Crime Prevention Safety

The police department has a Crime Prevention program and an officer assigned to handle its responsibilities. The Crime Prevention Officer (COPS Officer Carla Meyer ) is a certified safety and security inspector. For no charge at all , the COPS will inspect your home and you may receive an insurance break for the inspection. The COPS is also certified to conduct Home Safety and Security Surveys. Contact the police department at 780-1334 to schedule an appointment with the Community Oriented Policing Services Officer. .

The COPS Officer is also available to help organize Crime Watch neighborhoods and can conduct safety and crime prevention seminars for the home or business. The department of Crime Prevention program is here to serve the citizens and business owners of Morgan’s Point . Contact us with any questions or comments.

Burglary Prevention

Barriers to Burglary

Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Make their work risky and difficult, and you stand a

good chance of stopping them before they get in.

Your first line of defense

To a burglar visibility means vulnerability. They hide behind fences and shrubbery. The

key is to keep trespassers out while keeping your property visible. Use picket or chain

link fences. Keep hedges clipped down around waist level.

On the outside looking in

Burglars try the doors and windows first. If burglars have difficulty here, chances are

Doors

· Locks. The strongest are deadbolt locks with a minimum 1" throw bolt containing a

hardened, saw-resistant steel insert. Attach the strike plate to the door frame with 4"

screws. The double cylinder deadbolt lock requires a key from both sides, preventing

a burglar from breaking glass in the door and turning the knob from the inside. Make

sure the cylinder of the lock has a steel guard — a ring around the key section. The

cylinder guard should be tapered, or it should rotate around the key section to prevent

wrenching.

Remember, though, a double cylinder dead- bolt can also block your exit in an emergency.

Check with your local law enforcement agency or building inspector to see if

these locks are permitted in your area.

· Hinges. Doors that swing out have hinges on the outside. A burglar can easily

remove the hinge pins and lift the door out. To foil this, remove the center screw from

each side of the hinge and insert a metal pin or headless screw on one side. When the

door is closed, the end of the pin will fit into the opposite hole. Thus, even if the pins

are removed, the door will remain bolted to the frame.

· Padlocks. Overhead doors, receiving doors, garage doors — all are typically secured

with padlocks and hasps. Look for sturdy padlocks that don’t release the key until the

padlock is closed. The padlock should be case-hardened with a 3/8" shackle to resist

repeated smashing. Remember, a padlock is only as good as the hasps on which it is

mounted; so bolt hasps securely to a metal plate, and make sure the bolts are concealed

when the padlock is closed.

· Door construction. Burglars can kick in a weak door. Replace hollow core doors with

solid core doors, or strengthen the existing ones with metal sheets. Replace weak

door frames, or reinforce them with steel or concrete. Protect glass in the door with

steel bars or mesh; or place a polycarbonate sheet over the glass on the inside.

Windows

Protect windows by putting grates, grill work, or bars over them; or cover the glass on the

inside with a clear polycarbonate sheet. The sheet should extend 1-1/2" beyond the perimeter of the glass

and be bolted to the door. Space the bolts approximately every 3

inches. Unbreakable safety glass is also available, but it is more expensive.

Other entrances

Skylights, ventilation ducts, and fire escapes tempt burglars because these openings

usually are not visible from the street. Protect skylights and ducts with metal grates and

iron bars. The first stair of a fire escape should be too high for the average adult to reach

from the ground. The door or window leading to the escape should be equipped with

emergency exit features: window guards should be removable or hinged to allow for an

emergency exit. Keys to locked windows or door should be kept nearby.

Key control. Because any lock gives way to a key, practice good key control.

· Label keys with a code indicating back door, receiving door, display case, etc.

· Engrave "Do Not Duplicate" on all keys.

· Restrict key-access to your most trusted employees; maintain a log to record removal

and return.

· Consider having locks re-keyed when an employee leaves your business.

Guards

Join neighboring businesses to hire a uniformed guard from a reputable security company.

Check references. The security staff should be familiar with your employees, your

store hours and your shoplifting/internal theft policies.

Lighting

Light is a great crime deterrent. In fact, some states have minimum standards for exterior

lighting. Light up all dark areas, especially doors and windows. If your business is in a

poorly lit commercial area, join with other merchants to petition local government for more

lights or pool funds and underwrite the cost yourselves.

