Spring Park Neighborhood Association

Safety

Residential Safety

1. Doors (front, rear, side, sliding door, garage, other key control: Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries, thieves simply breezed in through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked windows?
a. Make sure every external door is metal or solid woood. Key in the knob locks alone are not enough, each door should have a sturdy, well installed dead bold lock. Door chains break easily and don't keep out intruders. Insure all doors have peepholes or wide angle viewer.
b. Secure sliding glass doors by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame, then insert a pin in the hole.
c. Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust. When you move into a new house or apartment, rekey the locks.
2. Windows (double hung, sliding, awning, jalousie, front rear side, other:
a. Lock double hung windows with key locks or pin windows by drilling a small hole into a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames and insert a nail that can be removed.
3. Alarm
a. Alarms can be a good investment, however, learn how to use your system properly and avoid cry wolf calls.
4. Perimeter and Visibility (lighting, shrubbery, fence and address numbers.
a. Install bright lights outside and leave burning at night or utilize motion sensor lighting.
b. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn't hide doors or windows, cut back tree limbs that may be used for climbing to upper level windows.
c. Clearly display house numbers so police and other emergency vehicles can find you home quickly.
5. Security Procedures (emergeny plan, away for evening, on vacation, neighborhood plan):
a. Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions, turn on lights or radio/TV so it appears as if someone is home. Be extra cautions about locking doors or windows when you leave, even if for only a few minutes. If you are away for an extended period of time, do not let your mail pile up.
b. Burglars can commit rapes, robberies and assults if they are surprised by someone coming home or pick a home that is occupied. If someone looks questionable a slit in screen, a broken window or open door, DO NOT go in. Call the police from another location. Upon your arrival at home, if someone you do not recongnize is near your home or on your premises, drive around the block and come back after the person has left.
c. At night, if you think you hear someone breaking in, leave safely if you can, then call police. If you can't leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call police.
d. Avoid displaying gifts where they can bee seen from the outside.

Shopping & Travel Safety

1. Stay alert and be aware of what is going on around you. Park in a well lighted area, lock your car, close the windows and hide shopping bags, gifts and valuables in the trunk. When approching your car, have the keys ready and check the back seat and floors before entry. If someone is loitering near your car, keep walking until the person leaves. Be wary of persons asking directions or handing out flyers. Avoid driving alone, especially at night.
2. Do not stop to assist strangers. Instead, drive to the nearest phone and call for police assistance.
3. Avoid carring large amounts of cash, pay with check or credit cards when possible.
4. Don't overburden yourself with packages. Carry your purse close to your body, not from straps. Carry you wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket. Watch for staged mishaps, like someone bumping into youj or spilling a drink, often this is a ploy to divert your attention.
6. Teach children to go directly to store clerk or security guard if you should ever bwe separated from them.
7. When traveling, store maps and rental agreements out of sight, this often makes you an easy target. Keep doors locked while driving. If you are bumped by another car, do not get out. Signal the other driver to follow you to a safe, well lighted location.