CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

Magnolia Police Department

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

Magnolia's Crime Prevention Officer

Ptlm. James Parker

CHILD ABDUCTIONS:

Children are naturally friendly, but being friendly towards strangers can bring them harm.

Some basic rules of "Safety with Strangers" taught in Kindergarten & 1^st grades, by Sgt. Stetser and Ptlm. Pratt during Magnolia Police Department’s D.A.R.E. classes include the following:

NEVER take money, candy, or other gifts from a stranger.

NEVER accept a ride in a strange car with a person you don’t know.

NEVER go anywhere with a stranger. Remember, you can’t tell a good stranger from a bad stranger so, "IF YOU DON’T KNOW, DON’T GO".

Teach your child to tell a trusted adult if a stranger tries to make them go with them.
Don’t go places alone or play alone. Use the "Buddy System" (travel & play with a friend or friends)
Teach your child never to answer the door while home alone or tell anyone over the phone that they are home alone.
If your child is away from home and needs help, go to a store, school, anywhere crowds of people can be found. If possible find a police officer, they are your friends.

DOOR TO DOOR SOLICITORS:

Your Police Department is increasing it’s efforts to reduce crime in the Borough of Magnolia. A very important part of this campaign is educating the citizens to be suspicious of strangers in their neighborhoods. This includes those who appear to be solicitors, collectors, and salesman.

BASIC PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE AT HOME

Never admit a stranger. Ask to see I.D. from police, sales and repair people before opening the door. All salesmen and vendors MUST have a permit card supplied by the Borough Clerk.
Never depend on a chain lock to keep out a determined intruder. Instead, install a door viewer (peephole). They’re inexpensive, easily installed, and allow you to see who is there and see their identification before opening the door and exposing yourself to danger.
Ladies, if a salesman or repairman you’re not familiar with is expected, have someone home with you while they are there.
Please, for the sake of crime prevention and a better community, if you see a stranger entering your neighbor’s house, any suspicious activity or suspect a sales or repair person, call the police. We’ll be glad to check the situation with no inconvenience to you.

Furthermore, if you can, get some information on the suspicious activity or person such as description of the car (make, color, size, license plate number) and description of the person (describe the person and clothing, etc.)

GOING ON VACATION?

EVEN THOUGH YOUR HOUSE WILL BE EMPTY, IT SHOULD APPEAR AS THOUGH IT IS “LIVED-IN.” ONE OR MORE LIGHTS SHOULD BE CONNECTED TO AN AUTOMATIC TIMER WHICH TURNS THEM ON AT DUSK AND OFF AT BEDTIME. THIS CREATES THE IMPRESSION THAT SOMEONE IS INSIDE.

OUTDOOR LIGHTS THAT TURN ON IN THE EVENING ALSO ADD TO THE LIVED-IN LOOK. LIGHTS WITH SENSORS CAN PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON ATTEMPTS TO BREAK IN.

SHADES AND DRAPES SHOULD BE LEFT IN THEIR NORMAL POSITIONS, NOT PULLED TIGHTLY SHUT.

ALL DELIVERIES, MUST BE DISCONTINUED. ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD ALSO BE MADE WITH A NEIGHBOR TO KEEP THE GRASS MOWED AND TO REMOVE CIRCULARS LEFT OUTSIDE THE HOME. MAIL CAN BE HELD AT THE POST OFFICE OR REMOVED FROM YOUR MAILBOX BY A FRIEND UNTIL YOUR RETURN.

THE GARAGE SHOULD BE CLOSED AND LOCKED WHENEVER YOU ARE AWAY. THIS PROTECTS YOU IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, IT PROTECTS THE TOOLS, LADDERS, MOWERS, ETC., WHICH ARE KEPT IN THE GARAGE FROM BEING STOLEN. SECOND, IT PREVENTS THESE TOOLS AND LADDERS FROM BEING USED TO BREAK INTO THE HOME ITSELF. FINALLY, IT KEEPS THE WOULD-BE BURGLAR FROM KNOWING THAT THE CAR IS NOT THERE, WHICH IS AN INDICATION THAT NO ONE IS HOME.

WHENEVER YOU PLAN TO BE AWAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS BE SURE TO NOTIFY YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. TELL US WHEN YOU WILL LEAVE, WHEN YOU WILL RETURN AND WITH WHOM AN EMERGENCY KEY HAS BEEN LEFT. IT IS ADVISABLE TO LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER OF A FRIEND OF RELATIVE WHO WILL CHECK THE HOUSE OCCASIONALLY, WATER THE PLANTS AND TAKE CARE OF ANY MINOR DIFFICULTIES WHICH MAY ARISE.

WHILE IT IS ADVISABLE TO NOTIFY YOUR POLICE AND ONE TRUSTED NEIGHBOR ABOUT YOUR PLANNED ABSENCE, BE CAREFUL NOT TO TELL EVERYONE IN TOWN. DON’T LEAVE NOTES IN THE DOOR.

HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE VACATION.

TO REPORT A CRIME, DIAL…….9-1-1

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