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CRIME PREVENTION TIPS -------------------------------------------------------- 1. HOW TO DETER BURGLARY ATTEMPTS Residential burglary is one of the fastest-growing crimes in recent years, so protecting yourself and your home is a necessity. The following information is designed to prevent your home from looking like an easy target to potential criminals. There are simple, basic security measures you can take that will make your home less vulnerable and, in turn, will cause a burglar to think twice about the trouble it would take to break in. Most burglars are amateurs who look for the easiest way to make a buck. A home with overgrown shrubbery, poor locks, no alarm system and all its lights off will be much more appealing to these individuals than ones that employ basic security measures. 2. HOW TO DETER BREAK-INS WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT HOME If you are not home in the daytime, leave drapes and shades in a normal position - the way you would have them when at home. Don't leave easily movable valuables in sight close to windows. At night, leave on some inner lights - bathrooms and hallways for example. Consider buying automatic timers that turn lamps on after dark, then off a few hours later or at dawn. Also, consider leaving on a radio or TV. Also, never leave your garage door open. This is like a “WELCOME” sign to burglars. And close your garage door every time you leave, even if only for a few minutes. Don't forget to remove easily stolen objects such as power mowers, garden hoses, lawn chairs and bicycles from your yard or porch -- keep them safely locked up. 3. HOW TO HELP YOURSELF AND YOUR NEIGHBORS Get to know your neighbors, and keep an eye out for suspicious behavior at their homes. Ask them to do the same for you. If you see something that’s not as it should be -- movement inside when a home should be empty, or an unfamiliar car or truck -- call your local law enforcement agency immediately. Make a reasonable effort to get a good description and license number without endangering yourself. Burglars have been known to use a truck and openly carry off valuable possessions, acting as if they belong at the home. If neighbors haven't mentioned moving, be suspicious. Police would rather you called in a complaint of unusual behavior that turned out to be nothing than have you witness a possible theft in progress and dismiss its significance. 4. PROTECTING HOME ACCESS POINTS Many homes are guarded only by spring-latch door locks. Also, older doors and frames may have become worn, leaving a pronounced gap that allows easier prying. Be sure to check them, too. One lock that crime prevention experts recommend is a deadbolt lock with a one-inch thrown. This type of lock provides better security than what many homes now have. Be sure locks are firmly screwed into solid wood -- not just into a light door jamb. The longer screws and the longer the lock bolt, the safer your home will be. (The standard screws that come with many locks are too short for good security.) Besides good locks, it is also a good idea to have a one-way peephole in your front door so you can see who is outside before opening it to a possibly dangerous stranger. Such viewers are inexpensive and easy to install. They are much better than chain latches, which are easy to force loose. Install window locks. An additional security measure is wedge devices that prevent windows from being opened, or allow you to open them an inch or two for ventilation but prevent opening them wider. Sliding glass doors are a special problem because they can be forced open sideways or simply popped out of their track. There are various inexpensive items such as a Charlie bar or supplemental locks that will give you better protection. Check with your crime prevention officer, locksmith or hardware dealer for more information about any of these security measures. The best lock in the world is worthless if it isn't locked. Always lock up - even if you're away from the home only minutes. Houses have been cleaned out while the owner was mowing the lawn or visiting a neighbor. 5. CHANGE LOCKS WHEN YOU MOVE IN Any licensed locksmith can change the tumblers in your outside door locks quickly and inexpensively. So when you move into a home, have it done. If you lose a key, change the lock tumblers. 6. HOW TO HANDLE EMERGENCY KEYS One might end up in the hands of someone you don't trust. Don't leave an "emergency" key under the door mat, on top of the door frame, or in any other obvious "hiding spot." Keep car keys and house keys separate. This way your house keys are never left in the possession of a stranger when you have your vehicle parked by a valet at a garage or parking lot. Never have a name or license tag attached to your house keys. If keys are lost or stolen, you'll have an unwelcome visitor very quickly. 7. DON'T WELCOME BURGLARS BY TELEPHONE Burglars often try to find out if anyone is home by phoning. If you get several suspicious "wrong number" calls, or calls that are nothing but dead air, tell the police. Warn family members, especially children, to give out no information by phone -- especially about who is home, who is out, or the length of time anyone is expected to be out. Make it harder for burglars to "case" your home by phone by avoiding names on mailboxes or on doors. Your name on display only makes it easier for the burglar to look your name up in the directory. 