Unfortunately, crime doesn’t stop during the holiday season. The Newport Beach Police Dept. (NBPD) reported two recent burglaries in Newport Beach. Though neither occurred on the Peninsula, the police reports are important reads and critical reminders to stay vigilant during this winter vacation and beyond.
Here are the details of the two residential robberies:
Burglary 1 – 1300 Block of Sussex Lane
This burglary occurred Dec. 21 between 1:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. “An unknown suspect entered the victim’s backyard through an unlocked side gate,” reads the official NBPD report. “The suspect then smashed a crank-style kitchen window and forced it open, opened various drawers and cabinet doors in the living room, den and master bedroom. Both the master bedroom closet and bathroom had been ransacked. The suspect then fled through the front door.
Losses in the burglary were unknown at the time the police report report was filed.
Burglary 2 – 1500 Block of Galaxy Drive
This burglary occurred between Dec. 5 and Dec. 8. According to the official report, an unknown suspect “entered the victim’s backyard and used a potted plant to break the stationary window on the master bedroom sliding door. The hole in the window was not large enough to climb through but the suspect was able to reach in and open the night stand on the drawer before fleeing.”
Losses in this burglary were unknown at the time of the report.
To keep safety top-of-mind, NBPD has issued a checklist of safety tips, including:
- Lock your windows and doors when you go out, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
- If for some reason you left your door unlocked and return home to find it locked, call 9-1-1 immediately. Burglars often lock unlocked doors to give themselves extra time to escape the home before the resident enters.
- If your home is equipped with an alarm, always set it, even if you’re only leaving for a few minutes. Also, consider a motion sensor in your master bathroom and bedroom, which will activate if someone gets into your home through a glass window or door without opening it.
- Keep your rear and front porch lights on from dusk until dawn and use motion-detector lighting along the sides of your home.
- If your garage door has a remote shut-off button on the wall-mounted control, located in the garage, consider locking the door nightly. This will prevent your garage door from being opened from the inside.
- If you have a safe, make sure it is properly bolted to concrete so it cannot be removed easily.
- Always close and lock your safe and never leave a key or combination in an easy-to-find location. A home-office desk or nightstand are the first places burglars will check.
- When you leave for vacation, call NBPD for a “Vacation Check” at (949) 644-3681 or sign up online at nbpd.org/services/vacationcheck.asp. Also, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to pick up your mail while you’re away.
As always, NBPD urges residents to report any suspicious activity by calling the department at (949) 644-3717. You should add this number to your phone favorites, so you can quickly access it should the need arise.
Stay safe, Newport Beach!
