Sheriff

The City of San Marcos Neighborhood Services and Crime Prevention Section provides the following services to residents, businesses, schools, senior citizen groups, churches, youth organizations, and civic groups. Topics include:

• Alarm System Registration
• Business Alert
• Child Safety Presentations 
• Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
• Crime Prevention Presentations 
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Evaluations for both residential and commercial properties
• Identity Theft Prevention 
• Internet Safety
• Neighborhood Watch
• Personal Safety

Learn to prevent crime

Helpful links

Identity Theft Information 
National Crime Prevention Council 
Keeping Kids Safe Online
San Diego Sheriff’s Department 

Crime analysis

A Crime Analyst assists the San Marcos Station in monitoring and predicting crime trends.

See crime trends

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is the design, maintenance, and use of the built environment in order to enhance quality of life and to reduce both the incidence and fear of crime. CPTED involves the balanced application of these three principles:

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design theories contend that law enforcement officers, architects, city planners, landscape and interior designers, and resident can create a climate of safety in a community right from the start. CPTED’s goal is to prevent crime by designing a physical environment that positively influences human behavior. The Sheriff's Deparment's Crime Prevention Specialist is available to conduct security consultations of both homes and businesses in San Marcos.

To schedule a free security consultation, please contact the San Marcos Sheriff Crime Prevention Specialist at 760-510-5254.

As part of the community, the Sheriff’s Office plays an important role in keeping the community safe. However, there cannot be a deputy on every corner, so Resident involvement is essential to combat crime. You and your neighbors are the ones who really know what is going on in your community. By cooperating with each other and law enforcement, people can help fight crime in their community in the most effective way – before it begins. Neighborhood Watch members place stickers on their windows and post Neighborhood Watch signs on streets, warning criminals that they are in an active Neighborhood Watch community, and that “neighbors are watching out for each other.” 

What is Neighborhood Watch?

An active Neighborhood Watch is one of the most successful and least costly crime prevention programs available. Neighborhood Watch is a cooperative effort between the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and its Residents. It is designed to help reduce residential burglaries and other crimes. 

Learn about Neighborhood Watch

The San Diego County Volunteer Sheriff's Patrol program is designed to draw upon the experience of our community. The men and women participating in the San Marcos Station’s program provide valuable assistance to existing staff as it strives to increase the quality of life in the community.

These dedicated volunteers - seniors 50 years and older - provide many valuable services to the community including:

• Home vacation security checks
• Visit the homebound (You Are Not Alone - YANA)
• Enforce handicapped parking regulations
• Patrol in marked volunteer vehicles 
• Assist Crime Prevention with public presentations
• Conduct residential and business security surveys
• Abandoned Vehicle Abatement

Volunteers undergo a background check, receive training to perform their duties, and are asked to work a minimum of six hours per week. Volunteer Sheriff's Patrol are always in need. If interested, please call 760-510-5290 or 760-510-5291.

Learn about volunteering