Crime Prevention Tips

Home burglaries are a serious concern in our community, and we want to provide you with the knowledge and tools to help prevent them. Recent burglary trends show that most offenders are members of street gangs from outside the area, particularly from Los Angeles. These criminals specifically target communities like Glendora for a variety of reasons, and they are looking for easy, unoccupied targets.

Understanding the "Knock-Knock Burglary" Tactic

Most residential burglaries in Glendora happen during daytime hours, typically between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when residents are likely to be at work or school. A common method used by these burglars, known as the "Knock-Knock Burglary," follows this pattern:

• A group of three to four suspects drives through a neighborhood looking for a vulnerable home.

• A seemingly harmless individual, often a female, approaches the front door and rings the doorbell or knocks repeatedly while peering through windows.

• If no one answers, they signal the rest of the crew, often through a cell phone.

• Entry is typically made by breaking a backyard window, prying open a door, or even kicking in the front door.

• One suspect usually stays in the getaway vehicle to act as a lookout.

• Once inside, burglars target jewelry, cash, firearms, and electronics before making a quick escape.

What Can You Do?

Always Respond to a Knock at the Door

If you are home and hear someone knocking, do not ignore it. Burglars prefer to avoid confrontation and will usually move on if they know someone is inside. Here’s what you should do:

• Respond verbally by asking who is at the door.

• Look outside through a peephole or a window facing the front.

• If the person seems suspicious or unfamiliar, call the police immediately to report a suspicious person.

Educate Your Children

• Teach children not to open the door for strangers.

• If they hear or see someone trying to enter the house, they should call 9-1-1 immediately, not a parent, to ensure the fastest police response.

Protect Your Home: Tips to Prevent Residential Burglaries

1. Strengthen Your Home’s Security

• Lock all doors and windows—even when you are home.

• Use deadbolts and reinforced strike plates on entry doors.

• Secure sliding doors with a rod or security bar.

• Install motion-activated lights around entry points.

• Padlock side gates to prevent easy access to backyards.

2. Invest in a Security System

• Video doorbells and security cameras deter burglars.

• Alarm systems with exterior sirens can scare off intruders before they enter.

• Post security signage to warn potential criminals.

3. Make Your Home Less Appealing to Burglars

• Clear bushes and shrubs near windows and entryways that could conceal suspects.

• Leave lights on timers when you're away to make it appear someone is home.

• Arrange for a neighbor to collect your mail if you're traveling.

• Keep curtains or blinds closed at night.

4. Be Aware of Suspicious Activity

• Watch for unknown vehicles or individuals lingering in your neighborhood.

• Avoid advertising vacations on social media—burglars monitor online activity.

• Report door-to-door solicitors who seem suspicious.

5. Get Involved in Neighborhood Watch

• Stay informed and connect with neighbors to share concerns.

• Work together to monitor unusual activity on your street.

• Learn more about community safety programs by visiting our Neighborhood Watch and Police Department Programs.

Be a Vigilant Neighbor and a Good Witness

Residential burglaries are some of the most difficult crimes to solve, as they often leave little to no evidence behind. The best way to catch burglars is to report suspicious activity in real-time. Many burglaries could have been prevented if neighbors had reported what they saw.

Here’s what to watch for:

• Unfamiliar vehicles driving slowly through the neighborhood, especially if occupied by three to four individuals.

• People loitering near homes, peering into windows, or jumping over fences.

• Strangers exiting a neighbor’s home with pillowcases, bags, or electronics.

What to Tell the Police

If you call 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity, be prepared to provide:

• Vehicle description: Make, model, color, and license plate number (if visible).

• Number of occupants in the vehicle.

• Description of the suspects: Gender, race, age, clothing, and any distinguishing features.

• Direction of travel: Knowing your surroundings helps—the mountains are north.

Every second counts, and criminals can cover a lot of ground in just a few minutes. Your detailed observations can significantly help officers locate and apprehend suspects quickly.

Strengthen Your Community

• Get to know your neighbors and maintain open communication about suspicious activity.

• Join or create a Neighborhood Watch group.

• Stay informed about local crime trends through police alerts and social media updates.

By working together and staying alert, we can help prevent crime and keep Glendora a safe place to live. If you ever see something suspicious, don’t hesitate—call the police. It’s always better to report a false alarm than to let criminals go unchecked.

Internet Scams

The United Stated Postal Inspection Service provides current information on many common internet scams. Click the links below to learn more about these types of common scams to protect yourself from them:

• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/romance-scam
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/mystery-shopper-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/work-from-home-scams-and-reshipping-schemes-2
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/fraudulent-tax-returns-and-refunds
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/home-improvement-and-home-repair-fraud
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/land-sale-scam
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/fake-job-offers
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/pyramid-schemes
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/telemarketing-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/inheritance-scams
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/elder-fraud
• https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing

Telemarketing Fraud

When you send money to people you do not know personally or give personal or financial information to unknown callers, you increase your chances of becoming a victim of telemarketing fraud.

