Carolyn Seitz of the sheriff's Community Advisory Committee is passing on this notice from the Altadena Sheriff's Station:

Altadena continues to experience a high number of burglaries and thefts from vehicles.

You are your own best defense.

Please do not leave your vehicle without checking to make sure that there are no cell phones, MP3 players, GPS devices, Bluetooth devices, expensive sun glasses, wallets, handbags, computers, PDA's, satchels, backpacks, briefcases, currency or coins visible, and do not walk away from your vehicle without confirming that you've locked the door to at least slow down the person who wants what you've left visible in your vehicle.

Every day people are calling the Sheriff's Station asking to make a report because they've now been victims themselves.

Please encourage everyone you know to park vehicles in garages and to lock up – out of sight – any and everything that will give criminals a reason to open the door or to smash your windows to take the gifts you've left for them.

Your vehicles aren't safe even if they're parked in your driveway.

These criminals span all age groups from teens to older adults and if you find yourself still saying to yourself that it won't happen to you, guess again . . .

Want to talk to people who have been victims?  They also thought it couldn't happen to them.

LOCK IT OR LOSE IT!

Stay vigilant.  Make sure you protect yourself and your family.