For Talega property related emergencies dial 855-947-2636.

To view each of the safety topics, click on the header bar to open and close that section.

Neighborhood Safety

Here are a couple of basic tips to keep your neighborhood safe:

  • Establish a Neighborhood Watch Program. More information and resources can be found at City of San Clemente Neighborhood Watch.
  • Create a ‘closed’ Facebook page for your neighborhood. Use Facebook messenger to notify your neighbors of any suspicious activities or safety concerns.
  • Create and share your mobile number with your neighbors and create a SMS alert group for emergency notifications.
  • Ask an OCSD Crime Prevention Specialist (sccrimeprevention@ocsheriff.gov) to conduct a prevention assessment of your neighborhood.
  • Make sure that all your vehicles are registered with Talega Maintenance Corporation. Talega has 32 Flock license plate reading cameras that capture vehicle data 24/7, and automatically alert law enforcement if a wanted vehicle is recorded. It also helps law enforcement to generate actionable, investigative leads to solve crimes more quickly.
  • Always be vigilant. If you observe suspicious behavior, call 911. For non-emergencies, call Orange County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (949) 770-6011. Encourage your neighbors to do the same.
  • Examples of suspicious behavior:
  • People climbing on a lower roof. *
  • A vehicle driving slowly, stopping without reason, turning around.
  • A person or vehicle in the same place for unusual length of time.
  • A person looking into cars or trying door handles.
  • A person looking into windows of homes.
  • A person carrying or transporting unusual valuable objects.
  • Screaming/Shouting.
  • Active Alarms.
  • Sound of Broken Glass.

(*) Most recent burglaries have been through a master bedroom or bathroom.

  • When possible, discreetly take photos. Always ensure your safety first. Never confront a suspected individual.
  • Keep a log of suspicious activities, including the date, time, and descriptions of vehicles and individuals. This can be extremely in apprehending criminals should there be an incident at a later date.
  • Share photos and information with your neighborhood watch, closed facebook group, and law enforcement.
  • Be vigilant but not paranoid. Avoid profiling or unnecessary confrontations. Encourage a positive, watchful community. Don’t foster fear.
  • Ensure that your actions are in line with California privacy laws regarding photography and surveillance.
  • Stay informed about local crime trends and share information with your neighbors. For up-to-date statistics go to the San Clemente Crime Map and register for email notifications.

Home Safety

To enhance your home safety, consider the following tips:

  • Install a monitored alarm system with indoor motion sensors, windows/door sensors, and a siren.
  • Install a motion activated flood light in your driveway as well as a motion activated light above your porch area and garage side entrance.
  • Install one or more outdoor 4K cameras with 24/7 video recording, night vision, smart search, remote viewing, motion detection, and privacy masking. Make sure that the entire perimeter of your home is covered and capture at least one street view to help law enforcement observe vehicles and establish a timeline, should there be a burglary in the neighborhood.
  • Install a doorbell camera with remote communications.
  • Put at least one light on a timer.
  • Install all of the above with a smart home system (with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and/or Apple HomeKit support). Use light sensors as additional motion detectors throughout the house. Add schedules to turn lights on/off at random times at night to leave the impression that somebody is home.
  • Make sure that your external fuse box has a lock.
  • Ensure all doors and windows have strong locks. Consider upgrading to smart locks and reinforcing entry points. Consider slider locks or adjustable lock bars for windows and (slider) doors that are used infrequently or when you leave for an extended period of time.
  • Secure valuables and weapons in a fireproof safe. Do not place the safe in the master bedroom or closet. Find a non-obvious place on the lower level. Bolt the safe to the home frame or to the ground, where possible. Avoid keeping large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry at home.
  • Keep a record of valuables, including serial numbers and photographs. This can help in recovery and insurance claims if theft occurs.
  • Trim hedges and trees near windows and doors to eliminate potential hiding spots for burglars. If your rear garden is fenced or walled, cover the barrier with a thorny plant like a climbing rose or bougainvillea. This not only gives you beautiful greenery and flowers to look at but also provides a painful deterrent to intruders.