Moneygram/western Union Scam

Also Referred to as the "Grandpa/Grandma" Scam

You receive a telephone call at home and a person claiming to be a relative (usually a grandson) tells you they are in trouble, often stating they are in Mexico or Canada. The caller may be very persuasive, and might use the actual name of your grandson or relative to try and convince you they are legitimate, even though you do not recognize their voice. The caller may already have your name or refer to you as "Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, etc." The caller will tell you they have been arrested, detained by the police, involved in an accident, or other similar story.

The caller, pretending to be the relative, will either request money be sent to them or ask you to speak to someone claiming to be a lawyer, police officer, or other official. The other person who comes onto the telephone will explain that the money is needed to avoid court fines or pay bail, pay for hospital expenses and other fictitious reasons. They will request the money to be sent via a wire transfer, usually via Western Union or MoneyGram. They may tell you not to tell anyone else, and to send the money immediately. Only after the money has been sent and you call the actual relative do you realize your family member is not out of the country or in trouble and you were victimized.

Lotto/inheritance Scam

A subject approaches you and tells you they have won money in the lottery, received a settlement from 9/11, received an inheritance, or other similar story. The person will often speak with a foreign accent and will flash cash or other valuables to make the story believable while explaining they are not a U.S. citizen. They will ask for help to disburse the money to a "good cause" since they cannot take it to their home country as it will be confiscated. The suspect will ask the victim to show them that they have money to prove they are honest people. They may ask you to go to the bank and withdraw money to show good faith. During the contact the victim's money is switched with cut paper which is not discovered until the suspect has left the area.

Listing Items for Sale on the Internet

A common scam is for the suspect to purchase an item you have listed for sale on an internet site and send a money order to you for much more money than the asking price of the item in question that you have listed. The suspect will explain that the extra money is to be used for shipping or claim it was an accounting mistake. The suspect asks the victim to cash the money order and forward the excess money back to them or to a third party for the "shipping." After a few days the victim learns from the bank that the money order is fraudulent and all of the money sent was actually your own money you voluntarily withdrew from your bank and sent to the suspect.

Jury Duty Scam

Someone calls saying they are calling from the courthouse. They say you failed to show up for jury duty and a warrant was issued for your arrest. You are offered a choice to pay for the warrant or have an officer sent to your house to arrest you. The fraudsters will usually demand the money be paid by money transfer or pre-paid gift cards.

Secret Shopper Scam

Same as the internet scam except you have answered an advertisement for what appears to be a legitimate business. They will ask for a resume, employment application, and references. You receive your first shopping assignment along with a money order. You will be asked to cash the money order and shop at a local store. You then are asked to send the remaining money, minus your commission, via a wire transfer. The money order that was sent is fraudulent and the victim is not notified by the bank for several days after the transactions have been conducted.

Distraction Burglary Scam

Be wary of people coming to the front door of your residence that you are not expecting via an appointment. If someone unexpected comes to the door and needs to conduct business in your home or backyard do not allow them into the home without verifying who they are. If they are with a utility service they should be displaying a company ID and have a work order. You can contact the company at the listed phone number to verify they have workers in the area. Do not call the number the person at the door provides. Do not accompany them into your yard if they state they will be going into the yard. There have been several instances where criminals distract the homeowner outside or within the home while a second person enters the home while you are distracted allowing the second "worker" to steal items from within your house.. If you see suspicious subjects in your neighborhood or at your door contact the police department immediately.

IRS Scam

This scam uses your fear of the Internal Revenue Service. They say your Social Security number was found at a crime scene, your number was somehow compromised, or you owe unpaid taxes. They demand payment immediately or you will be arrested. They want money wired or put on prepaid gift cards. The IRS does not make contact with you by phone.

Utility Scam

This scam is also based of fear. The caller will try to convince you that if you do not pay the bill they will turn off your utility. They will ask you to send payment using prepaid gift cards. Hang up and call the utility company. You will probably find out it is a scam.

Alarm Systems

Learn more about Alarm Permitting Requirements and False Alarms

During a majority of break-ins, burglars gain access to the home through unlocked doors or windows. In addition, many homeowners forget to set their security system. While making sure to lock the doors and set the alarm are the foremost priority in securing any home, homeowners do have other precautions they can take.

Alarm systems should be connected directly to the alarm company's central monitoring station, which can alert law enforcement if the alarm is triggered.

Installing a back-up cellular dialer in case a burglar cuts the power or the standard phone lines enables the system to still contact the monitoring station.

Alarm systems which incorporate motion sensors and/or glass break sensors can help first responders and residents know if an intruder has actually gained access to the premise.

Displaying the signage provided by the alarm company serves as an initial deterrent for thieves.

Making sure the alarm system's central panel is located in a locked cabinet or an indoor utility room prevents would-be invaders from tampering with the system.

Lighting

Sufficient lighting, both internal and external, can help deter thieves from even targeting a home. Burglars typically select a poorly lit home, as darkness affords additional cover from watchful neighbors or passers-by.