8. AVOID OPENING YOUR DOOR TO STRANGERS This isn't just to guard against robbery by force or threat of force; sometimes burglars who have no intention of using force will first try to get in under some pretext so they can scout out valuables and study locks, windows and other means of entry. Ask repair people and others who claim to have business inside to show positive identification, and keep the door closed while you study the identification through the peephole. If you have the slightest doubt, telephone their supervisors to verify their identity. If you wish to help a lost or stranded motorist, you make the call to police while he or she waits outside. When you do admit a worker or a salesperson you were expecting, do not leave them alone at any time! 9. DON'T REWARD BURGLARS Despite your precautions, a burglar still could get into your home, so don't keep large sums of cash around the house, and certainly not in full view. Keep your most valuable jewelry in a safe deposit box. 10. GET AN ALARM... EVEN THE FURRY KIND A dog in your home still is an effective deterrent to burglary. The dog needn't be big or ferocious. If the dog makes noise (and most dogs will) that's enough to cause a burglar to look for easier -- and quieter -- pickings. If you can afford it, you might consider an alarm system, but buy only from reputable, established dealers. Ask for references. Local crime prevention officers can't recommend specific brands or companies, but they can provide general information on types of alarm systems. 11. DON'T ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION Try to keep your home looking "lived in" while you're away, even if it’s only for the weekend. Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the place and to pick up papers and mail. The neighbor, or an inexpensive electric timer, can turn your lights off and on. Also arrange to have your lawn mowed or walks shoveled during your absence. If you'll be away from your home for an extended period of time, tell your law enforcement agency. They don’t have the staff to put a guard at your door - no police system in the country could do that. Contact the Strathmoor Village Police Department at 432-8900 and we will make runs past your home several times a day while your away and check for signs of suspicious activity. 12. PREVENT MAIL THEFT Burglars and other thieves often get information about you or your home by stealing mail. To reduce your risk, pick up mail from your box on a daily basis, as close to the time it is delivered as possible. Invest in a locking mailbox or mail slot in your front door. Have financially sensitive (or all) mail sent to a post office box. Call 911 to report any suspicious activity. Will these precautions guarantee your home is safe from burglars? No, short of making your home into an armed fortress, there's no way to do that. But these basic security precautions will make your home less inviting as a target. So pass these tips along to friends and neighbors. HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A CAR BEING STOLEN More than 1 million vehicles are stolen every year. In 1990 alone, more than 1.6 million vehicles were stolen - at an estimated national cost of more than $8 billion. In the time it takes you to read this information, nine cars will be stolen! Don't make it easy for professional thieves or joyriders to take your wheels. Important Tips On Protecting Your Car From Theft 1. Lock your car every time you step out of it, even for just a minute. Close windows all the way and make sure the trunk is locked. 2. Control your keys. Never leave an identification tag on your key ring. If your keys are lost or stolen, it could help a thief locate your car and burglarize your home. 3. Don't leave registration inside your vehicle; carry it with you. Important identification papers or credit cards should never be left in the glove compartment. If carrying packages or valuable items, store them in your trunk if possible. If you do leave packages, clothing or other articles in the car, make sure they are out of sight. 4. Park in well-lit, busy areas. Avoid leaving your vehicle in unattended parking lots for long periods of time. If you park in a lot where you must leave a key, leave the ignition key only, to protect items in trunk or glove box. 5. When buying a car, ask about anti-theft options such as steering column locks, alarms, switches that interrupt the fuel or electronic systems, and locks for tape decks, batteries and gas tanks. May insurance companies offer reduced rates to owners who install security devices. 6. Keep your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and a complete description in a safe place at home. Since 1969, the federal government has required manufacturers to engrave a unique number, the VIN, on all passenger cars in one visible and several hidden locations. One VIN is engraved on a metal plated on the dashboard near the windshield. VINs of stolen cars are registered with the FBI's National Crime Information Center. 7. Bicycles, motorcycles and trail bikes park out of sight in a garage or basement, or use a cover. Engrave with an Operation Identification number recommended by local law enforcement. Lock all bicycles with a case- hardened chain or cable and lock, winding the cable through the frame and both wheels and then around a fixed object. Use the fork lock found on most street motorcycles. For extra protection of your bicycle or motorcycle, invest in a heavy U-shaped lock made of extremely hard steel that can not be hack sawed, or a case-hardened chain and a sturdy padlock. Watch out for key numbers! Some motorcycle manufacturers stamp the key number on the lock. With this number, anyone can go to a key maker and have a key cut that will fit perfectly. Many key makers ask for identification, but don't take chances - write down your number, store the number in a safe place, and then file it off the lock. |
| Strathmoor Village Police Department |
| Chief's Corner |
Republic Bank Building email: policedept@strathmoorpd.com
2801 Bardstown Road * Louisville, KY 40205 ph: (502) 432-8900
2801 Bardstown Road * Louisville, KY 40205 ph: (502) 432-8900