Crime Prevention

Welcome to the Alhambra Police Department's Crime Prevention Home Page.

Keeping Alhambra a Safe Place to Live, Work & Play‍

The Crime Prevention Section offers educational crime-fighting programs for residents, young and old, and the business community. While preventing crime is a community effort, the Alhambra Police Department offers training and information to help citizens take an active part in crime-fighting.

Community Volunteer Program

Participants in the Community Volunteer Program support the Alhambra Police Department with non-enforcement duties and tasks. Volunteers are graduates of the Community Academy. They perform vehicle and foot patrols in business and commercial areas, City parks, and locations where specific crime problems have been identified. They serve as the "eyes and ears" of the Police Department without placing themselves in dangerous situations. Some additional duties may include:

• Front Desk Reception
• Leading Department Tours
• Records Assistance
• Safety Fairs and Community Events
• Vacation House Checks

For additional program information, contact the Alhambra Crime Prevention Office at 626-570-5177.

‍Alhambra Neighborhood Watch Program

The Alhambra Neighborhood Watch Crime Prevention Program enlists the community's active participation to work cooperatively with the Alhambra Police Department to reduce neighborhood crime. Neighborhood Watch members attend meetings conducted by the Police Department to learn about the latest crime prevention techniques, tools, and crime trends. Studies show a significant reduction in burglaries and auto thefts in those neighborhoods with active Neighborhood Watch groups.

Know Your Neighbor Brochure in English

Know Your Neighbor Brochure in Chinese

Know Your Neighbor Brochure in Spanish

Know Your Neighbor Brochure in Vietnamese

‍How to Get a Neighborhood Watch Group Started

• First, begin by organizing neighbors with whom you have occasional contact. If your block is mostly single-family homes, invite neighbors on both sides of the street and adjacent corners. If you live in an apartment or condominium complex include everyone in your building and in the adjacent buildings as space permits.
• Talk to your neighbors and tell them you are starting a Neighborhood Watch group and invite their participation. Enlist the help of another willing neighbor to assist you. Introduce yourselves by going door-to-door. Encourage neighbors to participate by informing them of any recent crime activity in the area.
• Ask your neighbors about the best time to conduct a meeting (generally between 5 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday through Friday). Exchange phone numbers. Tell your neighbors that you will notify them when a meeting is scheduled. Take the opportunity to get acquainted on a first-name basis. This is vital to the success of the Neighborhood Watch program. If you need a meeting location, ask your neighbors if they would be willing to host this or a future meeting. Alternate locations include schools, places of worship, and the library.
• Contact the Alhambra Crime Prevention Office at 626-570-5177 or email Crime Prevention to schedule an available date and time for your first meeting. Find out approximately how many households your meeting will include. Flyers announcing the date, time, location, and topic of your meeting can be made available to you and should be distributed in person 7 to 10 days prior to the meeting. Solicit the help of neighbors to pass out the flyers.
• Contact neighbors again in person or by phone 2 to 3 days prior to your meeting. The Crime Prevention Coordinator will bring a summary of local crime activity and will assist you in running your first meeting.

Vacation House Check Registry

Going away? Get peace of mind by registering for the Alhambra Police Department Vacation House Check Registry.

It can be really exciting to travel to faraway destinations, but leaving one's home unoccupied can be unsettling considering that it may be a tempting target for criminals. The Alhambra Police Department Vacation House Check Registry, a free service, is offered to give vacationing or hospitalized residents of single-family homes or duplexes greater peace of mind during their absence. Homes are periodically checked by uniformed Alhambra Citizens on Patrol volunteers who stop by periodically to conduct a foot patrol of the property to ensure that the home is secured and windows and doors are locked and undamaged.

While there is no guarantee against loss, theft, or damage, the Vacation House Check Program is one additional measure residents can take to help ensure the safety of their homes. The program is available for those whose homes will be unoccupied from 5 to 21 days. It is not available for homes that are vacant and up for sale or rent. In addition, the home must not be occupied for any length of time during the requested dates of service. While the service is most frequently used during the summer months, it is available throughout the year.

Steps to Take Prior to Going Away to Help Protect Your Property

• Leave a light or stereo/TV on or use a timer for your lights if you will be away for a full day or longer.
• Put a secondary lock on all windows and close drapes, especially in rooms where there is expensive equipment. Avoid thin, sheer drapes as they allow burglars to look inside.
• Safety coat or frost all garage windows. Don't let criminals see when your car is gone.
• Make sure your garage side door is made of solid-core wood, reinforced steel, or fiberglass, and has a deadbolt lock. Padlock the throw-hatch on your garage door when you're out of town and invest in a keychain remote opener.
• Remove shrubs and trees from in front of windows so they can't hide possible intruders. Plant rose bushes or other thorny plants in front of all vulnerable windows.
• Install motion detectors in areas where no one should be. This way, you know something isn't right when they go off.
• Install a security system.
• Have the post office hold your mail while you are on vacation.
• Identify your valuables by engraving your drivers' license number on them. Photograph and record the serial numbers of all valuables.
• Pretend to be a burglar. Walk around your property and ask yourself: How would I break-in? Examine your house from the street, where are the blind spots? What are the most vulnerable areas? Stand outside the windows and look in, make sure no valuables are visible. Most burglaries occur during the day through the back and side doors when you are away.

Request hold mail service,