Exploring appropriate precautions.
In 2019 there was a spike in residential burglaries across the bay area in the affluent cities, including Atherton. The Atherton police department responded by increasing the number of patrol cars with plainclothes officers. They have also proposed an expansion of the use of cameras and license plate readers. The police proposed installing 16 more cameras around town with an additional 11 to be added in the future. They also proposed the town buy 27 license plate readers to be placed at the entrances to town to catch burglars and other criminals. Police chief McCulley further suggested that residents look into upgrading their alarm systems, turn on motion sensors, and have their alarm system hooked directly to the police station. The burglary rate in 2020 has significantly lowered.