Law enforcement securing businesses during shelter-in-place order in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) The possibility of burglaries while businesses were left vacant during the shelter-in-place was a major concern from law enforcement in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Police established a burglary suppression task force to monitor businesses and catch any thieves attempting to break into Santa Cruz businesses. According to police, they've arrested about 10 people for commercial burglaries and caught many more in the act.

“Late March, early April we saw that spike and then since then it has plummeted. And we’re pretty confident those that are doing that are well aware our officers are out there looking for them,” SCPD chief Andy Mills said.

Mills said the added patrols will continue throughout the shelter-in-place order.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office started what they call a vacant business protection plan. Deputies inspect the inside and outside of businesses, and give them recommendations on how they could better secure their stores.

“Security cameras being in the right places, and things that look like opportunities for criminals like high valued merchandise being in the front," SCCSO spokesperson Ashley Keehn said.

Since the shelter-in-place began march 17, commercial burglaries are actually down in unincorporated Santa Cruz. Over the last year, the average number of break-ins per month was 17, and so far in April there have been just 11.

Police recommend that businesses get shatterproof tape to put on their windows and have security cameras that are eye level if possible.

In Santa Cruz, several stores have windows boarded up to prevent smash and grabs.

“The combination of both preventative and suppression activities help force that back down to where it's at a much lower level, and it's flattened out for the month,” Mills said.

The cities economic development program does have some funds that small businesses can use to secure their building with things like shatter proof tape.