Pleasanton isn't 100 percent safe Pleasanton isn't 100 percent safe (September 17, 2004)

Take precautions against home burglary, say police
by Teresa C. Brown

Pleasanton is not known as a city of crime, with home burglaries ranging from a couple a month to more than a dozen. But don't let a false sense of security turn into a crime of opportunity.

Pleasanton can be a "target-rich environment," said Detective Daly Harnish of the Pleasanton Police Department.

"Overall, Pleasanton is very safe," Harnish said. For example, in June, five homes were burglarized. Some months, however, that number has more than doubled.

"People still need to do things to take precaution," Harnish said. Many people leave their doors unlocked or their valuables, such as purses, laptops and wallets, in plain view inside a vehicle, he explained.

With a majority of home burglaries occurring during the day, Harnish advised residents to take precautions. "Get an alarm system, trim bushes around the house, and don't give criminals hiding places," he said. Start a Neighborhood Watch program and be active in it, he added.

If a resident is planning a vacation away from home, take appropriate safety measures. Criminals search for homes that appear unoccupied. They look for overgrown bushes or newspapers in the driveway, he said.

Sometimes, crooks are just on the look out for an easy opportunity. They may be going through a neighborhood and see someone leave a house, he said.

During summer months, many residents will leave their garage doors open, giving burglars another chance for thievery. Recently a Pleasanton man was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a large number of open garages in town.

It's fine to have the garage door open, Harnish said, but he warned that residents should check all of their doors as well as the garage door before retiring for the night.

Above all, residents should not hesitate to report unusual or suspicious activity. "We want to stress to people, if you see something that doesn't look right, give us a call," Harnish said.

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