Motion detection lighting alone only activates once a thief's movement is detected; installing low-wattage dusk-till-dawn light fixtures, which emit a soft glow around the perimeter of the home all night, insures that thieves cannot conceal themselves in the shadows. The addition of sensors that shut off the lights when the sun rises and energy saving fluorescent or sodium-type light bulbs makes this an affordable and effective light deterrent.

Using basic timers for interior lamps set to alternating times, gives the appearance of movement throughout the house while it is unattended. Adding t.v.'s or radios on timers is another great deterrent, giving burglars the impression that someone might be at home.

With some very simple window and door locking systems, homeowners can drastically restrict the accessibility of their home. With recent advances in locking mechanisms, some additional alternatives are also available to today's homeowner.

Doors and Windows

Installing window locks on all ground floor windows prevents the window from being opened far enough for someone to fit through.

The addition of a simple closet rod to the track of sliding glass doors provides reinforcement to the standard lock.

Biometric locks , which provide access by scanning a finger print, have become much more affordable lately and can prevent lost or stolen keys from being used by burglars.

The glass in windows and doors can very often be a point of weakness as well. Security window films are affordable, and can provide an extra layer of defense from thieves attempting to smash a window to gain access to the home. While a burglar may be able to muster enough force to eventually smash the window, the repeated attempts require a lot of attention-grabbing blows. Assuring the home has proper doors made from solid wood or metal, rather than a hollow-core style, along with 3.5 inch long steel screws to fasten the hinges to the door frame, will stand up to most breach attempts.

The ability to see the outside of an exterior door is also very important. If an abutting window cannot provide a view of the doorstep before opening it, a peep hold can easily be installed.

Landscaping

Believe it or not, appropriate landscaping can help deter intruders from accessing windows, while maintaining an aesthetic appeal.

Keeping trees and bushes trimmed back from the house and windows helps diminish the likelihood of an intruder using the shrubs as cover. Tree limbs should also be trimmed, to prevent an intruder from using a tree to access a second story entry point.

Planting low-growing sharp or thorny bushes such as holly, rose shrub, or barberry under windows, or adding gravel or landscape rock which makes for noisy footing, are also good ways to deter thieves from attempting to gain access to windows.

Secure the Garage

Garages are favorite targets for thieves, not only because they are often unoccupied, but because they often offer a direct and unlocked entry to the remainder of the home. A few simple countermeasures can help greatly deter an intruder's ability to access the garage.

Always keep the garage door closed; an empty garage or a missing vehicle can alert thieves that the home is unattended.

Change the factory set codes on the door's remote control often, so thieves cannot open the door with a store bought remote.

Adding motion and glass break sensors to all windows in the garage will also provide added warning of an attempted break-in.

Protecting Your Home in Layers

Layer 1 - the Perimeter

Because burglars usually choose their targets by scoping out the property first, it's important to have a layer of security around the perimeter of your residence. Such security measures will act as an initial deterrent for would-be intruders. So be sure to do the following:

• Prominently display alarm company signage, Neighborhood Watch, and/or other crime prevention program signs around your residence.
• Install adequate LED lighting around your doorways, exterior hallways, stairwells and sidewalks, including lights with motion sensors.
• Look for areas around your residence in which perpetrators can hide. Cut back bushes and other landscaping and increase lighting to eliminate dark, shadowy areas.

Layer 2 - Make It Appear Someone is Home

Many burglars want to get in and out of a home without being seen. So breaking into a home that is not occupied is what burglars prefer. By installing security devices that help give the impression that someone is home even when you're not, you can further decrease the chance of your home becoming a target. Consider the following:

• Leave a radio or TV on whenever you leave your home.
• Install a couple of light timers inside your residence.
• You can also use timers to turn on a radio or television while you're away.
• If you have a spare vehicle, consider parking it in the driveway instead of in the garage.

Layer 3 - Stop Intruders in Their Tracks

Some criminals are bolder than others. Although some will be discouraged by the above deterrents, others may not. So having security measures in place that make it extremely difficult for an intruder to break into your home is crucial. The following security measures and devices are effective ways to stop an intruder:

• Peepholes with wide-angle lenses that are within viewing level.
• Doors constructed of solid wood or metal and use only door hinges that are reinforced with 2- to 3-inch steel screws.
• Insert solid wooden closet dowels or metal rods in between the tracks of all horizontally sliding windows and patio doors.
• Windows that are reinforced with glass protection film. These highly effective security window films make breaking the glass much more difficult.
• Obscenely loud alarm systems that contain glass break sensors, motion detectors, back-up cellular dialer, wireless panic buttons, and external strobe lights.
• Install quality dead bolts and security door braces that have the ability to withstand up to 1800 lbs of pressure. Both will make it extremely difficult for an intruder to kick down your door.
• Dogs are man's best friend, but not a burglar's best friend. A large dog with a loud or aggressive sounding bark can make would-be burglars think twice about choosing your home as their next target.