Three vehicles in the rear apartment carports of 600 block W. San Jose Ave. were burglarized early Monday morning, February 8, between 2 am & 8 am. Entry was gained into one vehicle by forcing open a window, while entry was made into two vehicles through open windows.

Remember not to leave any valuables in an unattended vehicle, especially items that can be seen from outside the vehicle. Always lock and completely secure your vehicle when left unattended. Immediately report all suspicious persons and activity to the Claremont Police Department by calling 9-1-1.

During this unprecedented period of winter weather, now more than ever it is important to be prepared to tackle the worst Mother Nature may throw at you. Listed below are a few tips. Click here for a more complete list.

Before the Storm

• Keep insurance policies, documents and other valuables in a safe-deposit box.
• Store supplies at work, home and car in handy locations.
• Check your first aid kit and essential medicines.
• Have a supply of food on hand.
• Have a non-electric can opener.
• Keep some cash on hand. ATM machines may not be working.
• Ensure you have a portable radio, flashlights and extra batteries (stored in a water-tight plastic bag).
• Store drinking water in closed, clean containers in case water service is interrupted. Allow one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.

During the Storm

• Do not try to cross a flowing stream where water is above your knees. Even water as low as 6 inches deep may cause you to be swept away by strong currents.
• If your car stalls, abandon it IMMEDIATELY and seek higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
• Tune to local radio or television stations for emergency information and instructions from local authorities.
• If advised by local authorities to leave your home, move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. Establish an out-of- state family contact so that friends and relatives will know who to call to get information about where you are.
• Before leaving, disconnect all electrical appliances, and if advised by your local utility, shut off electric circuits at the fuse panel and gas service at the meter.

• Winter Storm Preparation Bulletin (Adobe Acrobat, 23KB)

Claremont PD reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group's existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
  

Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via www.ic3.gov.