By Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk
Brentwood experienced a low number of reported crimes last week, according to Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk’s latest update. As residents prepare for the holiday season, he offered safety reminders to help keep the community secure.
SLO Kirk thanked the community for their vigilance and wished everyone a safe holiday season. Regular crime updates will resume on Dec. 30.
Burglary: No incidents reported.
- Safety Tip: Secure ladders in locked garages or with chains to prevent unauthorized access to second-story windows. Burglars often expect upper floors to lack alarm systems. Be cautious of individuals posing as gardeners with fully covered faces who may use tools to blend in while trespassing. Always lock doors and windows, activate alarms, and ensure security cameras are functional. Consider hard-wired camera systems, which are unaffected by Wi-Fi jammers.
Robbery: No incidents reported.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW): No incidents were reported.
Burglary/Theft from Motor Vehicle (BFMV/TFMV): No incidents reported.
Safety Tip: Never leave key fobs or valuables in your car, even in secure parking garages. Thieves are known to target vehicles with visible items inside.
Grand Theft Auto (GTA):
- Incident: Between December 12 at 7:30 p.m. and December 15 at 8:00 p.m., a 2024 BMW X3 was stolen near S. Gretna Green Way and Tweed Lane. The vehicle was locked, but the keys were left inside.
- Arrest: On December 16 at 12:15 a.m., officers tracked a stolen vehicle to the 11300 block of West Bolas Street and arrested a suspect found inside.
- Safety Tip: Always lock your car and avoid leaving keys inside. Owners of Kia or Hyundai models from 2010-2021 are urged to use steering wheel locks or ignition immobilizers, as these vehicles are particularly vulnerable to theft due to widely publicized techniques for bypassing their ignitions.
Theft: No incidents reported.
Preventive Measures and Reminders
- Scam Awareness: Be cautious of phone calls or emails requesting money or gift cards. Verify the legitimacy of such requests by contacting the company directly using a trusted phone number. Scammers can be persuasive, so never provide personal information without confirmation.
- Safe Transactions: When selling items online, meet buyers in public spaces, such as police station parking lots, and always bring someone with you. Inform the buyer of the meeting location in advance.
- Shopping Safety: Keep purses on your person rather than in shopping carts. Thieves often work in pairs to distract victims and steal bags. If necessary, place purses in the bottom of the cart and ensure they are zipped up.
