• Home
• News
• Archive
• About
• Calendar
• Directory
• Advertisers
• Contact Us

View Point

Helping Prevent Crime is Everyone's Job

Emeryville Connection Staff
June 2008

Crime is a common enemy and no community is immune from criminal activity. Recent increases in local crime, particularly a spate of restaurant robberies, have captured the attention of the media, business community, and city leaders.

Crime is part of the human condition and criminals have been with us forever. But that does not mean that there are not specific action steps any citizen can take to help becoming another crime statistic.

With that in mind, here are a number of steps and resources everyone can use – starting today – to help mitigate criminal activity, and keep themselves safe.

Common Sense. We are amazed by how often crime can be prevented by some very simple steps. At home, be sure to keep your doors and windows locked, and do NOT leave your garage door open for any length of time. If you can afford it, install an alarm system; studies show that just a decal or yard sign saying “this home is protected” by an alarm system will deter a potential criminal.

When out at night, avoid dark and isolated streets, and try to park under or near a street light. Avoid traveling alone in dark or out-of-the-way locations.

And whatever you do, PLEASE do not leave valuables – laptop computers, cell phones, gift-wrapped presents – exposed on the seat of your car in plain view while you run a short errand. Either take these items with you, or at least lock them in your trunk. Car burglaries are becoming increasingly common in our area, and leaving valuables in plain sight on a car seat – even with the doors locked – is a virtual invitation to a crook to break in and steal.

Watch Out for Each Other. No one wants to be a snoopy neighbor, and we all value our privacy. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot keep an eye out for our neighbors. In an earlier era, Americans knew their neighbors and were wary of strangers. Today, we tend not to know our neighbors and in an increasingly transient society that can result in less neighborhood bonding. But we can still help each other. If you know that your neighbor across the street is away on vacation, and you see the “moving crew” taking items from their house, do not be afraid to report that to the police.

Police Department Website. The Emeryville Police Department maintains an excellent website filled with tips and other valuable crime prevention information. Check it out at www.emeryvillepolice.org.

Security Coalition. The Emeryville Police Department years ago organized the Emeryville Security Coalition in conjunction with businesses and citizens to meet on a regular basis to share information and resources on crime detection and prevention. The Security Coalition meets the third Tuesday of each month from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. at various locations around Emeryville. The meetings are free and open to the public and no registration is required. Meetings are posted on the Police Department’s website in the “Community Outreach” section, and are also posted on the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce website, www.emeryvillechamber.com, in the “Calendar of Events” section.

Emeryville in general has a record of being a City that is safe to live, work, and conduct business. Living without fear of being a crime victim is a key quality of life element, and while not explicitly contained in our General Plan, living without fear of crime is at least as important as building heights and pretty views of the Bay.

Working to prevent crime is everyone’s job. We do NOT advocate vigilantism, nor citizens putting themselves in harm’s way. Leave that job to the police. But we can all work to help mitigate criminal activity by adopting a few simple, common-sense steps and using the resources available to us. Together, let’s all work to build a safer, more secure community.