Ask a Cop: Leaving for the Holidays? Keep Your Home Safe

Is there anything you have ever wanted to know from the Mountain View Police Department? Well, this is your chance to ask.

Whether you have a question about certain laws and how they might affect you, your family or friends, or how to stay safe in certain situations, we want you to ask them. We will run the question(s) and give some answer(s). To submit a question, leave a comment below or email claudia.cruz@patch.com.

Here are some holiday-related questions answered by Lt. Chris Hsiung.

Question: What advise do you have for MV homeowners on how to best protect their home if they plan to travel during the holidays? 

Hsiung: Some of the basic crime prevention steps would be to have good quality locks on doors and window as well as good coverage around the house with motion sensor lighting that will illuminate entry/exit areas around the house. You want to avoid the appearance that your home is vacant while you area away. Having indoor lights turning on/off at different times (as opposed to the exact same time every day) will help give this impression. There are also lots of low cost options to turn indoor lights on/off these days and having a few of these on different lights within the house will help. If you don’t already know them, it’s a great idea to get to know your neighbors and if you’re comfortable doing so, let them know your travel plans and to ask them to keep an eye on the house, pick up newspapers in the driveway, or collect excess mail.

Question: Some people might still be doing last minute shopping. Any, advice on how to get your gifts home safely?

Hsiung: As for packages and getting gifts home safely, it’s always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings.  In the smartphone era, it’s tempting to be focused on your phone as you enter/exit your car and be oblivious of your surroundings.  Park in well lit/traveled areas and take an extra second to look around as your get into and out of your car.  If you see anything suspicious or something that makes you uncomfortable, leave the area, wait for a group of people to walk by, or call MVPD.

What else do you suggest for home security measures? What other questions do you have for the MVPD?

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