SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION RESOURCES

Written By Guest User

The East Isles Neighborhood Association has provided a list of resources and contacts for your safety and to prevent crimes in our neighborhood.

 

Safety Recommendations

  • Keep the doors to your car locked when you’re inside. This prevents someone from opening your door to grab you, a bag or phone from inside.

    Be aware of your surroundings, look at who and what is around you and take note of anyone approaching you or your car. A person “heads down” looking at their phone is much easier to take by surprise.

    Be aware of what’s happening to others around you and call 911 if you see signs that someone is being threatened or assaulted. Try to pass along any license plate information as well as vehicle and suspect descriptions so responding officers know who or what they are looking for.

    Never leave your car running while unattended and never leave a key inside a parked vehicle.

    Keep some distance between yourself and a stranger who approaches you. Staying more than arm’s length away means someone can’t grab your bag or you, as easily.

    Be alert if someone approaches you to ask a question like what time it is or if you have a cigarette. This may be a ruse to get close to you.

    Don’t carry your cell phone in your hand. Keep it out of sight in an inside pocket or zipped in a bag.

    Don’t give your cell phone to anyone who approaches asking if they can use it to make a call. This is a common ruse used to get control of the phone by a thief who promptly runs off with it.

    If you carry a purse, consider a cross body bag. Don’t hang it on the back of a chair in restaurants, bars or coffee shops but keep it in your lap or between your feet beneath the table – out of reach of passersby.

    Don’t carry more documents, credit cards or valuables with you than what you need. The loss of a social security card, birth certificate or passport can create more identity theft complications later.

    Take a self-defense class. That can increase your confidence and decrease fear.

  • Don’t leave cash in a register or in a safe that can be carried away.

    Secure small valuables.

    When closing and leaving, always ensure the alarm system is working and turned-on.

    Ensure security cameras are operating, directed for quality and effective images (faces, not tops of heads/shoulders/shoes).

    Consider security film on accessible glass windows and doors to increase resistance to breakage.

    Keep exteriors well-lit, and clean/clear of debris and over-growth.

    Place high-value items away from access doors or accessible only with staff assistance.

  • Keep exterior doors locked with quality locks including garage doors.

    Pin all windows that can be reached from the ground, including those that can be reached by standing on lawn furniture. Pinning will keep the windows from being pushed open wide enough for a person to cut the screen and reach or climb inside.

    Do not leave valuables like bicycles unsecured on porches or patios.

    Use good exterior lighting. Some people like smart lighting and recommendations can be found online for example: https://thewirecutter.com/blog/smart-lights-home-security-crime/

    Consider using security cameras. The cost is low, quality is high, set-up is easy and many models are readily available. If something happens, camera images may be the only evidence left behind. Many recommendations can be found online including here.

    Consider lighting and security camera coverage at points of access for your garage or outdoor parking pad too.

    In a multi-unit building, be aware of people seeking to gain entry to the building without a key by slipping in behind you.

  • Keep the service door locked with a deadbolt. Check to make sure the door and door frame are

    sturdy. Rotted wood is often a culprit in making a secured door insecure.

    Don’t leave the garage door up while you are not in the garage. An open door while you are in the house or in the front yard is a tempting target. If anyone in your household is prone to forgetting to close the overhead door, consider a smart garage door sensor that sends an alert to your phone when the garage door is left up.

    Don’t leave a garage door opener in a car parked outside on the street, parking pad or

    alleyway. Thieves look for garage door openers.

    If you keep very valuable bikes in the garage, secure them by locking them to a bolt drilled into the concrete floor or other immovable fixture.

    Don’t leave wallets, purses, computers or other valuables in a car in the garage.

    Always lock the door between the house and an attached garage.

    In a multi-unit building with a parking garage, watch for garage doors to close behind your car before pulling away to prevent another vehicle or person from slipping into a secure area without a key.

  • Don’t leave a key or keyless fob in your car – ever. Not in the ignition, the glove compartment, the center console or hidden anywhere in the car.

    Check your owner’s manual for a valet key and remove it from the car.

    Don’t leave a spare key hidden nearby in a garage or in another parked vehicle.

    Don’t leave personal property visible in a parked vehicle. Thieves don’t know that the bag only has sweaty gym clothes or other non-valuable property in it.

    Don’t keep a wallet, ID, passport, checks, credit cards, money, house keys, work keys, work ID, computers, phones, tablets, guns or anything else valuable in a parked car.

  • Keep the box for your phone if it shows the IMEI/serial number or record the model and IMEI or serial number somewhere safe.

    Activate any finding features available on your phone.

    Use pass codes to control access to your phone and to apps for banking, credit cards or other sensitive information. Set the lock time on your phone to a shorter period of time.

    Record your credit card information somewhere safe so you know how to contact the issuers easily.

    Know how to access your accounts online so you can quickly check for fraudulent activity.

  • Safety Steps

    Stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid focusing on your phone or being distracted when approaching or leaving your vehicle and when sitting in a parked vehicle.

    When sitting in your vehicle, keep your doors locked and your windows up.

    If you feel unsafe, move.

    Understand and use any alert system installed on your vehicle. Activate the distress alert or panic button for your vehicle if you feel unsafe or threatened. This is typically a red button on your key fob.

    Always have your mobile phone handy and charged.

    Practice safe parking. Stick to well-lit areas. If you have any safety concerns where you parked after the fact, find a security guard to accompany you to your vehicle.

    If you are involved in a minor crash without other vehicles or pedestrians around and you do not feel safe enough to stop, immediately call 911, report the crash incident, and drive to a nearby, public area to exchange information or wait for police.

    To minimize your losses if you encounter a carjacker, protect your other valuables. Avoid carrying a lot of cash, ensure that all apps with personal information or access to finances are secured by more than your phone’s lock screen, and immediately report any lost or stolen credit or debit cards.

    If You Become the Victim of a Carjacking Crime

    If you are confronted by an assailant and are not able to drive away, remain calm, do not argue.

    Try to remember how the assailant looks and acts, including any of their unique characteristics (such as scars, limps, acne, teeth, manner of speech).

    Never chase them.

    If video is available, please save a copy of the incident for investigating detectives.

    If a witness approaches you, ask for their contact information.

    Contact 911 immediately and remain on the scene if possible. If your vehicle or phone has tracking, tell the dispatcher.

    Look out for One Another

    Call 911 immediately if you witness a crime in progress.

    Pay attention to specific details. License plates, features of the vehicles involved (including any damage), descriptions of suspects and the direction of travel can all be helpful. Give this information to responding officers.

    If you have video of the crime, give a copy to the police or give them your contact information.

    If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers online or call 1-800-222-8477.

 

Additional Resources

Guest User
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