At HOME? Protect Your Residence!
Lock your doors and windows when leaving your
residence. Most residential burglaries occur during the daytime.
Know who is at your door before opening it.
Screen doors and chain locks provide false security.
Obtain identification. If they show you an
ID for a service company (i.e. Cable, phone, etc.) call their
employer and verify who they are and why they are at your door.
Consider installing peepholes in all entryway doors.
Mark your property with your Driver License
number, that way it can be traced ONLY to you if it is stolen. (You
can borrow an engraver from any one of our precincts!)
Burglary
Prevention Tips
- Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break
in.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the
house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your
doors.
- Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away
for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to
turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers
build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to
hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them
regularly.
- Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for
an extended time.
- Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with
secure devices as necessary.
- Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open.
Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are
available for better security.
- Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith
or hardware store for alternatives.
Other precautions you should take:
- Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or
other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for
hidden keys.
- Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions,
including a description of the items, date of purchase and
original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe
place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of
fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of
valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company
can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
- Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for
burglars.
- Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in
your neighborhood, call 911 immediately.
- Mark your valuables with your driver's license
number with an engraver you can borrow from any of our
precincts. Marked items are harder for a burglar to
dispose of and easier for police to recover.
- Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. We can help you work with
your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.
- Consider installing a burglar alarm system.
Remember the three L's of Crime Prevention:
LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW!
Light up your residence, lock
your doors at all times, and call the Law when you see
something suspicious.
ALARMED? Are you being Monitored?
Prior to installing home-security devices - think fire
safety first. Would the device prevent you from getting
out of your home? Do you have pet doors? They provide
entry for pets, but they may also provide entry for
criminals.
Privacy fences give you privacy, but they
also give the criminal concealment from outside view. Secure your
garage door, even when you are at home. Burglaries and thefts take
minutes or even seconds to commit.
DON'T open your door until you know who is
there. When you are not home, leave lamps on timers and consider
leaving a radio or television on.
Consider leaving porch lights on at night.
LIGHTING is one of the most INEXPENSIVE crime deterrents.
Secure your keys and keep them out of view.
NEVER place identification tags on your key rings. Treat your garage
door opener like your keys.
NEVER leave your garage door opener inside
a vehicle which is parked outside. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed
for better visibility.
Keep windows clear and free of shrubbery
and debris. Overgrowth may provide hiding places for criminals.
On VACATION?
Don't get Tripped Out!
When leaving town, have a trusted friend or neighbor
take care of your home. NEVER cancel general deliveries
such as mail, milk, newspapers and other services when
leaving town or going on vacation. But don't let those
newspaper deliveries pile up either.
If you will be away for an extended period
arrange to have a neighbor cut your lawn. If you can, also have them
move your car in the driveway so it appears you are still coming and
going as usual.
And NEVER leave your porch light on ONLY
when you go on vacation. This tells a thief come on in...we are on
vacation!
Are You
INVOLVED? Join Neighborhood
Watch
Know your neighbors. Consider forming a Neighborhood
Watch Group in your neighborhood. Join your Precinct's
Citizens Police Academy.
Out on the TOWN? Don't lose your Ride!
Remove your keys and lock your doors when leaving your
vehicle. It only takes seconds to steal a locked car
without the keys - why make it easier for a thief by
leaving the keys in the car? And NEVER leave extra keys
inside the vehicle or under the hood.
Secure your valuables in your trunk or take
them with you. Don't create temptation by leaving valuables within
view inside your vehicle.
When returning to your vehicle at night, be
aware of your surroundings. Look underneath and inside your vehicle
before entering.
You make the CALL! Be our EYES & Ears
The MOST important thing YOU can
do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any
SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your
neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair
of anonymous eyes!
Business SOLUTIONS? Join Business Watch
Although most of these tips apply to homeowners,
businesses can apply them to their anti-crime efforts,
too.
Getting
PERSONAL? It's a Need to
Know thing!
- Stay alert by being aware of your
surroundings.
- Walk everywhere with a sense of
purpose - show you are calm, confident and know where you are
going.
- Go with your gut feelings - if you
feel uncomfortable, leave.
- Carry your purse firmly and close to
your body or better yet leave it at home and only carry what you
need in your pocket - such as a small amount of money, keys, and
maybe one credit card.
- Keep your wallet in an inside coat or
side trouser pocket.
- Have your car or house key in your
hand as you approach the door. If attacked use those keys as
weapons!
- Park in well-lighted areas that will
be well-lighted when you return. Be sure to lock your car doors.
If you jog, do not jog alone in isolated areas.
- Do not hitchhike and never pick up
hitchhikers.
- Only list your last name and first
initial in the phone book and on mail boxes.
- Ask the phone company to not list your
address in the book.
- If you are concerned about crime and
must go out, use the buddy system. Take a friend on that jog
around your neighborhood. You'll both benefit from it!
VICTIMIZED?
What do you do NOW?
- Remain calm. Try not to panic or show
any signs of anger or confusion.
- If the attacker is after your
property, don't resist. That watch, car, money - whatever is
replaceable - YOU ARE NOT!
- Don't escalate this crime into a
violent encounter. But NEVER let your assailant take you to
another location. Your chance of survival is slim.
- Make an effort to get an accurate
description of your attacker: age, sex, race, complexion, body
build, height, weight, type and color of clothing.
- Call the police immediately, identify
yourself and give your exact location. Do not leave the scene.
When you call 911 you will be asked several
questions by the Call Taker. Be patient. While your are answering
their questions they are keying in your information and dispatching
the next available car. Any information you can provide to the
dispatcher may help the officer en route to your call with
apprehending the suspect.
Be ready to provide the following
information:
- Your Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- What Happened? Describe the event in
as brief manner as possible.
- When Did it Happen? Tell if the crime
is in progress or when it occurred.
- Who Did It? Name or describe the
suspect or vehicle, if there is one.
- Where Did They Go? Which way and how
did they leave?
Wait for the officer to arrive or to call
you back. The time it takes for an officer to arrive will depend on
many factors. All of our calls are prioritized by emergency status.
A theft of a lawn mower may be aggravating but it is not an
emergency. When the officer arrives she may ask you questions
similar to those asked earlier. Please be patient so the officer can
help you.
Want Some CASH?
Call
Crime Stoppers
If you see a crime being committed or know who committed
one you can earn cash - up to $1,000! And it is all
ANONYMOUS!
Call 528-CASH or visit our
crime stoppers website.
