Crime prevention tips

Listed below are some tips to help prevent you from being a victim of home burglary.

Practice good home security and crime prevention techniques:
- Be aware of strangers loitering in the area when you leave your house. Make sure you know your neighbors!

- Make your home look occupied.

- Keep your doors locked at all times.

- Be on the lookout. The police want you to call 911 for any suspicious activity such as strangers walking in yards or between houses, unfamiliar vehicles lingering in your alley, the sounds of breaking glass/loud banging.

- Install deadbolt locks (with a 1" throw) and a high-security strike plate (with 3" screws) on home and garage doors. If you have glass within 42" of the door lock, consider a double-cylinder deadbolt lock.

- Use window pins, track fillers, or additional locks to prevent windows from being opened more than 6".

- Lock your vehicle when it is in the garage. Don't leave valuables in the vehicles, even CDs.

- Leave outdoor lights on overnight. It costs about one penny per hour for a 75-watt light bulb; fluorescent lights are even cheaper! Or install photosensitive lighting that operates from dusk to dawn, mounted high enough to be out of reach of crooks.

- Mark your property with Operation Identification. Call 612-673-2749 to get your personal number, marking pen and instructions.