Crime Prevention Tips


Crime Prevention Tips

Weekly Crime Prevention Tips

Check out the neighborhood with your child. Find out where he or she feels safe and unsafe. Familiarize yourself with the route your child takes when walking, biking or being bussed to school. Agree on safe routes.
Tell your child that anything that makes him or her uncomfortable or suspicious should be reported immediately to you and to school officials.
Set a good example for your child. Settle disputes without using or threatening violence.
Do not leave valuables in plain view inside your vehicle. Put them in the trunk or cover them with a blanket.
Shred all credit card receipts, applications for new credit card, cancelled checks, promotional checks, telephone bills and any other document that lists any personal identifying information.
Do not mail anything from your home mailbox that includes any of your personal identifying information, such as personal checks. Take such mail to the Post Office or a locked U.S. Postal Services mailbox.
Review your credit card statements and checking account statements immediately upon receipt for any fraudulent activity.
Make sure everyone – adults, teens and children – knows house rules for answering the telephone and the door.
Trim shrubs and trees that might give criminals a place to hide or climb to second stories.
Make sure you know your child’s friends and the friends’ parents.
Never give out any of your personal identifying information over the telephone. The only exception is if you initiated the telephone call.
Never allow children to play in deserted areas such as woods, parking lots, alleys, deserted buildings or construction sites.
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume it is unloaded until you have opened the action and checked it yourself.
Keep all firearms and ammunition safely secured and out of the reach of a child. Children regard firearms as toys and will play with them if given the opportunity.
Keep a record of valuables in your home by recording serial numbers and taking photos or video of all your valuables. Have someone from the Police Department come to your home and conduct a Security Survey.
Get to know your neighbors. You are each other’s best defense against crime. Start or strengthen a Neighborhood Watch.
Rapid removal of graffiti is one of the best ways to prevent future graffiti. Removing graffiti tells the vandals that people care about the community and that their work has little chance of being seen.
Outdoor lighting is the most effective and least expensive crime deterrent. Never leave door keys under flower pots, doormats, inside mailboxes or in other “secret” hiding places. Burglars know them all!
During the holidays, if you are out for the evening or must travel out of town, be extra cautious about locking windows and doors. Have lights and tv/radio on automatic timers and ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home and pick up newspapers and mail.
While holiday shopping, teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard or police officer if they get separated from you.
While holiday shopping, deter pickpockets and purse snatchers by not overburdening yourself with packages. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
While holiday shopping, park in a well lighted space if shopping during dark hours. Be sure to close windows, hide shopping bags/gifts and lock your vehicle.
Do not leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle. Burglary of motor vehicles is sometimes called a “gateway crime” to identity theft.
While holiday shopping, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Have your keys out as you approach your vehicle. Do not approach your vehicle if you observe anything suspicious.
If approached by a stranger while you are in your vehicle, drive off if possible or lean on your horn to attract attention.
While holiday shopping, avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
Never leave your vehicle running or the keys in the ignition when you are away from it, even for “just a minute.” About 38% of vehicle thefts in Fort Worth occur when keys have been left in the vehicle. And, it is illegal to leave your keys in the vehicle.

Crime Prevention Tips

Check out the neighborhood with your child. Find out where he or she feels safe and unsafe. Familiarize yourself with the route your child takes when walking, biking or being bussed to school. Agree on safe routes.

Tell your child that anything that makes him or her uncomfortable or suspicious should be reported immediately to you and to school officials.

Set a good example for your child. Settle disputes without using or threatening violence.

Do not leave valuables in plain view inside your vehicle. Put them in the trunk or cover them with a blanket.

Shred all credit card receipts, applications for new credit card, cancelled checks, promotional checks, telephone bills and any other document that lists any personal identifying information.

Do not mail anything from your home mailbox that includes any of your personal identifying information, such as personal checks. Take such mail to the Post Office or a locked U.S. Postal Services mailbox.

Review your credit card statements and checking account statements immediately upon receipt for any fraudulent activity.

Make sure everyone – adults, teens and children – knows house rules for answering the telephone and the door.

Trim shrubs and trees that might give criminals a place to hide or climb to second stories.

Make sure you know your child’s friends and the friends’ parents.

Never give out any of your personal identifying information over the telephone. The only exception is if you initiated the telephone call.

Never allow children to play in deserted areas such as woods, parking lots, alleys, deserted buildings or construction sites.

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume it is unloaded until you have opened the action and checked it yourself.

Keep all firearms and ammunition safely secured and out of the reach of a child. Children regard firearms as toys and will play with them if given the opportunity.

Keep a record of valuables in your home by recording serial numbers and taking photos or video of all your valuables. Have someone from the Police Department come to your home and conduct a Security Survey.

Get to know your neighbors. You are each other’s best defense against crime. Start or strengthen a Neighborhood Watch.

Rapid removal of graffiti is one of the best ways to prevent future graffiti. Removing graffiti tells the vandals that people care about the community and that their work has little chance of being seen.

Outdoor lighting is the most effective and least expensive crime deterrent. Never leave door keys under flower pots, doormats, inside mailboxes or in other “secret” hiding places. Burglars know them all!

During the holidays, if you are out for the evening or must travel out of town, be extra cautious about locking windows and doors. Have lights and tv/radio on automatic timers and ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home and pick up newspapers and mail.

While holiday shopping, teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard or police officer if they get separated from you.

While holiday shopping, deter pickpockets and purse snatchers by not overburdening yourself with packages. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.

While holiday shopping, park in a well lighted space if shopping during dark hours. Be sure to close windows, hide shopping bags/gifts and lock your vehicle.

Do not leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle. Burglary of motor vehicles is sometimes called a “gateway crime” to identity theft.

While holiday shopping, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Have your keys out as you approach your vehicle. Do not approach your vehicle if you observe anything suspicious.

If approached by a stranger while you are in your vehicle, drive off if possible or lean on your horn to attract attention.

While holiday shopping, avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.

Never leave your vehicle running or the keys in the ignition when you are away from it, even for “just a minute.” About 38% of vehicle thefts in Fort Worth occur when keys have been left in the vehicle. And, it is illegal to leave your keys in the vehicle.