| HOME, VEHICLE & NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY TIPS
|
|
| House Security
|
|
|
- Do not "hide" a key on the exterior of your house.
- Keep cash and other valuables in the bank.
- Make a list of the serial numbers of your valuable property—like TVs, VCRs, watches, cameras, computers, cell phones, etc., and include descriptions and photographs if possible.
- Use either deadbolt or jimmy-proof locks on all outside doors.
- Use chain locks, heavy bolts, or some similar secure device that can only be operated from the inside on doors without cylinder locks.
Make sure none of your locks can be opened by someone breaking out glass or a panel of light wood to reach them.
- For basement doors, use locks which allow you to isolate the basement from the rest of the house.
- Keep locks in good repair.
- Either know for sure everyone who has a key to your house, or have the locks changed.
- Lock up your ladder after use to make it difficult for a burglar to use.
- Avoid placing trellises or other climbing aids near windows.
- Lock your windows. Use locks which allow you to lock a partially opened window.
- Keep these locks in good repair and make sure they're securely fastened.
- Use bars or ornamental grills on vulnerable locations.
- Focus on basement and second-floor windows as well.
|
|
| Neighborhood Security
|
|
|
|
- Know your neighbors and exchange home and work numbers.
- Watch each others' residences, inform each other when you'll be away, and leave contact information.
- Consider leaving a key with a neighbor.
- Give neighbors alarm system information. Give security codes to anyone who is supposed to be in your house (such as your cleaning service or pet sitter) while you are away. Police spend unnecessary time responding to calls from security companies which they receive because someone inadvertently set off an alarm.
- Be aware of activities on the block and throughout the neighborhood.
- Report suspicious activities, watch for patterns, discuss events with your block captain and police.
- Call your block captain and others to introduce new neighbors.
- "Stoop sit"—be out front whenever possible.
- Make sure your skylight (and any rooftop access door) is secured.
- Keep outside lights on throughout the night—front, back, and lower landings. It reduces the atmosphere for crime by providing a lot more light on the street. If everyone participates, the illumination provided by all the additional lights will really make a difference. It also helps the police identify the right house because sometimes front house numbers are hard to find at night in the dark.
- Use timers to make your house look lived in while you're away.
- While away, ask neighbors to collect your flyers, newspapers, mail, etc. Delay delivery of mail and newspapers when possible.
- Call your local police department if you're going away on vacation—the police will watch your house.
- Trim bushes to avoid hiding places. Cut back and prune shrubs which provide hiding places for robbers and thieves, and install lights where possible.
- Report nonfunctioning street lights to the city.
- If you are the victim of a crime, contact the police and your block captain.
- When your house is on fire, or you've called for the police, having your house number at the rear of your property greatly improves police and fire response in an emergency. The police point out that they cannot even identify a house properly by color since the front and back are often different.
- The next time you're making repairs to your roof, take the time to paint your house number on it. This helps the helicopter units identify their location.
- Please don't interrupt officers when they are in the process of handling a call for service. Wait until they are finished if you have to know what's going on.
- Stay alert when walking the streets. Police often see people walking with their heads down reading a book or the newspaper, oblivious to their surroundings.
- Provide police with good descriptions of suspects by focusing on pants, shoes and any unique attributes, such as hair style. Coats and hats can be quickly shed by suspects.
- Don't leave your car running with the keys in it, even for a moment. A car was stolen from in front of the Post Office when a woman ran in, leaving her keys behind in the car. Thieves hang around such areas just waiting for these opportunities to appear.
- Keep everything either out of your car or out of plain site. Almost half of our monthly crime statistics involve thefts of cellular phones, clothing, CD players, CDs, car stereos, briefcases, roller blades/knee pads...you get the idea. And protect your out-of-town guests by informing them of this.
|
|
| Vehicle Security
|
|
|
|
- Consider adding an alarm, j-bar, or ignition kill switch to your vehicle.
- Never leave your keys in an unattended vehicle, even for a few minutes.
- Lock your vehicle and put possessions in the trunk when leaving it unattended.
- Street Parking: Find a well-lighted area. Garage Parking: Lock the garage. Driveway Parking: Face the street. Engine tampering will be more visible to passersby and the police.
- Keep vehicle trunk and house keys on a separate ring. Give/leave parking attendents just the ignition key.
- Keep a spare key in your wallet or purse. Never store it anywhere on or near the vehicle.
- Unless required by law, never keep your vehicle registration or title certificate in the vehicle.
- Keep a record of your vehicle license number, vehicle identification number, engine serial number, and serial numbers of any accessories, in your wallet or purse in case your vehicle is stolen.
|
|
|
