There have been 34 residential burglaries reported in Irvine in the past 35 days, police announced Saturday, March 16.
“One of the trends we’re seeing is suspects knocking over or disabling cameras. The second is suspects climbing upstairs and gaining entry through windows and doors.” Irvine Police said in a Facebook post.
The target is cash, jewelry, or anything of value that can be taken away, Sergeant. Callie Davis said Sunday.
Authorities say the robbery is similar to home invasions committed across Orange County by a group of South American thieves that authorities call “robber tourism.”
‘Tourist robbery’ targets upscale residential area in Orange County
Police say the tourist robbers monitor homes for several days, then return once the occupants are gone and use items such as ladders, rain gutters and stacks of patio furniture to break into the master bedroom, usually on the second floor. .
The Irvine Police Department has made the following recommendations:
- Apply security film to all glass doors and windows.
- Maintain security and camera systems with activity alerts.
- Get to know your neighbors and look out for each other.
- When a stranger is at your door, you can communicate with them through a camera or from behind the door to trick them into thinking someone is home.
- Lock your doors and windows.
- Change the lighting on a timer to make it look like there are people in your home.
- Please keep your valuables in a properly secured safe.
- Please use sliding window locks.
- Inventory valuable items and include serial numbers, receipts, and photos of items.
- Register your bike at Project529.com/irvine
Residents who see a suspicious person in their neighborhood or walking in the vacant lot behind their home should contact police at 949-724-7000. You can also provide information anonymously to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.
Robbery statistics for other recent months in Irvine were not immediately available Sunday.
“This information is not new,” Davis said in an email. “This is a countywide and even national problem. Irvine is not unique to this problem.”