BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL ALARM PERMIT REGISTRATION | DO YOU HAVE A BURGLAR ALARM? IS IT REGISTERED WITH ESPD?

The El Segundo Police Department is in the process of implementing the City's E-Z Permit Hub for online permit and application submissions. The new system will not be rolling over any previously registered alarms. To register your business or residential alarm click here by October 31, 2024. There is no fee to register. 

For more information, please contact the Alarm Permit Coordinator at 310-524-2296.

E-BIKE THEFT  
While theft from a motor vehicle is still one of the highest trending property crimes, we are noticing an increase in e-bikes thefts and therefore wanted to provide a few reminders to help avoid being a victim:  

• Invest in a quality lock with an acoustic alarm.
• Double lock it. Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your bike less of a target.
• Attach your bike to a fixed object.
• Secure your bike components. 
• Park your bike in the right place. Try and choose a busy, well-lit location. 
• Install a GPS tracker that provides real time tracking.
• Secure your garage when storing your bike inside.

Tips:

• Keep a bike passport that includes the bike brand, model, frame size, color, serial number, a photograph of the bike, and a picture of the purchase receipt.   
• Register your bike with the police department.
• Combine two to three precautionary measures, as a bike lock alone will not prevent your bike from being stolen.  

SCAM ALERT | "PIG BUTCHERING" 
Have you ever received an unexpected text or direct message from a stranger? Don't Respond! It may be the first step in a Pig Butchering Scam. 

Pig Butchering is a scam named in reference to the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter. Therefore, criminals will develop a relationship with their victims, gaining trust, and offering them high-yield investment opportunities in virtual assets, such as cryptocurrency. Criminals will then pressure the victim to invest more and more money, or the relationship will end. By the time the victim realizes they have been scammed or they attempt to withdraw funds, the account has been locked and the scammer is long gone with the victim's monies.

Tips to help protect yourself:

• Don't share financial information with anyone you don't know and don't trust.
• Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision. 
• Do your due diligence. Check out the company online or with a consumer advocacy group.
• Consult with a trusted friend or relative before making a commitment or sending payment.
• Get involved in the community. Start a Neighborhood Watch group on your block. A strong connection to the community can help prevent being a victim of fraud.

In the event you are a victim in a Pig Butchering Scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to the police department by calling our Dispatch Center at 310-524-2760. 

For more information about Pig Butchering fraud, visit the Office of Inspector General.
Have a few minutes to spare and think you can outsmart an online scammer, take the Banks Never Ask That Quiz.