Danville Residents Volunteer to Prevent Crimes of Opportunity

Wealthy East Bay suburb relies on civilian volunteers to check for unlocked homes and cars to deter theft

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Danville, a wealthy East Bay suburb, has recorded just eight homicides in 20 years and has a low violent crime rate compared to the state overall. To address common property crimes like theft and car break-ins, the city relies on a force of 40 civilian volunteers who drive through neighborhoods looking for unlocked homes and cars. The volunteers leave notes warning residents if they find an unlocked door or valuables in plain sight, in an effort to encourage residents to be more vigilant about securing their property.

Why it matters

Danville's proactive approach to preventing crimes of opportunity highlights how some communities are addressing public safety challenges without solely relying on increasing the number of police officers. By engaging residents and empowering volunteers, Danville aims to change behaviors and mindsets that can make the community more vulnerable to theft and burglary.

The details

Danville's police force has remained at 30 officers for the past 30 years due to budget constraints. To compensate, the city uses civilian volunteers to patrol neighborhoods and commercial areas, looking for unlocked homes, cars, and other signs of potential criminal activity. The volunteers leave notes on windshields and doorsteps warning residents if they find an unlocked car or valuables in plain sight, in an effort to encourage residents to be more vigilant about securing their property. Danville also collaborates with neighboring police departments and uses technology like license plate readers to combat crime.

  • Danville has recorded just 8 homicides in the past 20 years, with the last one occurring in 2023.
  • In 2024, there were only 6 violent crimes reported for every 10,000 people in Danville, compared to 48 per 10,000 in California overall.

The players

Cathy McKently

A 10-year volunteer with Danville's public safety task force who drives through neighborhoods and commercial areas looking for unlocked homes and cars.

Tom Rossberg

The Danville Police Chief, who contracts with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and relies on civilian volunteers to help maintain public safety amid stagnant staffing levels.

Newell Arnerich

The Mayor of Danville, who argues that the city's job is harder because criminals are attracted to the community's resources, requiring a proactive approach to engage residents and prevent crimes of opportunity.

Santje Starkey

A former Danville resident who grew up in the city and appreciated the sense of community and safety that allowed her to walk around town alone as a child.

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What they’re saying

“People can get over comfortable and over confident and aren't locking things up because, 'Oh crime doesn't happen here.'”

— Newell Arnerich, Mayor of Danville (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Besides checking people's houses, it gets our car out in the neighborhoods and people feel safe, they love it.”

— Cathy McKently, Danville Public Safety Volunteer (San Francisco Chronicle)

“In Danville you have more of a community that's paying attention than you do in other cities.”

— Santje Starkey (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Danville Police Department plans to continue relying on its volunteer force and collaborative efforts with neighboring departments to maintain public safety, while also exploring the use of additional technology like license plate readers to combat crime.

The takeaway

Danville's innovative approach to public safety, which emphasizes community engagement, crime prevention, and the strategic use of limited resources, provides a model for other communities grappling with how to maintain a high quality of life and low crime rates without significantly expanding their police forces.