August 24, 2007
Los Gatos enjoys a tremendously low crime rate overall. Sometimes I chuckle to read TheWeekly’s blurb on the police reports. It usually includes a few drunk-in-publics, a DUI, theft out of an unlocked car, and adomestic dispute or two.
Usually, crime in Los Gatos is very minor. It’s not nice, it’s disheartening, but it’s normally very small.
In the past, I have mulled overdiscussing some of the seedier things that happen in Los Gatos but didn’t think there was anything to learn from the topic.It’s obvious to me that drunk driving is wreckless and innately immoral, and I didn’t think I had anything new to addto the topic.
Los Gatos IS a safe place to live. Probably one of the safest. But that doesn’t make The Cats immune, and it doesn’t mean weshould be so casual as to invite trouble. And I think the latter point is something that should be addressed as many of us arecomplacent as we relax in the safety of our town.
Today is a case in point. Sadly, early this morning, on the Los Gatos-San Jose border (right near where I just sold aduplex) a man attemptedto kidnap a senior woman as she was walking close to the Los Gatos Memorial Park on Los Gatos-AlmadenRoad. One side of Los Gatos-Almaden Road is San Jose and the other is Los Gatos.
Luckily, this woman refused to comply with the jerk’s command that she get in his pickup truck. She did end up getting hit orslapped, but of course it could have been much worse.
What can we learn from this?
No matter where you live, no matter how safe your zip code or area might be, it pays to pay attention, to have your witsabout you. It’s a good idea to be able to defend yourself too – this is particularly true for those of us in real estate, whomay sometimes be in homes with folks we don’t know too well.
Even if you live in Los Gatos, Almaden Valley, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Los Altos or any other “high end” (low crime) area,don’t invite trouble. Lock your homes and cars. Don’t leave bicycles, scooters or other valuables out in the driveway. Payattention to your surroundings. Keep your eyes open. Tell your neighbors if you see something unusual or suspicious. You’renot being nosy, you’re being a neighbor.
