Things your burglar won't tell you:
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week
cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering
your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was
working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I
unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste. And taste
means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids
leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they
have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the
driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to
see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to
create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the
driveway are a dead give-away.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't
let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see
if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And
the windows on the second floor, which often access the master
bedroom and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion
detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you
forget to lock your door; understandable. But understand this: I
don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions
somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I
always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the
medicine cabinet.
11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that
safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down,
I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best
alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while
you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a
timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.
(Find it at faketv.com
.)
Eight more things a burglar won't tell you:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a
lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like
a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosey neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little
noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what
he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it
again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money
for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that
you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like.
I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before
you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's
easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day
is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door.
Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon,
California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who
runs crimedoctor.com ; and Richard T.
Wright, a criminology professor at the University of
Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book
Burglars on the Job.
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Credit/Credit Card Safety Information
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate Attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
-
Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
- When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
- Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
- Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my Wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
- We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
- File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
- Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271
If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.
Crime Prevention information
Safety Tips by Coletta Galloway
- Keep your garage door down when not in use or you are away from the location.
- Lock the door from you house to the attached garage at night and when away from home.
- Cut the "red knob" from your garage door opener to prevent a thief from using it to open the garage door from the outside.
- Some people raise the garage door slightly in hot weather to keep the temperature down. Remember if it is high enough for a small child to crawl under, so can a thief.
- Use your outside lights at night to make your house visible.
- Trim bushes around your doors and windows so your neighbors can see anyone hanging around your house. Don't give criminals a hiding place.
- Don't leave garage door openers in vehicles that are parked outside. These can be stolen and later used to enter your garage and home.
- Lock your vehicles. Don't leave valuables plainly visible in your vehicles.
- Get to know you neighbors on easch side and across the street. Have contact information for your neighbors. If you go away, tell a trusted neighbor. Some people leave a baby monitor on when they are away from for for multiple days. The other one is in a neighbor's house.
- If you see anything suspicious, call the police. In emergencies, use 911. The non-emergency number is 207-7273.
Easy Tips to stay safe in your home
- Replace or re-key all locks when you move into a new home or apartment.
- Install 1-inch case hardened steel deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
- Keep windows and doors locked at all times
- Have curtains or blinds on all windows and keep them drawn.
- Install a 190-degree door viewer or door scope in your front door.
- Look before opening your door to anyone.
- Require identification from all repair persons or public service individuals BEFORE opening the door.
- Hang Up on frightening or obscene phone calls. Invest in voice mail or an answering machine to screen your calls.
- On your answering machine message, never say you are not home, just say you are not by the phone right now.
- If a stranger enters your home, GET OUT!! Go to a neighbor and call 911 for police to respond.
- If you come home and you think someone is in your home, DO NOT ENTER!! Go to a neighbor and call 911.
- File a police report for any incident you experience.
- Report suspicious persons or vehicles to 207-SAPD
Phone 207-7273 to contact SAPD Crime Prevention Specialist (SAFFE officer) at your substation and schedule a free home security survey.
See the San Antonio Police Department's website for more crime prevention programs and tips.
Help stop vehicle accidents
Driver distraction causes four of five accidents.
It is no surprise that cellphone and PDA use causes driver inattention and results in accidents.
Let's be careful out there and watch out for others that may cause us to get into their accidents!
What to do if you have a vehicle accident:
Clear the lane of traffic by moving off to the side. Render aid to anyone injured first. Offer your insurance and drivers license to other driver(s).
Get other driver(s) license and insurance information. Identify any witnesses. It is best to call police to come to scene for traffic accident report, but you can have them come to your home later for a report for state records.
Contact your insurance company to notify them and make a report. Take photos with your cell phone.
Filing online reports with SAPD
For your convenience SAPD now allows you to file certain reports online. This time saving feature allows you to report offenses without known suspects such as minor thefts, burglary-vehicle, vandalism,
and lost property without having to wait for an officer to make your location.
To file your report, go to http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapd
Do you know someone that may be a victim of Domestic Violence?
For help, go to http://mysa.com/ Use keywords "Domestic Violence".
