]
(805) 494-8211 / (805) 947-8308
 
 Approved by: Captain Denise Sliva
  
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
###