Crime Prevention Tips
Hello Neighborhood and Business Watch members,
Below are a few summertime safety tips to keep you from being a victim.
Traditionally, during the late spring and summer months, law enforcement generally sees an increase in property crimes. The targets of opportunities increase in the summer since many families go on vacations, children are out of school, and families spend time outside and leave doors unlocked or garages open.
These simple crime prevention tips can help you decrease your chances of becoming a victim:
- Keep cars locked at all times.
- It’s a good idea to keep home doors locked at all times even when you’re inside. While working outdoors, if you can’t see a door to the house or garage door, keep it closed/locked.
- If you have an alarm, use it.
- Social media isn’t always a good idea. Share your vacation when you arrive back home, otherwise would-be thieves have a good idea when to break in.
- Prepare your home for leaving. Stop the mail, newspaper, or have it picked up. If you don’t have a house sitter, try to make your home look like there is someone there. Use automatic timers to turn on lights.
- Trim the shrubbery. Tall shrubbery can hide a thief’s entry into your residence.
If you see suspicious activity, call 911. For non-emergencies, call Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office 727-582-6200.
The 3 essential elements of any crime:
A target, criminal desire & opportunity.
The only thing we as a potential victim can impact is removing the opportunity
