Information on Smash and Grabs in Ranchos

The following is a copy of an email provided to me and residents of the Rancho's area of the 5th District concerning recent "Smash and Grabs" -- when someone sees valuables in your car and then smashes your window and grabs the goods and goes.

Smash and Grabs in both RD's 665 & 685.  Here is a general breakdown:  
There has been a total of 16 reported incidents that occurred between January 1, 2010 and June 3, 2010.  
January - 4     (3 occurred in the same evening)  
February - 6  (All occurred in the same evening)  
March - 2  
April - 3  (2 occurred in the same evening)  
May - 1

In all cases, the loss was in plain view inside of the vehicle.  
The losses include:  
       GPS (4)  
       Briefcases/Backpacks (4)          
       Ipod/Cellphone (3)  
       Laptops (2)  
       Other Miscellaneous items  (2)  
       No loss (1)  
Approximately 1/4 of the vehicles were parked in the driveway, the others were parked on the street in front of the residence.  

We do see this type of activity throughout the city, but  I think the most important thing to tell residents is..... Do not leave anything of value inside their vehicle.  If they see something suspicious, they need to contact dispatch immediately.   There is no real secret to preventing this type of crime, other than hardening the target.  Make sure there is nothing in your vehicle of value, make sure your vehicle is locked and the alarm is set,  increase residential lighting and use motion detector lights, make sure that front yard foliage does not obstruct the view of the street, park as close to your home as possible, and leave your porch light on at night.