It was vigilant neighbors who brought attention to the suspected squatters who were arrested last month for living in a $3.2 million home for sale in Kirkland.

Neighbors noticed lights on inside the house and a U-Haul parked out front. They also saw a woman and three children wheel bicycles into the garage. A neighbor called the listed real estate agent to find out how much the home was sold for and found out the 7,680-square-foot home was still for sale.

Days later, Kirkland Police arrested the woman for criminal trespass.

Elsewhere in Kirkland, some Highlands neighbors recently noticed a spike in property crimes over the past few months – including four burglaries and two motor vehicle thefts. Watchful neighbors called police to report some suspicious activity, which eventually drove the suspected criminals out of the Highlands neighborhood.

And such vigilance in the Kirkland community is paying off – just look at the crime rate. In 2007, Kirkland had 337 residential and commercial burglaries. That rate dropped to 255 in 2008 and 240 burglaries last year.

Neighborhood Resource Officer Jon Ishmael outlined these statistics during a Highlands Neighborhood crime meeting on July 14 that 50 neighbors attended.

He said crime will remain low in neighborhoods where people are unwilling to tolerate lawlessness and are willing to work with police, report suspicious activities and help out neighbors.

With the lowest crime rate of any Kirkland neighborhood, Highlands exemplifies how communities are safer when neighbors work together.

The Kirkland Police Department offers these 10 tips to prevent residents from becoming home burglary victims:

1. Make your house “hard.” If it looks difficult to enter, is difficult to enter, and is well-maintained, chances are they will try somewhere else.

2. Place sufficient lighting in the front/back of your home and garage.

3. Use deadbolt locks as secondary locks on all doors. Ensure you have 2 1/2 – 3″ screws in the door frame strike plate to reinforce deadbolt security.

4. Fortify your windows and sliding glass doors with secondary locks or dowels that fit securely in windows. Dowels can be made of wood, PVC pipe or metal. Secondary locks include eye and hook, charlie bars.

5. Secure your garage doors with a padlock or a sliding/cane bolt. Lock the door that leads into the house from the garage.

6. Develop rapport with neighbors. You are more apt to look out for each others’ homes and property if you know each other.

7. Trim all landscaping below windows to avoid concealment areas.

8. Make sure your address is visible from the street so emergency personnel can quickly respond with ease.

9. Don’t let mail or newspapers pile up.  It is a telltale sign that you are gone.  Arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect these items in your absence. 

10. Get a dog. Dogs are a good deterrent to burglars.

We stress developing close relationships with your neighbors. It is an easy, cost-effective way to help keep your neighborhood safe.

Kirkland residents will soon have the opportunity to do so during the 27th annual National Night Out event against crime on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The nationwide campaign is aimed at involving communities in crime and drug prevention awareness.

Activities neighborhoods may want to host include cookouts, flashlight walks, or contests. The Kirkland Police and Fire Departments will be attending community events between 6-9 p.m.

Get together with your neighbors and let criminals know you are watching.

To register for National Night Out, contact Officer Allan O’Neill at 425-587-3451 or anoneill@ci.kirkland.wa.us. For NNO information, visit www.nationalnightout.org.