Safety Tips

Around the Home…

• Use your alarm system. Concerned about power? Add a wireless phone connection dedicated to your security system in case land lines are out.
• Don’t have an alarm system?
• Keep your car keys by your bed at night. If someone tries to break in to your home, click the car alarm. This may be enough to send the intruder away.
• Install an electronic barking dog alarm, security cameras – real or fake – or motion detector lights by doors and side yards.
• Do not open doors to strangers. If you do answer the door, be sure to keep the screen or security door locked.
• Keep garage doors closed. NV Posse member Larry Klingenmeyer reported 99 open garage doors last month with no one around. That’s a “Crime of Opportunity.”
• Lock all windows, as well as side and sliding doors. Installing an inexpensive security bar can prevent easy access from the patio.
• Push the “disable” button on the garage door control pad, cutting the power to the garage door opener.
• If you must park your car outside, lock it and take your garage door opener, all valuables and early deliveries from Santa inside with you.
• Keep the side gates to your property locked. Install padlocks if needed.
• Maintain the shrubbery around your home so it is difficult for someone to hide behind it.
• Keep your porch and outside garage lights on. Using new energy-efficient bulbs enable homeowners to save money, stay safe, and “go green” all at the same time.
• Decorating for the holidays? Remember to turn the lights off at a reasonable time (10:00pm) and anchor outside decorations to keep them safe from both the wind and the Grinch’s minions.

And the Neighborhood…
The most important thing of all is to make an effort to know your neighbors, their kids and their friends and to look out for each other.

• Be alert to what is going in your neighborhood and around your neighbors’ homes.
• Let your neighbor know if the garage door is open.
• Call your neighbors if you see anything suspicious around or near their home. If there is something suspicious occurring, tell your neighbor to call 911 or volunteer to call it for them.
• Watch your friends’ homes when they are away. Trade keys and contact numbers. Volunteer to pick up mail or newspapers.
• If you see newspapers accumulating, or any sign that your neighbors are away and may have forgotten to stop delivery, try to contact them or move the deliveries to an inconspicuous place.
• Always have your emergency numbers on hand and stored in your phones.
• Join the Anthem Neighborhood Watch at www.onlineatanthem.com.