More than 40 Los Chavez residents attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting Wednesday evening, not only to get answers from the sheriff's department, but to once again unite in making sure that their community is safe.

The Los Chavez Neighborhood Watch had been very active several years ago ― even helping law enforcement bring down a large burglary ring a few years ago. Gil Gray, a Los Chavez resident, said it was time that the community once again step up and help protect their neighborhoods.

"In the last few months, the crime rates have escalated in Valencia County," Gray said. "We need to be more proactive. It's time to get things going, and get people motivated in watching out for each other."

In an effort to "get things going," Valencia County Sheriff Rene Rivera, and other members of the department, spoke to the concerned citizens about ways to protect their property. Rivera told the crowd that while the department is making every effort to combat the increasing burglary problems in Los Chavez, as well as the rest of Valencia County, it's been a difficult task with the amount of deputies he has on staff.

Rivera said with the increase in population, an increase in crime is bound to come with it. He said one of many factors that contributes to the high crime rate in Valencia County is the prison in Los Lunas.

"The families want to be close to their loved ones who are incarcerated," Rivera explained. "In many cases, these family members are also involved in criminal activity."

Captain Don Dongess said another reason for the recent upswing in crime rates is that burglaries are economically driven. He explained that with today's economic climate, more and more people are resorting to crime to make ends meet.

"Our society has also changed," Dongess told the crowd. "We used to be a close knit community. Now, we don't even know who our neighbors are."

Dongess said that while law enforcement encourages residents to help as much as they can in identifying burglary suspects, he doesn't want anyone to get involved to the point where someone may be placed in a dangerous situation. "Obviously, we don't want anyone to get hurt," Dongess said. "Things can be replaced ― people can't.

"It's an illusion that the police can protect you," Dongess added. "It's up to you as a neighborhood to protect each other, and as individuals, to protect yourself."

Some of the tips the sheriff's department offered to residents included hiding valuables where burglars wouldn't search. Dongess said that burglars are in and out of a house within five minutes because they know exactly where to look for valuables.

The sheriff's department suggested keeping expensive jewelry in a coffee can rather than in a jewelry box in plain sight. Dongess also said that thieves will look in closets and under mattresses for guns. He suggested that, if there are no children living in the homes, gun owners should hide their guns under sofas and in different bedrooms where burglars wouldn't tend to look.

Rivera said it was very important that people write down the serial numbers of all firearms, just in case they are stolen. Rivera said that several copies of the serial numbers should be saved in different locations, and should never be placed along side of the weapons.

"If we have the serial numbers, we can enter them into NCIC (National Crime Information Center)," Rivera said. "We may be able to recover it (the gun) if we just have the serial number.

"Right now, we have several guns that we know were stolen, but without the owner knowing the serial number, this person can't be charged," Rivera explained. He also suggested that everyone take pictures of their valuables and write down serial numbers of electronic equipment such as televisions and computers.

"Burglars aren't casing your house like you see on TV," Dongess said. "It's a crime of opportunity. He'll bang on your door, and if no one answers, he'll go in. Always answer your door ― let them know your home."

Rivera said the best witness is someone who can give police detailed descriptions of people and what their wearing, of vehicles and hopefully a license plate number.

Dongess said most burglaries occur in the daytime hours, when most people are at work. He said most occur between 10 a.m. and noon.

Deputy Jorge Trujillo, said it's not enough that Neighborhood Watch signs are visible in areas, "You have to be active," he said. The deputy told the crowd that the first step in reorganizing the Neighborhood Watch is for about four people to volunteer as block captains. These block captains would then spread out and recruit other residents to join the Neighborhood Watch.

For more information about how to organize a Neighborhood Watch program, contact the Valencia County Sheriff's Department at 866-2400, or your local law enforcement agency.