- Police Home
- About
- Divisions
- Key Information
- Resources
- Public Alerts
- Fingerprinting Services
- Hands Only CPR
- Job Listings
- Local Jails
- Municipal Court
- Police Agencies
- Useful Phone Numbers
- Victim and Other Resources
- Business Information Packet
- LECC
- Press Releases
- Distracted Driving Law
- Shop with a cop
- Brutal Assault Suspect Charged
- Brutal Assault Suspect Described
- Chief Daniel K. Duncan Remembered
- Citizen Suspicious Behavior Reports Result In Arrests
- Deer Heads Suspect Charged
- Deer Heads Suspect Identified
- LOPD Joins Neighbors Public Safety Service
- Lake Oswego Man Charged with Attempting to Engage In a Sexual Relationship With a 17-year-old
- Lake Oswego Police Department Hires Behavioral Health Clinician
- Lake Oswego Police Lieutenant Graduates FBI National Academy
- Lake Oswego Police Seeking New Records Specialist
- Lake Oswego Prescription Delivery Pilot Project
- Lake Oswego Recognizes 911 Telecommunicators As First Responders
- Lake Oswego Woman Dies in Single-Vehicle Traffic Crash
- Making Your Home Less Attractive To Burglars And Thieves
- Man Arrested After Trying To Break Into Lake Oswego Home (follow-up)
- Man Arrested After Trying To Break Into Lake Oswego Home
- Message to the Community on the Derek Chauvin Verdict From the Police Chiefs of Clackamas County
- National Telecommunicator Week 2022
- Park Rules Violation Leads To Stolen Vehicle And Other Crimes
- Police Arrest Suspects Involved in Thefts From Vehicles
- Police Hold Bi-Annual Drug Take Back Event
- Police Seek Help Identifying Assault Suspect
- Police Seek Help Identifying Package Thieves
- Police Seek Help Locating Suspect in an Armed Robbery
- Police Seek Help Locating Suspect in an Armed Robbery in Mt. Park Area
- Police Seek Information About Hit and Run Crash
- Police Seek Public's Help Identifying Hit and Run Suspect
- Police To Conduct Pedestrian Safety Operation
- Portland Man Arrested After Breaking Into Lake Oswego Home
- Power Washing and Chimney Repair Scammers in Lake Oswego and SW Portland
- Reward Offered in Assault Investigation
- Roehr Park Shooting Suspect Arrested
- Two Deer Heads Found In Lake Oswego Neighborhood
- Two Suspects Arrested After Fleeing From Police In Stolen Vehicle
- LOPD Use of Force Policy and "8 Can't Wait"
- Contact Us
- Submit a Tip
- Lake Oswego Police Statement on the Death of George Floyd

Making Your Home Less Attractive To Burglars And Thieves
LAKE OSWEGO – Lake Oswego continues to be one of the safest communities in the State of Oregon. However, we have noticed an increase in residential burglaries, package thefts, and thefts from vehicles in the South Portland Metro area lately and thought this would be a great opportunity to remind you about some proactive steps you can take to avoid being a victim of burglary or theft.
There are really two dimensions of protection; target hardening and, probably the most effective, awareness.
- Here are some basic steps you can take to increase awareness in your neighborhood:
- Get to know your neighbors. You can ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house when you’re gone, pick up packages so you don’t broadcast you are away, and call if they see someone they don’t recognize at your house. When you get to know your neighbors, their cars, and the hours they keep, you will be more confident about calling the police if you see something suspicious.
- Be alert and be a good neighbor. Knowing your neighbors builds community, and a strong community is a safer community.
- Call the police if you see something suspicious in your neighborhood. Lake Oswego police will investigate any suspicious circumstances.
- Call 911 for a crime or suspicious activity happening now.
- Call (503) 635-0238 for anything not happening now.
Here are some basic steps you can take to make your home a hard target:
- Make sure you have good exterior lighting and motion-sensing lights near any doors or windows.
- Adjust your landscaping to eliminate hiding spots and increase the visibility of the occupants (trim those shrubs below window height!).
- Install an audible alarm system, ensure it is registered with the City, and set it when you are not home.
- Always keep all your doors and windows locked when you are not home.
- Install surveillance cameras, especially those that alert you if motion is detected.
- Never leave items of obvious value in view of the public.
- Don’t leave bags or items of value in your vehicle when it is parked in the driveway and lock your car!
- Keep your garage door closed when you are not actively using it.
Burglars generally select targets with the lowest risk of getting caught and the highest chance of successfully stealing items of value. The more you can do to make your home and neighborhood uncomfortable for thieves, the less likely it is that you will become a victim.
Any media inquiries can be directed to Sergeant Tom Harper at (503) 635-0238 or tharper@lakeoswego.city.
###