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Mountain View Police Department
1000 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650/903-6344
Directions & Map
Hours
General Business:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
Walk-in Crime Reports:
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (7 days)
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Property crime is an unfortunate aspect of modern life. The accumulation of wealth inevitably seems to lead to theft. However, there are simple precautions you can take to protect your property. Most thefts of property aren't complex capers involving months of planning and hacking into high tech security systems. The typical property crime is the taking of something left more-or-less unguarded.
Leaving valuable items visible is an invitation to burglars.
Property crimes are often crimes of opportunity.
Thieves are looking for valuable stuff. Don't help them find it. The easy pickings are:- Valuables left in homes or vehicles where they can be seen through windows.
- A wallet or purse kept in an unlocked drawer at work.
- While paying for something, you display a lot of cash.
Criminals are lazy and don't want to get caught.
Ask yourself which car or home you'd break into? Just like the rest of us, criminals are looking for the easy way. Here's how you can give it to them:- A door without a deadbolt.
- An open window.
- Keys left in parked cars.
- Advertising your vacation or out-of-town trip.
Simple common sense can prevent many property crimes. Others require a bit of thought, such as leaving your entire key ring with a valet. Your address is probably in the glove compartment with your vehicle registration. A leisurely dinner is plenty of time to copy a key. You don't have to become paranoid, but be alert to the possibilities.
Internet Crime
When discussing "Internet crime," it helps to clarify exactly what is meant.
Credit Card Fraud
When someone uses your credit card or credit card number to obtain money or products, this is credit card fraud. It must be reported in person,, like identity theft.
Identity Theft
Increasingly, access to data about you can lead to crime. The use of personal data to obtain credit, products or money is identity theft. Identity theft must be reported in person at the police department.
Internet Shopping: Products Not Delivered
If you paid for an online purchase, but no product (or the wrong product, or a product with quality problems) was delivered, this is a civil matter, which does not involve the police. It's the same as paying for something in a store that the store fails to deliver. Your recourses are:- The store or auction (i.e. eBay, Amazon.com).
Online firms frequently offer arbitration between members or buyer-protection refunds. See your store's help pages. - The payment service (i.e. Paypal).
These services may be able to reverse your payment. Some offer buyer protection refunds for certain sales. See your payment service's help pages. - Your credit card company (i.e. VISA).
If you paid by credit card, you can cancel your payment. Contact your credit card company for restrictions and requirements. - A third-party online arbitration service.
Your auction or payment service may recommend one in their help pages. - The Better Business Bureau.
If the seller is a business, the online Better Business Bureau will contact them to request resolution of your complaint. - Lawsuit.
Consult an attorney.
| | Residential Burglaries
 Points of Entry
1. Door
2. Window
3. Sliding-glass Door
Method of Entry
1. Left unlocked
2. Stolen/old key or person with access
3. (tie) Removed screen
Pried/Cut padlock
Prevention Tips- Lock all doors & windows.
- Purchase solid core doors.
- Replace louvered windows.
- Use bolt locks on sliding glass doors.
More tips
Auto Burglaries
Points of Entry
1. Window
2. Door
3. Unknown (left unlocked?)
Method of Entry
1. Broke glass
2. Unknown (left unlocked?)
3. Pried
Prevention Tips- Verify all doors locked.
- Park where vehicle is visible to passers-by.
- Don't leave valuables in sight.
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What's the best type of lock for a sliding glass door?
A bolt lock, which is installed on the the floor of the house. The bolt goes into a hole drilled into the door (or window) frame.
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