HOME SECURITY WHILE ON VACATIONDo not publicize the fact that you are going on vacation.
Put lights and a radio on timers.
Burn an outside light all night, not just when you go away.
Turn your telephone ringer down to low or turn on the answering machine. Do not leave messages saying that you are on vacation or when you will return home.
Lock all doors (including garage doors), windows and screens before leaving.
Store items such as lawn furniture, garden tools and hanging baskets in a secure area of your residence.
Ask neighbors to look out for your residence while you are away.
Consider asking a neighbor to park a vehicle in your driveway during your absence.
If you do not have a neighbor that can pick up your mail and newspapers have them stopped during the time that you are away.
SECURITY WHILE IN PARKING DECKS/ LOTSHide or remove your valuables when leaving your car.
Park close to your destination, even if it means waiting for a space to become free.
Leave your engine running until you've gathered everything and you're ready to get out of the car. Check your surroundings to make sure its safe before you get out of the car.
If you're comfortable backing into parking spaces, it's a good way to park, because it means you can leave quickly if the situation becomes dangerous
When you're walking back to your car, keep your keys in hand, so you can get into the car quickly or use them as a weapon if needed.
As you approach the vehicle, check the front and back seats to make sure no one is hiding inside.
Lock your doors once you get inside the car.
If someone suspicious approaches you, honk your horn and flash the lights to draw attention.
Get in the habit of rolling up your car windows and locking your car doors.
Holiday shopping safety tipsWhen going shopping, always attempt to take a friend and travel in pairs. Women and men become less vulnerable when traveling as a pair.
When possible pay for items with a credit or debit card, and avoid flashing large amounts of cash when purchasing items.
Do not leave valuables or merchandise visible in a vehicle. Conceal these items in a trunk or take them home before continuing to shop.
Do not overburden yourself and become vulnerable to a predator by carrying too many packages.
Carry your purse close to your body or, better yet, avoid taking a purse and carry a wallet in a front pocket.
If shopping after dark, park in a well-lighted area and near the front of the store.
A second parking option is to park near the shopping cart return "corral" so you can unload merchandise and return the cart without walking across a parking lot.
Do not hesitate to ask store security for an escort to your vehicle.
Always be aware of your surroundings and on the lookout for suspicious activity.
Post Holiday Home Safety TipsBurglars know that many households have new, expensive, items in their homes following the holidays – especially items such as new computers, televisions, and other electronic equipment.
In too many cases, residents make it easy for burglars to figure out which homes to target by putting boxes that identify their new gifts outside in plain view with their other garbage.
Do NOT leave boxes and other packages for new electronics and other valuable items outside in plain view for several days at a time in order to avoid becoming an easy target for post-holiday burglars.
Instead, break down any boxes you are throwing out, put them in garbage bags and place them inside a trash can. Keep broken-down boxes inside – in a garage, for example – until the evening before your regular garbage pick-up.
cmpd.orgLabels: CMPD, Crime Prevention
