Madison Park

Crime Prevention Tips

From CMPD

Stopping vehicle break-ins

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police offer these tips on preventing break-ins to your vehicle: • Don't leave anything inside the vehicle -- no loose change, phone charger cables, backpacks, CDs.

"It's better to be a neat freak," said Sgt. Gerald Smith, of the CMPD's Westover Division. "Don't give potential criminals any hint that something of value is inside the vehicle."

• Remember that items such as backpacks and phone charger cables can tip off thieves that more valuable items are in the vehicle, such as laptop computers and GPS devices.

• Consider using one of the yellow placards available from CMPD. The placards hang from the rearview mirror and carry the message to potential thieves that all valuables have been removed from the vehicle.

• Try to park your car in a well-lit area.

• Call 911 if you see any suspicious activity in the parking lot.

Stopping home break-ins

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police offer these tips on preventing home burglaries:

• Burglars usually operate in daytime hours, when nobody is home.

• They often ring a doorbell or knock on the front door to see if anyone is home. Police say it's a good idea to let people know that someone is home -- but not necessarily by answering the door.

"You can yell through the door, asking the people what they want, That will let them know someone is home."

• Make sure you have a home alarm system -- and remember to arm it when you leave.

• Be observant. If you see someone sitting in a parked car in your neighborhood for a long period of time, call 911.

• Form a neighborhood watch organization. "But this only works if the organization is active," Stahnke said. "Make sure the neighborhood is truly involved."

• Consider getting a dog. Several surveys of imprisoned burglars have shown that they rank a barking dog (especially one that sounds ferocious) the No. 1 deterrent to breaking into a home. An alarm system was ranked No. 2.