Lock your doors and windows when leaving your residence. Most residential burglaries occur during the daytime. Know who is at your door before opening it. Screen doors and chain locks provide false security. Obtain identification. If they show you an ID for a service company (i.e.Cable, phone, etc.)call their employer and verify who they are and why they are at your door. Consider installing peepholes in all entryway doors. Mark your property with your Driver License number, that way it can be traced ONLY to you if it is stolen.

Remember the three L’s of Crime Prevention: LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW! Light up your residence, lock your doors at all times, and call the Law when you see something suspicious

Know your neighbors. Consider forming a Neighborhood Watch Group in your neighborhood. Join your Precinct’s Citizen’s Police Academy. Contact our Crime Prevention Bureau for more information. Their number is 774-6705.

Prior to installing home-security devices – think fire safety first. Would the device prevent you from getting out of your home? Do you have pet doors? They provide entry for pets, but they may also provide entry for criminals. Privacy fences give you privacy, but they also give the criminal concealment from outside view. Secure your garage door, even when you are at home. Burglaries and thefts take minutes or even seconds to commit.
DON’T open your door until you know who is there. When you are not home, leave lamps on timers and consider leaving a radio or television on. Consider leaving porch lights on at night. LIGHTING is one of the most INEXPENSIVE crime deterrents. Secure your keys and keep them out of view. NEVER place identification tags on your key rings. Treat your garage door opener like your keys. NEVER leave your garage door opener inside a vehicle which is parked outside. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed for better visibility. Keep windows clear and free of shrubbery and debris. Overgrowth may provide hiding places for criminals.

Remove your keys and lock your doors when leaving your vehicle. It only takes seconds to steal a locked car without the keys – why make it easier for a thief by leaving the keys in the car? And NEVER leave extra keys inside the vehicle or under the hood. Secure your valuables in your trunk or take them with you. Don’t create temptation by leaving valuables within view inside your vehicle. When returning to your vehicle at night, be aware of your surroundings. Look underneath and inside your vehicle before entering.

Although most of these tips apply to homeowners, businesses can apply them to their anti-crime effort, too. The Memphis Police Department offers a program similar to Neighborhood Watch called Business Watch – Call your local police station to speak with the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator.

• Stay alert by being aware of your surroundings.
• Walk everywhere with a sense of purpose – show you are calm, confident and know where you are going.
• Go with your gut feelings – if you feel uncomfortable, leave.
• Carry your purse firmly and close to your body or better yet leave it at home and only carry what you need in your pocket – such as a small amount of money, keys, and maybe one credit card.
• Keep your wallet in an inside coat or side trouser pocket.
• Have your car or house key in your hand as you approach the door. If attacked use those keys as weapons!
• Park in well-lighted areas that will be well-lighted when you return. Be sure to lock your car doors. If you jog, do not jog alone in isolated areas.
• Do not hitchhike and never pick up hitchhikers.
• Only list your last name and first initial in the phone book and on mail boxes.
• Ask the phone company to not list your address in the book.
• If you are concerned about crime and must go out, use the buddy system. Take a friend on that jog around your neighborhood. You’ll both benefit from it!

If you see a crime being committed or know who committed one you can earn cash – up to $1,000! And it is all ANONYMOUS! Call 528-CASH or visit our crime stoppers website.