Neighborhood Watch

The holiday season is upon us. This means that criminals will be out looking for homes to burglarize, businesses to rob, cars to break into, purses and identities to steal. We will all have to be more alert to suspicious persons, vehicles and activities. If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Get as many details about the vehicle (esp. tag numbers) as you can and a direction of travel. Criminals are counting on you being afraid to be nosy. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Here are a few tips:

Retired members and shift workers: watch your neighborhood during the day when others are at work. If something looks suspicious, report it. Examples of suspicious activities are; a vehicle driving through the area several times slowly and the occupants looking around, unofficial vehicles stopping at mailboxes, vans or pickup trucks backing up to doors or into back yards, teenagers who should be in school wandering through the neighborhood, vehicles parked on sides of secondary roads with no one around them or a driver who looks as if he/she is waiting for someone.

Homeowners: Avoid obvious displays of gifts, Christmas trees etc. in windows. Burglars look for clues as to where valuable gifts can be stolen. Secure valuable items such as lawn equipment or bicycles to permanent fixtures (out of sight) if they cannot be stored in a locked building. Record all serial numbers, make sure alarms are in good working order and turn them on when you leave, make sure all doors and windows are locked before you leave your home, do not leave any valuables in your vehicle and always lock the doors. Notify neighbors when you go on vacation. Have a neighbor or relative pick up your mail and paper daily, roll the garbage to road and turn lights on and off. Have someone park an extra vehicle in your driveway to confuse burglars who may have been casing your home. If you have a fenced in back yard, put locks on the gates to complicate moving heavy items or prevent vehicles from entering the back yard. If you hear a suspicious noise at night, get out of bed and look outside……someone may be breaking into your vehicle. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. Sheriff Modena does not recommend confronting criminals. Leave that to the people who get paid to do it.

Motorists: Holiday stress can bring out the worst in some drivers. Stay calm…do not participate in road rage. If you encounter a dangerous driver, slow down, change lanes and let them pass. Get the tag number, location and direction of travel then report them to law enforcement. Be constantly alert of your location and surroundings in case you need to call for help. When traveling in unfamiliar areas, make mental notes of landmarks and street names. On the interstate, keep track of mile markers, creek or river names on bridges, exit numbers, street names on overpasses and billboards which include details such as “1 mile on right” or “next exit”. Clues like these will help dispatchers to direct officers to your location. Do not leave packages in view when doing holiday shopping. Lock them out of sight in the trunk. Keep your vehicle in good running condition by checking air pressure in tires, fluid levels, spare tire condition, lights etc. Maintain a minimum ½ tank of fuel. Keep an emergency kit (including flashlight and spare batteries) in your vehicle. If you break down in a secluded area or on the interstate do not open your door to strangers. Instead ask them to call or go for help. If you have a cell phone, call law enforcement immediately and request an officer at your location. The Bibb Sheriff’s Office is happy to provide this service. Your emergency kit should include a “HELP” sign. Place it in the window of your vehicle or trap a bright cloth in a window on the side of the vehicle facing traffic. Ask for an escort to your vehicle in dark parking areas or when there are suspicious persons around.

Purses/Shopping: Purses attract thieves and require attention which is better spent on studying your surroundings. They cause major stress when left behind at restaurants or stores. The Bibb Sheriff’s Office strongly recommends for women to leave purses in the trunks of their vehicles prior to leaving home. All that is required for purchases is a valid picture ID, credit card, check card or blank check and cash. All this can be placed in a wallet and carried in a pants pocket. Wear comfortable shoes that will allow you to run if necessary. If confronted over your purse, do not argue or resist; throw the purse and run in the opposite direction (preferably toward the business you just left). Wearing purses with long straps to go around your shoulder and neck is not a safe option. Victims have been dragged through parking lots by these straps when thieves reached from moving vehicles and grabbed purses. Make copies of all financial cards and ID’s in your purse. Keep the copies (including back side copies with contact numbers) in a safe place in case your purse or wallet is stolen. Try to shop with a friend or two. There is safety in numbers. Predators tend to prey on the lone victims.

Business Owners and Managers: Fraud, forgeries, scams and counterfeiting will be on the increase as the holiday season progresses. Check bills closely (10’s, 20’s, 50’s and 100’s especially), remember that marking pens are not always reliable. The Secret Service recommends using lights which cause the holograms and other security features to appear. Learn characteristics of counterfeit bills at this site; www.secretservice.gov/know_your_money.shtml. Confirm checks with the issuing bank. Always require a valid picture ID (state ID or driver’s license) with checks. Counterfeit traveler’s checks are back. The number to verify American Express Travelers Checks is 1-800-525-7641. Require valid picture ID with all inside credit card purchases. Make sure security cameras are in working order and at least one has a clear view of the checkout area. Be sure that displays do not obstruct camera views in this area. Advise your employees to be alert for suspicious persons loitering in the parking lot or inside the store. The time to call law enforcement is when you spot a suspicious person or vehicle. Do not wait until they rob you. Try to arrange for more than one employee to be on duty at a time. Robbers like stores where clerks are working alone. Remove displays and signs near or on windows which block the view from the parking lot into the store so that law enforcement can easily perform security checks.


HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS
		The holiday season is upon us. This means that criminals will be out looking for homes to burglarize, businesses to rob, cars to break into, purses and identities to steal. We will all have to be more alert to suspicious persons, vehicles and activities. If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Get as many details about the vehicle (esp. tag numbers) as you can and a direction of travel. Criminals are counting on you being afraid to be nosy. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Here are a few tips: Retired members and shift workers: watch your neighborhood during the day when others are at work. If something looks suspicious, report it. Examples of suspicious activities are; a vehicle driving through the area several times slowly and the occupants looking around, unofficial vehicles stopping at mailboxes, vans or pickup trucks backing up to doors or into back yards, teenagers who should be in school wandering through the neighborhood, vehicles parked on sides of secondary roads with no one around them or a driver who looks as if he/she is waiting for someone. Homeowners: Avoid obvious displays of gifts, Christmas trees etc. in windows. Burglars look for clues as to where valuable gifts can be stolen. Secure valuable items such as lawn equipment or bicycles to permanent fixtures (out of sight) if they cannot be stored in a locked building. Record all serial numbers, make sure alarms are in good working order and turn them on when you leave, make sure all doors and windows are locked before you leave your home, do not leave any valuables in your vehicle and always lock the doors. Notify neighbors when you go on vacation. Have a neighbor or relative pick up your mail and paper daily, roll the garbage to road and turn lights on and off. Have someone park an extra vehicle in your driveway to confuse burglars who may have been casing your home. If you have a fenced in back yard, put locks on the gates to complicate moving heavy items or prevent vehicles from entering the back yard. If you hear a suspicious noise at night, get out of bed and look outside……someone may be breaking into your vehicle. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. Sheriff Modena does not recommend confronting criminals. Leave that to the people who get paid to do it. Motorists: Holiday stress can bring out the worst in some drivers. Stay calm…do not participate in road rage. If you encounter a dangerous driver, slow down, change lanes and let them pass. Get the tag number, location and direction of travel then report them to law enforcement. Be constantly alert of your location and surroundings in case you need to call for help. When traveling in unfamiliar areas, make mental notes of landmarks and street names. On the interstate, keep track of mile markers, creek or river names on bridges, exit numbers, street names on overpasses and billboards which include details such as “1 mile on right” or “next exit”. Clues like these will help dispatchers to direct officers to your location. Do not leave packages in view when doing holiday shopping. Lock them out of sight in the trunk. Keep your vehicle in good running condition by checking air pressure in tires, fluid levels, spare tire condition, lights etc. Maintain a minimum ½ tank of fuel. Keep an emergency kit (including flashlight and spare batteries) in your vehicle. If you break down in a secluded area or on the interstate do not open your door to strangers. Instead ask them to call or go for help. If you have a cell phone, call law enforcement immediately and request an officer at your location. The Bibb Sheriff’s Office is happy to provide this service. Your emergency kit should include a “HELP” sign. Place it in the window of your vehicle or trap a bright cloth in a window on the side of the vehicle facing traffic. Ask for an escort to your vehicle in dark parking areas or when there are suspicious persons around. Purses/Shopping: Purses attract thieves and require attention which is better spent on studying your surroundings. They cause major stress when left behind at restaurants or stores. The Bibb Sheriff’s Office strongly recommends for women to leave purses in the trunks of their vehicles prior to leaving home. All that is required for purchases is a valid picture ID, credit card, check card or blank check and cash. All this can be placed in a wallet and carried in a pants pocket. Wear comfortable shoes that will allow you to run if necessary. If confronted over your purse, do not argue or resist; throw the purse and run in the opposite direction (preferably toward the business you just left). Wearing purses with long straps to go around your shoulder and neck is not a safe option. Victims have been dragged through parking lots by these straps when thieves reached from moving vehicles and grabbed purses. Make copies of all financial cards and ID’s in your purse. Keep the copies (including back side copies with contact numbers) in a safe place in case your purse or wallet is stolen. Try to shop with a friend or two. There is safety in numbers. Predators tend to prey on the lone victims. Business Owners and Managers: Fraud, forgeries, scams and counterfeiting will be on the increase as the holiday season progresses. Check bills closely (10’s, 20’s, 50’s and 100’s especially), remember that marking pens are not always reliable. The Secret Service recommends using lights which cause the holograms and other security features to appear. Learn characteristics of counterfeit bills at this site; www.secretservice.gov/know_your_money.shtml. Confirm checks with the issuing bank. Always require a valid picture ID (state ID or driver’s license) with checks. Counterfeit traveler’s checks are back. The number to verify American Express Travelers Checks is 1-800-525-7641. Require valid picture ID with all inside credit card purchases. Make sure security cameras are in working order and at least one has a clear view of the checkout area. Be sure that displays do not obstruct camera views in this area. Advise your employees to be alert for suspicious persons loitering in the parking lot or inside the store. The time to call law enforcement is when you spot a suspicious person or vehicle. Do not wait until they rob you. Try to arrange for more than one employee to be on duty at a time. Robbers like stores where clerks are working alone. Remove displays and signs near or on windows which block the view from the parking lot into the store so that law enforcement can easily perform security checks.
	To add your neighborhood to Bibb County’s Neighborhood Watch Program Call: Lt. George Meadows at (478) 621-6890
	Copyright © 2002 Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. All rights reserved. This information is made available to the public and law enforcement in the interest of public safety. Any unauthorized use of this information is forbidden and subject to criminal prosecution.
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