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Campbell police step up patrols for holiday crime
CAMPBELL
The image of a trove of ribbon-wrapped gifts piled beneath a Christmas tree may be an idyllic holiday scene, but it’s also a tantalizing target for criminals looking to make a quick buck.
In response to the increased opportunity for theft provided by the holiday season, the Campbell Police Department has stepped up its patrols for December, calling the heightened presence Knights Before Christmas.
In the weeks leading up to and including the holidays, officers – some in plain clothes and unmarked cars – spend more time cruising the city’s streets to watch for any signs of illegal activity.
Police Chief Dennis Puskarcik said the officers working the Knights Before Christmas patrols aren’t subject to calls, but instead act as roving sentinels calling in suspicious or illegal activity to uniformed officers in marked cars.
“We actually just picked up someone a few nights ago with drugs on them based on information we got from one of our patrols,” Puskarcik said.
Though summer traditionally is a much more active period for crime, the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Victimization report for 2016 shows certain criminal acts such as burglary and larceny increase in December.
Puskarcik said the rise in crimes is due in part to an increase in desperation and – more significantly – an increase in opportunity for prospective criminals.
Gifts – especially those sitting in delivery boxes outside homes or prominently displayed in a living room or under a Christmas tree – can be easy targets for criminals.
“It’s a lot easier to break into a house and steal a bunch of gifts than it is to get a job and save up for them,” Puskarcik said.
When they aren’t patrolling residential areas, officers check in on local businesses to watch for criminal activity.
Tom Black, owner of the Pizza Joe’s on McCartney Road in Campbell, said he appreciates the patrols and the officers’ visit.
“They come in every day,” Black said. “My daughter and I both work here. Having them stop in makes for a safe work atmosphere, and it puts me at ease.”
One of the officers who visits Black is Jason Carron. This is his second year working the patrol, which he says is worth working the extra hours.
“We’re still getting paid for the time we work, but the money isn’t really a big deal – we’re just happy to make the community feel extra safe,” he said. “It’s nice for us, too, because our full-time officers live in the city, so we get to look out for them, too.”