Nearly 30 residents met in the Barth Community Room of Crowell Library on Monday, June 5 to discuss the increased number of burglaries in their neighborhoods.
It was published in The Tribune in March that there had been 25 residential burglaries and six attempted burglaries since the start of 2017.
As of the end of this May, that number has climbed to a total of 46 residential burglaries and 16 attempted burglaries.
Six of those burglaries occurred around the home of Ghassan Roumani in the last three months. San Marino Police Department officers picked up a suspect in connection with one of the burglaries in his neighborhood Wednesday morning.
Roumani, a resident of Oak Knoll, and his daughter, Nadia, organized the meeting of concerned neighbors and invited San Marino Police Chief John Incontro to address the audience.
Almost all recent burglaries took place be tween the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and while homeowners were not home, Chief Incontro said. Though there aren’t many other obvious characteristics or trends across burglaries, it’s thought neighborhoods are scouted on bike at night.
He noted that when a burglar enters a home, they generally go to the bedroom first—searching through drawers, then under the bed and followed by a look between mattresses.
Chief Incontro also identified the various types of burglaries that occur when homeowners are home.
They include quick burglaries, burglaries where suspects enter through the back door by breaking a window, and burglaries where someone distracts the homeowner at the front door while a partner breaks in through the back.
Surveillance support will be provided at several locations across San Marino by a new, large mobile camera, which will be ready to enter the field in the near future, according to Incontro.
He added that the city recently sent letters to residents regarding the city’s new vacant property registration ordinance, which could potentially discourage criminal activity at vacant residences.
Incontro suggested that residents take a variety of actions to increase their protection, including keeping the front and back doors locked at all times, turning on the alarm system when leaving the house, installing a backup battery for the alarm system, not leaving packages or mail on the front door and much more.
A full list of what residents can do:
- Keep front and back door locked at all times
- Turn alarm system on when home and when leaving home
- Install a back-up battery for your alarm system
- Do not leave packages or mail at the front door
- At all times, make it look like there is someone home – cars in the driveway, lights on, audible music
- Make sure gate is closed
- Have mail delivered to a mailbox store either permanently or if/when traveling. Or if traveling, have mail forwarded to a neighbor who is not traveling.
- Buy a bat and keep it near you
- If traveling, have a neighbor park a car in your driveway
- Clean cobwebs near doorways
- If you are away from your home do not post your location on social media. If you choose to post on social media, post the message/photos once you return home
- If you have any valuables, place them in a locked safe that is bolted to the ground.
- If you are traveling, have a neighbor check on your property every day or bring a house sitter
- Homeowners might want to install cameras on their property. The footage from these cameras can be helpful when investigating a burglary in your house or neighboring house.
- If you see people biking late at night, inform the police
He also encouraged residents to be vigilant and report anything they see that seems out of the ordinary.
Since the Monday meeting, Chief Incontro has communicated several neighbor concerns to the appropriate city departments. SMPD has begun work to organize a special community meeting about alarms.
In an email to attendees sent the day after the meeting, Roumani thanked residents for their participation and concern.
“The police chief and residents underscored the need to continue to be vigilant and report anything that seems out of the ordinary to the police,” Roumani said. “We will organize a follow-up meeting in July.”
