Residential Burglaries on the Rise in Larkspur-Corte Madera and Throughout Central Marin

The Central Marin Police Authority sent out the following advsory message Thursday morning, March 28, 2013:

There has been a rise in the number of residential burglaries within the Central Marin Police Authority jurisdiction over the past few months. This trend has also been seen in several other Bay Area Counties. A note of interest in the burglaries that have occurred in our area, in a majority of these cases, the suspect (s) gained entry into the homes through unlocked doors or windows. To break it down further, 98% of the burglaries in San Anselmo were to unlocked homes, 76% were unlocked homes in Larkspur and 50% were unlocked homes in Corte Madera. As the weather warms, the temptation to leave doors and windows open in your home naturally grows. Unfortunately, we often forget to close and lock these doors when we leave. Here are a few reminders to help protect your home. 

• Remember to lock your doors and windows (front and back) when leaving the house for any period of time. 

• Report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood to the police. 

• These crimes are occurring during the daytime when most people are away from the house. 

• If anyone knocks on your door asking for directions or for a person who doesn’t live there, report it to the police as soon as possible. 

• Keep laptop computers, and other portable electronics, put away and out of sight of windows and doors. 

• Try and keep jewelry put away and locked up if possible. 

• Do not advertise that you will be away from your home on social media sources. This information can fall into the wrong hands and can give a criminal the time frame in which to make you a victim. 

• Suspicious people or activity in your neighborhood should be reported to the Central Marin Police Authority immediately. For emergencies dial 911, for non-emergencies, call 415-927-5150. 

The majority of items taken in these residential burglaries have been laptop computers, jewelry and any cash in sight. A gold minivan was seen in the area of two recent burglaries, however, it is unknown if it is related. 

Remembering these few tips can aid in keeping your home, and your neighbor’s home safe.

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