KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Safety and security on Kirtland Air Force Base are higher than the surrounding area, but being careless on personal security still has consequences.
“Security Forces can’t be everywhere at once. We rely on integrated defense,” said 377th Security Forces Squadron Tech. Sgt. Kendrick Valdo.
Valdo said integrated defense is the use of all personnel on Kirtland to protect the base and keep people safe; this includes military, their families, civilians and the units on base.
“The biggest thing to do is take the extra step to make sure everything is locked, for your safety and for the safety of others,” Valdo said.
Security Forces conduct foot and vehicular directive patrols, or security checks of base housing. It is during these patrols defenders will find unlocked cars and open doors on homes and garages.
“Some of these patrols are at 2 or 3 in the morning and we have found doors wide open,” Valdo said.
Valdo said they often find two to four unlocked garages a night.
If defenders find areas unsecured, they try to wake people up to secure items. However, some people have been at work as well.
“We never go into people’s personal space when we find something unlocked. We just try to contact the person,” he said.
Valdo said with the hours and shifts many people work in the military, it is easy to forget to secure personal items when they’re tired or distracted.
With cars it’s easy to tell by looking. When the locking mechanism is popped up or showing red, they are unlocked.
He said it’s also important to make sure car doors are locked and windows are rolled up. These things give the “bad guys” more steps they have to take to steal anything of value.
Only once so far, on base, has an unlocked home been a possible contributing factor to the theft of a vehicle, he said. It is unclear if the keys were stolen from the house or if the truck was hot-wired.
“We try our best to make Kirtland a safe environment,” Valdo said. “But it’s important to remember to take extra steps to ensure the safety and security of valuables and your family.”