panic button

If you have a key fob for your car, keep it beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for the car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the intruder won't stick around... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

going postal

Don't be a victim of mail theft. Con artists use this as a means to obtain your identity information and to steal checks and other items of value. This problem can be reduced or minimized by following these tips: Do not leave outgoing mail in your unlocked mailbox; make sure your home mailbox is in good condition (mail that is exposed can be damaged by bad weather and is visible to thieves); promptly pick up your incoming mail after it is delivered; purchase a locking mailbox or convert your unlocked box to the lockable type; arrange for your mail to be delivered to a Post Office box for a small fee; arrange for regular income checks to be deposited electronically into your bank account via direct deposit; promptly contact the senders if you do not receive credit cards, checks or other valuable mail; when going on vacation, have the post office hold your mail or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up your mail after delivery; and be observant of activities on your street, including those near your letter carrier, the postal vehicle and residential mailboxes. If you see suspicious persons or activity, call 911 while the suspects are still present.

the three l's

Remember the three L's of crime prevention: Lights, Locks and the Law. Light your residence, lock your doors at all times and call law enforcement when you see something suspicious.

no wiring required

If you want to illuminate the alley but don't have an electrical line, don't worry! New motion-sensor lights utilize solar power cells and LED technology. They're bright and effective, but priced a bit higher than standard motion-sensor lights. But the added security is well worth the extra cost!

guard your garage

Most of the garages in Hampton Hills are free-standing, so burglars won't break into your garage to gain access to your residence. Rather, they'll try to grab whatever they can from within your garage. Most free-standing garages aren't wired as part of a home security system — and thieves know that. Plus, most garages provide easy access. Always keep garage doors closed and locked. Inside the garage, keep tools locked up and secure lawn equipment and bicycles with a cable and padlock. If thieves gain access to your garage and discover another layer of security, they'll likely move on to an easier target.

scam scum

Beware of scam artists. These criminals prey on innocent victims, frequently the elderly, with a variety of tactics. They may pose as salespeople, repairmen, bank examiners, government officials, charity workers, even clergy or police officers. They're often difficult to detect by looks alone, but they can be spotted by their words or expressions. Watch out for people who come to you door with offers, arrangements, and deals that involve the following: “Cash Only” (Why is cash necessary? Why not a check?); “Last Chance” (If it’s worth it, why is this the last chance?); “Secret Plans” (Why are you being asked to keep it a secret?); “Get Rich Quick” (Any scheme of this type should be thoroughly investigated); “Something for Nothing” (Any time you are offered something for nothing, you usually end up with nothing); “Contests and Sweepstakes” (Beware if you are required to pay money to enter or to receive your “prize”); “Too Good to Be True” (Such a scheme is likely neither “good” nor “true”).

moving targets

Bring in all outdoor equipment (bicycles, garden hoses, lawn mowers, ladders, etc.) at night. Leaving these items outside is an open invitation to robbers and thieves.

turn on the talk

I don't care much for talk radio. Being a dog, I have very sensitive hearing and all that talking sounds like useless chatter to me. But I don't mind tuning in the talk and turning up the volume when no one is at home because it's an effective deterrent to crime. A burglar who is unsure about whether a house is occupied will likely move on to a more vulnerable target.

car talk

One vehicle is stolen every 20 seconds in the U.S. Stolen cars, vans, trucks, and motorcycles cost victims time and money - and increase everyone's insurance premiums. They're also often used to commit other crimes. If you are among the many Hampton Hills residents who either park your car on the driveway or on the street in front of your home, here are a few tips to prevent theft: Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you're away from it, even for "just a minute." Always roll up the windows and lock the car, even if it's in front of your home. Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk or at least out of sight. Park in busy, well-lighted areas. If your car is stolen, you can protect yourself by following these tips: Carry the registration and insurance card with you. Don't leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle.

home work

Increasingly, more people are working from home offices equipped with the latest in computers, scanners, printers, FAX machines and other expensive equipment. Remember, it is important to secure yourself and your equipment when you're working from home. Hang window treatments that obstruct the view into your office. You don't want to advertise what equipment you have. When meeting a client for the first time, arrange to meet in a public place rather than your home. Let someone know when and with whom you have appointments. Review your insurance policy — almost all policies require an extra rider to cover a home office. In the event something does happen, you want to be covered. Mark your equipment with identification numbers and keep an updated inventory list (with photos, if possible) in a home safe or a bank safe deposit box. It's a good idea to keep back-ups of your work in a secure, separate location as well. Use the same caution with deliveries as businesses do. Anyone making a delivery to your home office should be properly identified before you open the door.

