July Vacations Leave Door Open For Burglars

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — While many people are taking trips and enjoying the summer, criminals are plotting to get into your home and take your things. That's the warning from insurance agencies and police in Sacramento.

Safeguardtheworld.com posts on their website that July and August are when most burglaries happen. According to State Farm Insurance numbers, Californians file the most claims out of any state each year. The average claim costs people $3,000.

Since July began, three homes have been broken into in Sacramento.

"I was really scared," said Augustine Montoya.

He and his family were sleeping when five uninvited guests came inside their North Sacramento home over the holiday weekend.

"There was five people I didn't know in my house," said Edwin, Montoya's son, "I just didn't feel good. That made me mad."

The burglars shuffled around. They cased each room on the bottom floor. One of the crooks grabbed a chopping knife and walked around with it for several minutes.

"There isn't any one thing that will prevent all crimes," said Matthew McPhail with the Sacramento Police department.

McPhail says people can put up lights, and install security cameras, which the Montoya's have.

But since the break in, they plan to add an alarm that ties the home to the police. The Montoya's have also already built a larger fence on their side yard.

What may be the best defense against home invaders, may be the people next door.

"Neighbors who know each other are more likely to report criminal activity to police," said McPhail.