Prevention Works

Tis the Season – Be Aware and Be Safe

The holidays are now upon us. This is the time of season where families often gather together, people are out and about shopping for gifts, the malls and grocery stores are packed, and the excitement swells. This is also the time of year when thieves try to take advantage and look for opportunities to strike and make your holidays miserable. I’ve been a victim in the past. It was as quick as someone running past me in the mall and snatching my packages out of my hands that I just purchased.

Now more than ever is the time to be conscious of your surroundings and protective of your wares. Whether you are traveling out of town, just out for the evening, or shopping by yourself or with children, below are a few precautions to help make your holidays a safer one.

If you are traveling:

• Put an automatic timer on your lights
• Ask a neighbor to check up on your home
• Don’t forget to have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped

If you are out of the house:

• Turn on lights and music or the TV so it looks as if someone is home
• Be sure that your doors and windows are locked
• Don’t display your gifts where they can be seen from the outside
• If you plan to have packages delivered to your home, make sure you are home to accept them. If not, as a neighbor or ask that the package be sent to the nearest post office

If you are shopping:

• Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you
• Park in a well-lighted space
• Be sure to lock your car, close windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible
• Don’t overburden yourself with packages
• Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Carry a purse close to your body in the front. If you are carrying a wallet, place it in an inside coat or front pants pocket
• If shopping with kids, have a plan in case you get separated. For the older children, have a central meeting spot designated. For the younger children teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated. Be sure they know your name (not just mommy and daddy), cell phone number, and their address. Go over the dangers of strangers with them so they know who not to talk to or follow
• Check receipts to see whether your full credit card number appears. If a receipt has your full number on it, take a pen and thoroughly scratch it out
• Double check that you have your credit cards and check book after you pay for your items

By following these tips, you can reduce your stress during the busy holiday season and be safe at the same time. Whatever holiday you celebrate, make it a safe one.

Happy Holidays!

This Thanksgiving “Lock It or Lose It”

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for travelers as many of us hit the road to share the holiday with friends and family. And due to the economy, more of us will be traveling by automobile. According to Triple AAA projections, there will be additional 2.1 percent motorists when compared to last year.

Many holiday travel tips will help you on your journey, but I want to focus on how to keep your vehicle safe as you join those on U.S. highways to travel often unfamiliar routes and to new places that hold potential risks for your vehicle.

While many of us have read the reports indicating an overall drop in crime across the country, we continue to read and hear about increases in personal property crime, especially theft of or from automobiles. The Roanoke Police Department recently launched the “Safer City Roanoke” campaign to address this problem, an expansion of their “Lock It or Lose It” Initiative that was started four years ago.

As you travel this holiday season, protect your vehicle with these tips from McGruff:

• Never leave your vehicle unattended with keys in the ignition.
• Lock your doors and keep the windows closed, even when parked in front of your home.
• Park in busy and well-lighted areas.
• Do not leave valuables—GPS, GPS holder, cell phone—in plain view.
• Equip your vehicle with an alarm or other anti-theft device.
• Never leave your vehicle registration or other personal documents in your vehicle.
• Report auto theft immediately. Provide local authorities with the make/model/license plate and Vehicle ID number.

To utilize these and other crime prevention tips in your community, please visit our home page at www.ncpc.org and see our Rapid Response for Law Enforcement/Community Outreach Tools. NCPC has recently added ten new topics in five languages that can be localized by your police department to help prevent crime in your community.

Have A Safe Summer!

It’s that time of year again; the time that people, especially children, look forward to the most. Yes, you guessed it – it’s summer break time! The time when families go on vacation, children are out of school, the weather is warm and inviting, and the beach is calling. It’s a much needed time for children and parents to relax from the demands of school and work. It can be a time when one may let his or her guard down and not be as attentive as he or she should be.

Unfortunately, criminals do not take a break. Many times, criminals may see this as an opportunity to take advantage of relaxed vigilance. In recent weeks in the Washington, DC, area, sexual predators have entered unlocked doors and windows and preyed upon women. A high school student was sexually assaulted and almost abducted while walking on a wooded path to high school. And in Prince Georges County, a county just outside of the District, home invasion robberies have doubled.

As summertime kicks in, let’s remember to be safe and to teach and remind our children how to be safe. On NCPC’s website, there are hundreds of safety tips directed toward every audience and almost every topic. Below are just some of the examples:

Travel Tips

• If you are about to travel, check out our vacation tips (pdf) and our preparedness guide (pdf) for travelers.
• Don’t let your guard down when driving or filling up the car for that road trip. Look at these tips for car theft (pdf) and gas station theft prevention.

Safety Tips for Children and Youth

• Have your children check out the bike safety and streetwise tips (pdf).
• If your child will be home alone, share these tips with them.
• Review these facts with your teens about how NOT to be a victim of crime.

Safety Tips for Parents and Adults

• If your children will be spending more time on the Internet this summer, share these tips with them to help keep them safe.
• Before you go on vacation, use these convenient checklists for apartments (pdf) and homes (pdf) to help prevent intruders.
• If you want to prevent yourself from being a victim of violent crime, check out this list.

The bottom line is that we all need to continue to be attentive to our surroundings. Protect yourself and your loved ones by reducing the chance for criminals to victimize you and your family. NCPC wants you to have a fun and safe summer!