Crime Prevention Tips
The following is a list of helpful tips that is aimed at helping to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of crime. These are some of the more common crime trends that have been observed in recent years and that can easily be prevented through simple measures.
- Always lock your vehicle doors when out of sight
or parked overnight. Thieves focus primarily on
unlocked vehicles as they are easy targets for
theft. Items such as GPS units, I-Pods, expensive
sunglasses, satellite radio units, and loose change
are the most commonly taken. If possible, keep these
items out of plain view when not being used.
- Lock up your bicycles or store them inside
your home or garage when not being used. Bicycles
left out in the open and unattended can disappear
very quickly and are hard to recover.
- Avoid leaving your vehicle running and
unattended. Getting into a warm or cool car is nice,
however, coming out to find your vehicle gone does
little for your comfort. Also, never leave your
vehicle title inside your vehicle (not to be
confused with the registration slip). Store it
somewhere safe.
- Lock your doors and secure your ground
floor windows when away from home. Much like
vehicles, open doors and windows make excellent
choices for the common criminal. Nobody wants to
return and find that their home has been
burglarized. When away on vacation consider having
your mail held at the post office so it does not
build up outside.
- Record the serial number, make and model,
and/or photograph any items of value that you may
own. In the event that you should be the victim of a
burglary/theft, this information will better assist
the police in attempting to locate your property.
Engraving items may also be a useful tool. Jewelry,
electronics, firearms, and anything of considerable
value should be included. Always report a
lost or stolen firearm.
- If possible, consider leaving a house key
with a trusted neighbor. In the event the police,
fire department, or ambulance personnel are called
to your home, they may be required to make entry to
ensure your safety. If you are injured and cannot
make it to the door, it will allow them to reach you
without having to force entry. You may also find it
helpful if you accidentally lock yourself out!
- Always notify the police immediately
should you see a crime in progress or suspect
possible criminal activity. Failing to notify the
police in a timely fashion reduces our chances of
apprehending criminals. It also hinders us from
identifying suspicious persons in the area during
the commission of a crime or shortly thereafter.
Remember, if you get that feeling that something
isn’t right, most times you are probably right.
- Having more exterior lighting around your house,
to include motion sensor lights, can significantly
reduce your risk of being burglarized during hours
of darkness. Most criminals prefer to operate in
poorly lit areas when committing burglaries because
it reduces the risk of being seen. You may also want
to consider leaving an extra light or television on
while you are away from home.
- Ensure that your house numbers are visible
and easily identifiable from the street. In the
event of an emergency it is important that police
officers, paramedics and firemen can locate your
home quickly. Having numbers that are small,
obscure, or that blend into the background can make
it harder to locate your home. An extra minute or
two can make a big difference during an emergency.
- Be suspicious of any unusual offers received in your mail, e-mail, or over the phone. There are a lot of scams currently being used to defraud people of large amounts of money. Such scams may utilize legitimate business names and logos without that company’s knowledge. Most of these scams are conducted internationally and are extremely hard to investigate and prosecute outside of the United States. Many scams will offer large rewards/winnings and ask that you pay a fee up front to claim your reward. Most are utilizing money courier companies, such as Western Union, to collect your money. Also, beware of making high dollar purchases online (E-Bay, craigslist, etc.) when the seller does not accept secure payment assistance (PayPal, etc.) and the payment is to be sent somewhere outside of the United States. Remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!” If you are suspicious about something you have received please call and speak with a police officer about it.
