Safety Tips

Home Safety: 

Doors & Locks

1. Use a solid core or metal door for all entrance points.

2. Use a quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt.

3. Use a quality, heavy-duty, knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism.

4. Use a heavy-duty, four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden door frame.

5. Use a wide-angle 160° peephole mounted no higher than 58 inches.

Patio Doors

1. Use a secondary blocking device on all sliding glass doors.

2. Keep the latch mechanism in good condition and properly adjusted.

3. Keep sliding door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted.

4. Use anti-lift devices such as through-the-door pins or upper track screws.

5. Use highly visible alarm decals, beware of dog decals or block watch decal.

Windows

1. Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices.

2. Block accessible windows open no more than 6 inches for ventilation.

3. Make sure someone cannot reach through an open window and unlock the door.

4. Make sure someone cannot reach inside the window and remove the blocking device.

5. Use anti-lift devices to prevent window from being lifted out.

6. Use crime prevention or alarm decals on ground accessible windows.

Lighting

1. Use interior light timers to establish a pattern of occupancy

2. Exterior lighting should allow 100 foot visibility

3. Use good lighting along the pathway and at your door

4. Use light timers or photo-cells to turn on/off lights automatically

5. Use infra-red motion sensor lights on the rear of single family homes

Other Safety Measures

1. When you have an in home safe, use the safe everyday so it becomes routine.

2. Protect the safe code and change it occasionally.

3. Install a safe away from the master bedroom or closet.

4. Identify your valuables by engraving your drivers license number.

5. Photograph and record the serial numbers of all valuables.

6. Photocopy the contents of your wallet and other documents.

7. Store the copies in a safe deposit box or with a relative.

Good Neighbor Policies

1. Get to know all your adjacent neighbors.

2. Invite them into your home and establish trust.

3. Agree to watch out for each other's home.

4. Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.

5. While on vacation, pick up newspapers, and flyers.

6. Offer to park your car in their driveway.

7. Return the favor and communicate often.

Best ATM Banking Practices

1. Only use ATM machines in a well-lighted, open, high-traffic area.

2. Use ATMs at inside busy supermarkets when possible.

3. If lights around the ATM are not working, don't use that machine.

4. Avoid ATM machines adjacent to obvious hiding places.

5. When you approach an ATM, scan the area first for loiterers.

6. Have your card ready and leave quickly, not counting your cash in public.

7. Walk, run, or drive away immediately if your instincts tell you so.

8. Beware of offers for help from strangers during an ATM transaction.

9. Tell any suspicious male in a loud, firm voice to back-off.

10. Don't argue with a robber, if confronted, and give up the cash.

11. Don't fight with or attempt to follow the robber.

12. Drive or walk to a safe place and immediately call the police.

Best Shopping Practices

1. Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot.

2. Plan when to go and where to park.

3. Do not get out of the car if not safe to do so.

4. Scan the area around your car as you approach it.

5. Teach your family to enter and exit the care quickly.

6. Return to the store if anyone looks or acts suspicious.

Best Hotel or Motel Practices

1. Be aware and alert to predators in the parking lot.

2. Plan when to go and where to park.

3. Always request a room on an upper floor, if possible.

4. A solid core door with a good deadbolt lock is best.

5. Electronic card-access locks minimize key control questions.

6. Make sure your door has a peephole and night latch and use it .

7. Use your do not disturb sign whenever you are in the room.

8. Inspect the room hiding places upon entering and check all locks.

9. Ask the bellman for an escort and use valet parking, if alone.

Shopplifting Alerts!

1. Be aware of customers’ hands - and their pockets, purses, handkerchiefs.

2. Notice open packages, purses, shopping bags, backpacks.

3. Watch for customers who are nervous, have wandering eyes, are loitering or lingering in hidden areas.

4. Watch groups of people, especially if a person tries to distract you.

5. Bulky clothing: coats, pants and maternity outfits.

6. Packages, bags, backpacks and purses are hiding places, and sometimes they may have false bottoms.

7. Special props include hollowed-out books, fake casts, umbrellas, secret pockets, belts or hooks under coats.

8. Folded newspapers or magazines are used to hide small or flat items.