18 Nov Ward Off Thieves with the 9 PM Routine
W
hen people work hard, they are able to earn money and buy themselves some nice things. This is how people earn enough for their homes, cars, and everything else that they own. Since most people worked very hard to get the things they have, they would hate to lose them, especially if someone stole them.
Theft can be a big problem, and so one sheriff’s department came up with a catchy routine to help people help themselves. This routine is so simple and became so popular that it rapidly spread across the entire nation until pretty much every law enforcement agency in the country is periodically reminding people to conduct the routine every night.
The 9 PM Routine
In August of 2016, Pasco County Sheriffs in Florida began tweeting about how homeowners should perform a 9 PM Routine every single night. The idea was to reduce theft and burglaries by reminding people to lock up their homes and cars every night.
The steps of the routine are as follows:
- Bring in valuables from cars and the yard.
- Lock up vehicles, sheds, doors, and windows.
- Turn on exterior lights and security systems.
By performing these simple actions each night, a person greatly reduces the chances of them being robbed. The simplicity of this routine, coupled with constant reminders made it easy for people to follow, and the county did see a drop in reported thefts and burglaries.
What Do Thieves Look For
In most instances, thieves perform crimes of opportunities. This means they weren’t looking to commit a crime, they just stumbled across an opportunity where something could be easily stolen. This is why the 9 PM Routine is so important and effective. By locking up cars and removing valuables from a vehicle, a person removes those easy opportunities for theft.
Thieves typically look for the following:
- An easily accessible backyard.
- Cars with windows down or doors unlocked.
- Having a window air-conditioning unit.
- Houses with windows and doors left unlocked.
- No alarm system.
- No dogs.
- Unlocked garage doors.
- Valuables that are visible through windows or from the street.
Penalties of Theft and Burglary
Theft is made illegal in California under Penal Code (PC) 484. Under this law, theft is defined as the taking of someone else’s personal property without their permission. If a person steals items with a combined value less than $950 dollars, than they will face misdemeanor charges that come with:
- Up to 6 months in county jail.
- A max fine of $1,000.
If more than $950 worth of items are stolen, than a person will be charged with grand theft. This is a wobbler offense that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts of the case. As a misdemeanor, a person faces up to 1 year in county jail. As a felony, a person faces 16 months, two years, or 3 years in jail.
Burglary is made illegal under PC 459. Burglary occurs when a person enters a building, structure, or vehicle that they don’t have permission to, with the intent to steal something. There are two levels to burglary, first-degree and second-degree. First-degree burglary is a felony that comes with:
- 2 years, 4 years, or 6 years in state prison.
- A max fine of $10,000.
- Felony probation
Second-degree burglary is a wobbler offense which can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts of the case.
As a misdemeanor, a person faces:
- Up to 1 year in county jail.
- A max fine of $1,000.
- Misdemeanor probation.
As a felony, a person faces:
- 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in jail.
- A max fine of $10,000.
- Felony probation.
The 9 PM Routine Is Simple
Following the 9 PM Routine is a quick and simple way for a homeowner to reduce their chances of having something stolen from them. By removing their valuables from the yard and car and locking all of that up inside the home, would-be thieves are less likely to attempt stealing the items altogether and move on to another house.
Pasco County Sheriffs were just trying to help out their community, but their little idea quickly gained traction and gained support across the country. The simplicity of bring in, lock up, and turn on is hard to forget, which is why the routine is so effective.