By implementing these safety measures, you can significantly lower the risk of becoming a target for burglars and crime rings and enhance the overall security of your home in Talega.

Going on vacation?

Here are the things to do when leaving your home for an extended period of time:

  • Ask a trusted neighbor to watch over your house and pick up packages, letters, newspapers, magazines and flyers.
  • Notify the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Vacation Home Check Service at (949)361-8269 at least 7 days in advance of your trip.
  • Notify the USPS to hold your Mail at least one day in advance of your trip.
  • Don’t mention your trip on social media or with people that you don’t know. Only share pictures once you’re back home.
  • Make sure that all smoke alarms are in working order.
  • Don’t leave spare keys outdoors (e.g. beneath mats and in potted plants).
  • Chain and lock any ladders outside your home.
  • Lock the garage and any side gates. Secure all doors and windows.

Vehicle Safety

To assure vehicle safety, consider the following tips:

  • Always lock your vehicle to deter unauthorized access.
  • Avoid leaving valuables or cash in visible areas like the glove box or center console to prevent theft.
  • Concerned about catalytic converter theft? Have it engraved with your VIN number for easier recovery and consider welding a protective cover over it to deter thieves.
  • Consider installing a motion activated flood light and camera above your driveway.
  • Ensure your car’s alarm system is activated when parked. Consider using a vehicle tracking system (built-in, LoJack, Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy Air Tag,…) for recovery in case of theft.

Wildfires

There are a number of things that you can do to protect our homes from wildland fire. Create and maintain clearance around your home. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire. This 100-foot defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland fire. Cut weeds and dry grass before 10 a.m. when the humidity is higher and temperatures are cooler to reduce the chance of igniting a fire (39K PDF).  In case of a wildfire:

Contact for Questions / Emergencies:
Fire Authority (OCFA) (714) 573-6000

Downloadable Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
Information provided by CAL FIRE

Earthquakes

If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away. 

  • If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
  • If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
  • If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
  • Do not get in a doorway.
  • Do not run outside.

Prepare Before an Earthquake

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family and coworkers.
  • Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.
  • Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated.
  • Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for at least three days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.
  • Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage.
  • Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.

Stay Safe After an Earthquake

If an earthquake has just happened, there can be serious hazards such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines.

  • Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake.
  • Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. Learn how to be the help until help arrives.
  • If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.
  • If you are trapped, protect your mouth, nose and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall or use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.
  • If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops.
  • Text messages may be more reliable than phone calls.
  • Once you are safe, listen to local news reports for emergency information and instructions via battery-operated radio, TV, social media or cell phone text alerts. 
  • Be careful during post-disaster cleanup of buildings and around debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy debris by yourself. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves, and sturdy, thick-soled shoes during cleanup.

Wildlife

Bordering the Cleveland National Forest, wildlife occasionally roams our communities. To help keep wildlife problems to a minimum we ask you to keep all sources of food and water out of the yard. Keep trash lids secure. You can also use rags soaked in ammonia, mothballs or cayenne pepper around the yard. Here are some guides on how to be prepared:

For those who panic over Bees: The Science Times

“My pet was attacked or killed by a coyote or other wildlife“

The California Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) allows you to report incidents. CDFW assigns a designated “Investigator” based on the geographic location and responds to all WIRs.

If you have any questions, CDFW can be reached at (858) 467-4201 or by email at AskR5@wildlife.ca.gov

“What can I do with an injured animal?“
If you find or see an injured animal please contact the San Clemente Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA) as soon as possible at (949) 492-1617. After business hours please call the Orange County Sheriffs Department at (949) 770-6011. Remember all animals can bite; please insure your safety, then the animals.

“There is a wild animal that has me concerned. What can I do?“
San Clemente borders Cleveland National Forest so wild animals are common. CASA does not trap or relocate wildlife. Although the beauty of our wildlife is a wonderful thing, sometimes problems do occur. For More Information Please visit the following websites:

The San Clemente Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA) shelter is Located at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, CA 92672.

For additional emergency planning information, please visit the City of San Clemente website HERE.