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 The
Memphis Police Department's mission is to protect the public safety of all citizens of
Memphis, but our officers can not do it without the eyes and ears of you - the community. The following tips will help to make you and your family safer while also showing you how to become a part of the MPD Team - so that we may serve and protect Memphis - our community - together.
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| at home? |
| 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!)
Other precautions you should take:
Call the Memphis Police Department for crime
prevention advice and for a free home or business security survey. The
Crime Prevention Unit can be reached at (901) 774-6705.
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| lights, locks and the law! |
| 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? |
| 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? |
| 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 porchlight on ONLY when you go on vacation. This tells a thief come on in...we are on vacation! |
| are you involved? |
| Know your
neighbors. Consider forming a Neighborhood Watch Group in your neighborhood. Join your
Precinct's Citizen's Police Academy. Contact our Crime Prevention Bureau for more information. Their number is 774-6705. |
| out of town? |
| 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! |
| 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? |
| Although most of
these tips apply to homeowners, businesses can apply them to their anti-crime effort, too. The Memphis Police Department offers a program similar to Neighborhood Watch called Business Watch - Call Crime Prevention for more information at 774-6705. |
| getting personal? |
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| victimized? |
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:
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. |
| are you being served? |
| In many situations
it is unnecessary for an officer to come to you. Our Tel-Serve Bureau is designed to take
non-emergency reports over the phone - this allows patrol officers to remain on active
patrol. In the past, they have spent valuable patrol time taking reports where there was
no suspect information. Call Tel Serve at 543-2774 to report non-emergency crimes. A Call Taker will take your information over the phone and file your report. |
| want some cash? |
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. |
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