Your Safety is a Priority

Pacific Palisades residential holiday party robbery

Good advice from Brentwood Homeowners Association - here is a re-print:

Last weekend,  armed robbers entered a home party in Pacific Palisades. The following Monday, a social media posting indicated a threat of a gun at Palisades Charter High School. The armed robbery was real, the gun threat was not. Our members reside in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the country and must always be aware and alert, while not being prisoners in our homes.

Last week, a home in our area was burglarized* during the day. No alarm, no security company, no dog, no community group or neighborhood watch. Is that a reasonable effort toward crime prevention? We implore you to have deterrents. 

1.  Alarm. Use it during the day and at night. Instruct your family on the different settings and make sure window and door contacts are affixed properly.

2.  Security Response - With LAPD spread thin and mainly responding to active crimes with the potential for violence or injury, we suggested you consider a security company with patrol cars that can respond and also do vacation checks.

3.  HOA and Neighborhood Group - Don't rely on NextDoor to keep you safe. Every HOA in Brentwood sends out regular information on crimes and provides current and important information to its members. Many streets like Bonhill and Homewood also have chat groups for even more specific and topical information.

4.  Pets - Dogs are a great deterrent to crimes. Burglars don't want to confront obstacles to easy entry and exit. Getting a dog for this purpose is a big commitment, but something to think about if you live alone.

5.  Owner Away - When people leave packages on their doorstep for an extended period, or trash cans out after pickup day, it's a signal to criminals you may not be home. Have a neighbor or friend help make sure you're not broadcasting your home as vacant.

With the Palisades party invasion and news that the flash robbers were released before the press conference announcing their arrest was over, we need to rethink what security means now. Does your next family party need a security presence out front as a watch over your guests' vehicles and as a deterrent?

We are not intending to be alarmist, but like the title says, your safety is as important to us as traffic and development issues.

Click here to see PDF of Security Tips from LAPD.