Crime Prevention Tips

It is estimated that $65 million is lost each year in the United States in home invasions, muggings, and in other violent crimes. It is estimated that $600 billion is lost per year due to fraud. Work place violence caused an estimated $30 billion to American businesses last year.

It is important to be aware a crime can occur, anticipating the location, time, and taking action to reduce the chance of it happening. Crime prevention is key to stopping the ability and opportunity for a criminal. The use of instinct, knowledge, common sense, and awareness can make you a tough target.

Three Basic Rules

Keep your mind on your surroundings, who's in front of you and who's behind you; don't get distracted
Stay alert
Walk purposefully, stand tall, and make eye contact with people around you

Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, leave.

Personal Protection

Always be aware of your surroundings.
Don't think that it can't happen to you.
If being followed or stalked, call 911 or drive directly to a police station.
Make yourself a "tough target."
Should you resist? Everyone and every situation is different.

If You're Attacked

Stay as calm as possible and evaluate your options and resources.
It may be more advisable to submit than to resist and risk severe injury or death. You will have to make this decision based on the circumstances. But, don't resist if the attacker has a weapon.
Keep assessing the situation as it is happening. If one strategy doesn't work, try another. Possible options include:
- Distracting the assailant and fleeing to a safe place
- Negotiating
- Physical resistance
- Screaming
- Stalling for time
- Verbal assertiveness
You may be able to turn the attacker off with unusual behavior such as throwing up, acting crazy, or stating you have a sexually transmitted disease.

After a Sexual Assault

Call someone to be with you. You should not be alone. Contact a rape treatment or crisis center to help you deal with the consequences of the assault.
Do not shower, bathe, or destroy any clothing you were wearing. Do not disturb any physical evidence.
Go to a hospital emergency room for medical care.
Go to a safe place and call the police.
The sooner you report the crime, the greater the chances your attacker will be caught.

While Driving

Avoid underground and enclosed parking garages if possible.
Check front and rear seats, and floorboards before entering your car.
Consider investing in a cellular telephone.
Drive with all doors locked and windows rolled up.
Keep your car in good condition with the gas tank at least half full.
Never pick up hitchhikers. If your car breaks down, put the hood up, lock the doors, turn on the flashers, and move to the passenger seat. Do not leave your car. If someone stops to help, roll down the window slightly and ask them to call the police or a tow truck.
Park in well-lighted areas and lock your doors, no matter how long you'll be gone.
Put valuables out of sight or in the trunk.
When parking or returning to your vehicle, carry your keys and be aware of your surroundings.

Public Transportation

Avoid sitting near exits. An attacker can reach in and grab a purse or jewelry as the bus or subway pulls away.
Be alert to who gets off the bus or subway with you. If you feel uncomfortable, walk directly to a place where there are other people.
Try to sit near the driver or conductor.
Try to use well-lit and frequently used stops.

In Elevators

Get off if someone suspicious enters.
If you're attacked, hit the alarm and as many floor buttons as possible.
If you're worried about someone who is waiting for the elevator with you, pretend you forgot something and don't get on.
Look in the elevator before getting in.
Stand near the controls.

Home & Neighborhood

Good locks, simple precautions, neighborhood awareness, and common sense can help prevent most property crimes.

Locks, Doors, & Windows

Install and use good deadbolt locks in your doors (about half of all burglars enter through unlocked doors and windows).
Lock double-hung windows by sliding a bolt or nail into a hole drilled at a downward angle through the top of each sash and into the frame.
Secure sliding glass doors with locks or a rigid wooden dowel wedged in the track.

Outside

Maintain the neighborhood. Dark alleys, litter, and rundown areas attract criminals.
Make sure all porches, entrances, and yards are well lighted.
Trim back shrubbery hiding doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that could help a thief climb to second story windows.

Key Sense

Do not hide house keys in mail boxes, planters, or under doormats.
Do not put personal identification on key rings.
If you lose the keys to your home or move into a new home, change the locks immediately.
Leave only your ignition key with mechanics or parking attendants.

Answering the Door

Do not trust door chains. They can be easily broken.
Don't open the door to anyone you don't know. Insist service personnel verify their identity before allowing them in.
Install a peephole or viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door.

Answering the Telephone

Check references of any person calling about a survey or credit check before offering information.
Don't give any information to "wrong number" callers.
Hang up immediately on threatening or harassing calls.

Going Away

If you will be gone several days, arrange to have the mail and papers stopped or picked up. Half of all home burglaries occur during the day when alert neighbors could spot and report the thieves.
Keep your garage door closed and locked.
Leave lights on and the radio playing.
Make your home appear occupied when you go out.
Use timing devices to turn inside lights on and off.

Ten Things You & Your Neighbors Can Do

Work with public agencies and other neighborhood-based or community-wide organizations, on solving common problems. Don't be shy about letting them know what your community needs.
Make sure that all the youth in the neighborhood have positive ways to spend their spare time, through organized recreation, tutoring programs, part-time work, and volunteer opportunities.
Set up a Neighborhood Watch or a community patrol working with police. Make sure your streets and homes are well lighted.
Build a partnership with police, focused on solving problems instead of reacting to crises. Make it possible for neighbors to report suspicious activity or crimes without fear of retaliation.
Take advantage of "safety in numbers" to hold rallies, marches, and other group activities to show you're determined to drive out crime and drugs.
Clean up the neighborhood! Involve everyone; teens, children, senior citizens. Graffiti, litter, abandoned cars, and run-down buildings tell criminals that you don't care about where you live or each other. Call the city public works department and ask for help in cleaning up.
Ask local officials to use new ways to get criminals out of your building or neighborhood. These include enforcing anti-noise laws, housing codes, health and fire codes, anti-nuisance laws, and drug-free clauses in rental leases.
Form a Court Watch to help support victims and witnesses and to see that criminals get fairly punished.
Work with schools to establish drug-free, gun-free zones; work with recreation officials to do the same for parks.
Develop and share a phone list of local organizations that can provide counseling, job training, guidance, and other services that neighbors might need.

What Your Children Need to Know About Guns

Children should know that guns are not toys, that guns are dangerous and can hurt people.
If they see or find a gun (even if they think the gun looks like a toy), they should follow these three steps to safety:
1. They should not touch or handle the gun.
2. They should get away from the gun quickly, leave the area.
3. They should immediately tell a trusted adult (parent, guardian, teacher or police officer) about the gun.