expert perps

The average time a burglar is in a home is three to eight minutes. And in that very short time, they can have most of the homeowner's worldly possessions. How? They know where to look. They look in dresser drawers, on top of the dresser and under the mattress. They look in the corners of the room for upturned carpets or to see if the carpet has been pulled away. They look in the closet, in clothing pockets. They look in shoes and shoe boxes. They look in the bathroom, either in the tank of the toilet or behind the toilet. They look in the refrigerator and freezer. If there's a home office, they look in the desk drawers. And if you there's a fireproof locking safe that's not secured to the floor, they will take it. In other words, thieves know all the clever hiding places you think you can safely stash your valuables. So don't allow yourself to develop a false sense of security.

tagger traits

We've had several recent incidents of tagging on our streets. Here's how you can spot a tagger: has paint or marker stains on hands, under the fingernails, or on clothes; wears bulky military jacket, pull-over or zip-up with a hood to help conceal spray cans and markers; has blood-shot eyes from being out all night tagging and being exposed to dangerous toxic fumes from the markers and paint; has tag names written on the underside of the bill of a sports cap, visor, or on notebooks and other possessions; has a backpack to hide spray cans; wears baggy clothes with deep pockets to hide spray cans; has spray paint on sneakers or shoes. If you see someone you suspect of being a tagger, don't attempt to apprehend that person. Instead, get a good description of the suspect (and any vehicle involved) and report it to police.

walk warily

I love to walk through our neighborhood, but I never go alone. If you must walk alone, especially after dark, think about how you would respond to an armed perpetrator. Don’t ever try to pull a weapon on someone who has you covered with a handgun unless you feel it’s your last chance. Don’t ever agree to be transported somewhere else such as an ATM or other location unless you feel it's a life-or-death decision. The second crime scene is almost always more violent than in your home or neighborhood. If you have a choice, never agree to be tied-up, handcuffed or be placed in the trunk of a car because it takes away most of your self-defense options. Don’t follow a criminal. Leave that for the police. And don’t fight over property loss such as a wallet, purse or cell phone. These things can be replaced…your life cannot.

sign up!

Alarm systems are effective — if they are used properly. The reason they deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the windows. Burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs and go to another property without such a sign. Some people who have alarm systems think these signs and decals are unsightly and will not display them. That could be a costly mistake. Learn to love your lawn sign!

family planning

The secret to keeping your family reasonably safe at home is to have a family security plan. To develop a family security plan you must give careful thought to your family members' routines and think of ways to make them safer from intruders. The best way to accomplish this is to hold a family meeting to discuss this plan and play "what if" using different scenarios. For example, "What if someone kicks in the door and attempts to rob us?" "What if someone approaches us while we're outside our home and tries to assault us?" "What if we come home and discover a burglar in the house?" But don't stop with the "what ifs." Also ask "What would we do and how would we react? Where would we go and whom would we notify in case of emergency?" Most people have no such family plan and have not met as a family to discuss "what if" situations. Consequently, when or if a criminal assault does occur, the family is not prepared and will have to rely on instinct. Sometimes, though, those instinctive responses are wrong or and reactions are inappropriate.

back light

We recently installed motion-sensor lighting on the back of our garage to illuminate the alley behind our home. It was inexpensive and took very little time to install. If everyone on every block did the same, you can just imagine how a thief would feel when walking through some of our darkest thoroughfares.

tree advice

Everyone knows that dogs love trees, but they may not realize that burglars also love them. Trim tree canopies to at least 8 feet to allow visibility into your property. Also, keep limbs trimmed so that they don't provide a means of getting onto roofs or second stories, or of getting over a wall or fence. Make sure that trees don't block lights.

invasion evasion

A home invasion is when robbers force their way into an occupied home to commit a robbery or other crimes. By contrast, residential burglaries take place mostly during the day and when a residence is more likely to be unoccupied. Burglars tend to avoid confrontation and will usually flee when approached. Most burglaries do not result in violence unless the criminal is cornered and uses force to escape. Home invasion robbers work more often at night and on weekends when homes are likely to be occupied. The home invader will sometimes target the resident as well as the dwelling. The most common point of attack is through the front door or garage. Sometimes the home invader will simply kick open the door and confront everyone inside. More common is when the home invaders knock on the door first or ring the bell. The home invader hopes that the occupant will simply open the door, without question, in response to their knock. Protect yourself from home invasion by using your porch light to help you see clearly outside; not relying on a chain-latch as a barrier; not opening the door to strangers or solicitors; and by contacting the police if a stranger acts suspicious.

take a picture!

Regardless of how careful you are, you could still be the victim of a crime. Lessen the impact of a robbery by photographing your valuables in their locations around your home and making a list of the make, model and serial numbers. Photocopy important documents and the contents of your wallet. Then store the copies in a safe deposit box or with a relative.