Tips for Personal Safety

A Community Service Bulletin outlining a number of steps you can take to ensure your safety on the street, in your car, and in your home. Prepared by the officers of District A-1, the safety tips can apply to anyone living or working in all 11 Districts.Tips include:

• Always be aware of your surroundings–especially at night. When parking, walking or returning to your car, remain in well-lit and populated areas.

• Don’t buzz people into your building without knowing who they are.
• Never leave valuable items in your vehicle exposed to public view.

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Safety Street Tips

• Always be aware of your surroundings–especially at night. When parking, walking or returning to your car, remain in well-lit and populated areas.

• Be watchful – who is out there and what is going on. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and be observant of passing vehicles. Do not become distracted by talking on a cell phone or listening to a walkman.
• Show that you are in control – walk with confidence. Be assertive – do not let anyone violate your space. Trust your instincts.
• If you think that someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk towards an open store, restaurant or lighted house.
• If you feel threatened, call out to residents that you need assistance.Yelling ‘Fire’, ‘Help’ and/or ‘Rape’, as you are being assaulted, also signals people to assist you. Also, use a whistle to signal for help.

Security Tips for the Home

• Use sturdy doors. Solid wooden doors or doors reinforced with steel offer much more protection than hollowcore wooden doors.

• Use safe locks.Adding quality deadbolt locks is a great idea because they can’t be ‘popped’ the way spring-latch locks can.
• Don’t buzz people into the building without knowing who they are.Thieves use many disguises and some- pose as someone that they’re not.
• Strangers should be questioned as to their business in a building.This can be done in a polite way and is essential.
• Lock windows.When you are not at home, always lock your first floor windows.
• In a single family home or a multi-dwelling building, the outer hallway door should be locked.If a thief has access to the inner hallway, he now has a cover from the public’s eye and extra time to break through the front door without being noticed.
• Introduce yourself to your neighbor. Consider having a neighbor or friend watch your home when you’re on vacation.

Security Tips for the Vehicle

• Invest in an anti-theft device. Protect your car from being stolen. An anti-theft device is essential. An audible alarm alerts attention to the car. Anti-theft locking devises hold the steering wheel in place. Having an anti-theft device can also lower the cost of your auto insurance.

• Lock your doors and windows. A thief will insert a wire into a slightly open window to pop up the door lock. An unlocked door is an open invitation to a thief.
• Never leave valuable items exposed to public view.Remove valuable items from your car or lock them in the trunk. Car phones, coats, briefcases, pocketbooks, gifts, etc. attract a thief to break into your car. Do not leave things in your car.