Residents of Torrance, California generally feel safe in their homes. Some feel so safe that they may even forget to lock windows and doors at night. But that sense of security has been threatened recently by a spree of cat burglaries.
The DailyBreeze.com has reported on three different cases of burglars slipping into homes in the middle of the night while the residents were home and sleeping. The cat burglars found entry through an unlocked window in one case and in the other two through an unlocked sliding glass side door and even an unlocked front door.
Torrance police are reminding residents that taking this simple precaution of locking doors and windows is the first step in home security and can prevent not only loss of property but also protect against violent crimes. Torrance police Sgt. Bob Watt said. “People are breaking into houses when people are home. We’re a bit concerned of the safety issue. They take very little property and are doing it for the adrenaline rush.”
On March 21, a man sneaked into a home in the 22900 block of Anza Avenue at 2:30 a.m., but ran away when the sleeping resident woke up and screamed. Another burglary occurred around 3:30 a.m. six days later in the 21800 block of Linda Drive. There, a male in his late teens or early twenties entered a home through an unlocked front door, and stole a few electronics. Again, the intruder fled after being confronted by a resident. And the third incident occurred about midnight March 30 when someone snuck into a home in the 4800 block of Via El Sereno through a sliding glass door and stole a laptop computer.
Torrance also saw a jump in “distraction” burglaries in February. In a distraction burglary, a suspect knocks on the front door to talk to and distract residents while other suspects break in through another entrance to steal. Both of these types of crimes may often be committed by young people seeking excitement but criminals looking for a thrill are unpredictable. While fortunately no one was harmed in any of these recent cases, if Torrance becomes known as an easy place to target such crimes could escalate in frequency and severity.
For Torrance City Council Candidate, Aurelio Mattucci, Public Safety is at the top of his priority list. He strives to foster a community where residents continue to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods, never living in fear. Candidate Mattucci is a strong supporter of the Police Department and will work to ensure all their needs are met when he is elected to City Council. And, just like the police department encourages residents to take appropriate precautions to protect their homes, Mattucci believes in protection through community involvement. Volunteering, neighborhood watch programs, and landlord participation are all part of his Public Safety plan.
Anyone with information about the above-mentioned crimes can call the Torrance Police Department at 310-618-5571. To learn more, contribute or endorse Aurelio Mattucci for Torrance City Council, please visit www.voteformattucci.com.