Alarms

Before you invest in an alarm system, weigh the cost against your need. How valuable is

your merchandise? How great is your risk? After installing an alarm, let burglars know

by putting warning signs in windows and entrances.

Every alarm system should include:

· a fail-safe battery backup

· fire-sensing capability

· a feedback device to check the system

For an expert appraisal of your security needs, ask for a premise security survey by your

local law enforcement agency, or check with a reputable security consultant.

Operation Identification

Mark your property with your Texas driver’s license number (preceded by the letters

"TX"). Then put Operation I.D. decals on all windows and doors to warn burglars that your property can be

traced.

Keep a complete, up-to-date inventory of your merchandise and property: office machinery,

personal belongings, etc. Put a copy in your safe deposit box or at a location away

from the business site.

Remember

Locks and alarms can’t prevent a burglary unless they’re in use. Establish a routine for

"closing up shop," locking doors and windows, setting up alarms.

If a burglar breaks in

Your best protection against an intruder is visibility: Well-lit open spaces, low counters,

and large, uncluttered display windows — these precautions keep the burglar in the

spotlight.

Put your safe and cash register up front so that the burglar’s activity will be visible from

the outside. Empty your cash drawers and leave them open so a burglar won’t be

tempted to break them open. Anchor safes in concrete, and make sure they have

combination locks. Put locks on all interior doors and hook them into your alarm system.

(Always check fire regulations before installing such locks.)

If you suspect a burglary:

· Don’t go in — the burglar may still be inside.

· Don’t open for business — your employees and customers may unwittingly alter

valuable evidence.

· Call police immediately.

Crime Prevention

Tips for Seniors

Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility, not just a job for law enforcement. Seniors can learn how

to protect themselves from crime by following these simple, common-sense, suggestions. Share these tips

with your neighbors and friends, too, and make it tough for criminals to work in your neighborhood.

At home ...

· Always keep your doors and windows locked. Install dead-bolt locks on

all doors.

· Keep your home well lit at night, inside and out, and keep your

curtains closed at night.

· Install a peephole in your front door so you can see callers without

opening the door.

· Ask for proper identification from delivery- men or strangers.

Don’t be afraid of asking — if they are legitimate they won’t

mind.

· If a stranger asks to use your telephone, offer to place the

call for him/her yourself. Never let a stranger into your

home.

· Do not leave notes on your door when you are gone, and

do not hide your keys under the mat or in other

conspicuous places.

· Never give out information over the phone indicating you

are alone or that you won’t be home at a certain time.

· When you are gone for more than a day, make sure your home

looks and sounds occupied — use automatic timers to turn on lights and a radio or television.

While you’re out ...

· Carry your purse very close to you — don’t dangle it from your arm. Also, never leave your purse in a

shopping cart.

· Don’t carry more cash than is necessary. Many grocery stores now accept checks and automatic teller

cards instead of cash.

· Avoid walking alone at night. Try to have a friend accompany you in high risk areas —even during

the daytime.

· Do not carry weapons — they may be used against you.

· Have your paychecks or government checks sent directly to your bank account — many banks have

senior citizens discounts.

· Never withdraw money from your bank accounts for anyone except YOURSELF. Be wary of con artists

and get-rich schemes that probably are too-good-to-be-true.

In your car...

· Keep your gas tank full and your engine properly maintained to avoid breakdowns.

· Always lock your car doors, even when you’re inside and keep your windows rolled up. Driving with

the windows closed also improves gas mileage.

· Lock packages and other valuables in the trunk. Do not leave them on the back seat or on the floor of the car where potential thieves can see them.

· When you return to your car, always check the front

and back seat before you get in.

· Never pick up hitchhikers.

· If your car breaks down, pull over to the right as far

as possible, raise the hood, and wait inside

the car for help. Do not get out of the car

or roll down the window until the police

arrive.

If you are a victim at

home ...

· If you arrive at home and suspect a stranger may

be inside, DON’T GO IN. Leave quietly and call 911 to report the crime.

· If you are attacked on the street, make as much noise as possible by calling for help or blowing a whistle. Do not pursue your attacker. Call 911 and report the crime as soon as possible.

· If you have been swindled or conned, report the crime to your local police department. Con artists count on their victim’s reluctance to admit they’ve been duped, but if you delay,

you help them get away. Remember, if you never report the crime, they are free to cheat others again and again and you have no chance of ever getting your money back.