Neighborhood Watch>

Reduce your Chance of Being a Victim of Crime:

Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity:

1.  In almost half of the residential burglaries (including garage burglaries), are entered through an open or unlocked door or window. Keep your home and belongings locked.
2. Make sure that your garage door is always kept closed so that the contents aren't visible to anyone passing by. Remember to lock the deadbolt between the garage and your home. Always using this lock will protect your home should they enter through your garage.
3. Keep your doors locked when you are home.  If you are out gardening or other activities and your door is unlocked, burglars can enter and take that wallet or purse that is lying on the kitchen counter.  Keeping your doors locked at all times will  end this crime of opportunity.  Also, if you use yard workers, close  curtains or limit view to valuables so that they are not tempted by your  belongings.
4.  Avoid door-to-door salespersons.  Burglaries are also more common where door-to-door salespersons, petitioners, and people delivering flyers are often seen in neighborhoods. While most of these people are legitimate, some are trying doors and are making note of the residences where they get no answer to their knock. If you see someone suspicious in
your neighborhood, especially a salesperson that is not prominently displaying a Peddler’s Permit issued by the city, you'll want to notify the police. Call them and give a description of the individual and a direction of travel, and tell them why you think they are suspicious.
5.Teach your children not to allow strangers in your house, even if they claim to be hurt and need your help.
6. In most cases of theft from vehicles or property, the items taken are in plain view.  Thefts from cars are almost always a crime of opportunity. The police are seeing an increase in thefts of briefcases, laptop computers, purses, and packages from vehicles. In most cases, the items taken were left on a seat or on the floor of the passenger compartment. You can help stop these thefts by locking your car and securing your valuables in the trunk of your car or covered storage area of your SUV. Be sure to take your valuables inside when you get home.
7. Don't leave your keys in your car and don't leave your car running, even for a minute. Some people leave their car running when they need run back in their house for something. If you do, you might come back to find your car gone. Some kids call these “puffers” or “smokers” and they look for unoccupied running cars to take for joy rides.
8.Pick up your mail immediately when you get home and never leave the flag up to notify the mailman of outgoing mail.  Get on “no junk mail” lists to reduce frequency of credit card invitations.
9. Lock up your valuables that are outside of your house (out of plain view) and use motion detectors and other lighting to deter criminals. Reduce areas where someone can hide around your house.  Replacing bushes with cactus under windows is also effective.
10.  Limit access to your neighborhood, and make it more difficult to quickly escape.  Make it difficult to see into your yard or get into your back yard from an alley.  Keep a phone near you as you sleep, in case of intruders.
Crime is often prevented when neighbors band together:
1.    Implement the Vacation House Check program.  Inform a trusted
neighbor when you will be away.  If they encounter any problems, have them  report to the police department and to a person designated by  the home owner. Packages that are left on porches are picked up by the neighbor and are moved to a more secure area.  Mail can also be picked up.
2.   Know your neighbor’s phone number and cell number for those you can visibly see.  If you see something suspicious, it never hurts to make a quick call. Just before retiring, take a quick look out your windows and report any suspicious activities to your neighbor or police.The use of a police scanner can also help you to be aware of local crime. As part of the "take back myneighborhood" campaign, some neighborhoods plan a scheduled night out, whereeveryone is encouraged to be out and about in the neighborhood at a given time (like between 7pm - 10pm) on a certain day.