Safety Tips and Information

Burglary 

Online Safety

Personal Safety Tips (at home) 

Telemarketing Fraud

Theft from Auto

• More than two thirds of all auto thefts occur at night
• Over 328 vehicles were stolen in the city of Brooklyn Park in 2005  
• The average loss of missing parts on recovered vehicles is $5,880  
• It can take an expert auto thief as little as 7-seconds and one screwdriver to break into a vehicle and less than 1-minute to drive away. 

• Leaving your car unlocked or the windows down
• Leaving your keys in the car or a spare key hidden in the car  
• Leaving your car unattended  
• Parking in poorly lit places with low visibility 
• Leaving valuables and packages in your car  
• Cars not protected with an anti-theft device  

• Don't leave your keys in your car 
• Close your windows and lock your doors whenever you leave your car, regardless of how long you plan to be gone.  
• Park in well-lit areas  
• Keep your car in a garage if you have one  
• Park in lots that have attendants  
• Use an anti-theft device whenever you leave your car  
• When parking your car, turn your wheels toward the curb to make it more difficult for a thief to "tow" your car.  
• Use your emergency break when you park.  
• Replace "T-shaped" door locks with straight locks so thieves cannot grab them with an implement through a crack in the window.  
• Immediately report any suspicious activity to the police at 9-1-1

• House Numbers - House numbers on our homes are important. They can save police officers, fire fighters and paramedic’s valuable time. 
• Landscaping -
  • Fences: Privacy vs. chain link. Burglars prey on privacy. Fences that allow activity to be seen in your yard are preferable to “privacy” fences.
  • Trees and shrubbery: Should be trimmed 6-inches below windows and at least 3-feet away from doors. Shrubbery such as rose bushes or other thorny varieties serve as a good deterrent to criminal activity.
  • Landscape rock: Large landscape rock (golf ball size or larger) can be used to damage your property. Small landscape rocks (smaller than golf ball size) are both decorative and, if someone walks on them, a person will be easily heard.

• Deadbolt locks: The deadbolt lock has a bolt that must be activated by a key or thumb turn. It offers good security because it is not spring activated and cannot be opened with a credit card. 
  • A single cylinder deadbolt is activated with a key on the exterior side of the door and a thumb turn piece on the interior side. Install this lock where there is no breakable glass within 40-inches of the thumb turn piece. (Otherwise a burglar can break the glass, reach inside and turn the thumb piece.) 
  • A double cylinder deadbolt is key activated on both sides on the door. It should be installed where there is glass within 40-inches of the lock. Double cylinder deadbolt locks can hinder escape from a burning home so always leave a key in or near the lock when someone is home. (Double cylinder deadbolt locks are only permitted in existing single-family homes, town homes and first floor duplexes used exclusively as residential dwellings
• Both single and double cylinder deadbolt locks should meet these criteria to be a good security device:
  • The bolt must extend a minimum of 1 -inch and be made of case hardened steel.
  • The cylinder guard must be tapered, round and free spinning to make it difficult to grip with a pliers or wrench. It must be solid metal – not hollow casting or stamped metal.
  • There should be at least a five-pin tumbler system or equivalent locking device.
  • The connecting screws that hold the lock together must be on the inside and made of case hardened steel. No exposed screw heads should be on the outside.
  • The connecting screws must be at least one -fourth inch in diameter and go into solid metal stock, not screw posts.
  • A heavy duty strike plate helps strengthen door frames better than a regular strike plate. (A strike plate is the jamb fastening that receives the deadbolt in the locking position.) The heavy duty plate uses four to six, three-inch screws, not two, three-fourth inch screws used in regular plates. The longer screws go through the frame into the jamb making it harder for someone to split the frame when kicking the door. A heavy duty strike plate will strengthen the door jamb and reinforce the lock.

• Auxiliary locks: Pin your windows or add an auxiliary lock to your double hung windows. This type of mechanism will allow you to secure your window when you open it (5-inches or less) for ventilation. Newer windows have higher quality locks while older double hung windows are easily jimmied or pried open. Double hung windows can be secured by taking these simple, inexpensive precautions:
  • Drill a hole at a downward angle through the first sash and into but not through the second sash. Then pin window by driving a nail into the hole. Pinning braces the window against prying. More holes can be drilled to pin the window open for ventilation. Keyed locks offering effective protection are available for windows. These inexpensive, easy-to-install locks should replace thumb turn locks that offer little security. Master key all window locks and show children how to use them. Do not use keyed locks on windows in sleeping areas.

• Motion detector lights are very effective in deterring crime. They also light up your driveway or entry doors when you are leaving or coming home.
• Dusk to dawn lighting is a strong deterrent against criminal activity, and it constantly lights up your entry doors and possible obstacles that would otherwise be unseen.
• Landscape lighting is low voltage lighting that can highlight your property line, light up your sidewalk and also light up the exterior of your windows – making your home a less attractive target to night time burglars.
• Interior lighting using light timers makes a home look occupied. Good lights to leave on are bedroom and/or bathroom lights.
• Radios and televisions are also good items to have on timers. If a radio playing a talk station is heard from the outside of a home, it gives the appearance that a conversation is being carried on and someone is home. The perception of someone being home greatly reduces the possibility of a burglary.

• Use protection software "anti-virus software" and keep it up to date.
• Don't open email from unknown sources.
• Use hard-to-guess passwords.
• Protect your computer from Internet intruders -- use "firewalls".
• Don't share access to your computers with strangers. Learn about file sharing risks.
• Disconnect from the Internet when not in use.
• Back up your computer data. Regularly download security protection update "patches".
• Check your security on a regular basis. When you change your clocks for daylight-savings time, reevaluate your computer security.
• Make sure your family members and/or your employees know what to do if your computer becomes infected.

• Be aware of your neighbors; know who is coming and going, who belongs and who does not belong.
• Make sure entrances and garages are well lit.
• Keep the exterior doors of your home locked.
• When repair people, meter readers, and sales people come to your door, check their identification and don’t be afraid to call their office to check them out.
• Always close and lock your garage door.
• Don’t leave notes on your front door, because they advertise your absence.
• If you return home and suspect your home has been broken into, do not go in. Instead go some place else and call 911.
• Use only your first initial and full last name in the phone book and on your mailbox.
• Take an active interest in your neighborhood. Form a neighborhood Crime Watch and help watch out for each other.

• Be careful if the telemarketer tells you an investment, purchase, or charitable donation must be made immediately.
• Be extremely careful when giving out your credit card number
• Ask for printed information be sent to you concerning the sales item and company
• Never make purchases under pressure
• Get the name and number of the person calling you and return number you can call if you have questions
• Get the street address and telephone number of the firm calling you.
• Check with your local and state consumer protection agencies and Better Business Bureau for information on the organization.
• Be wary of offers for free merchandise and prizes. You may end up paying handling fees greater than the value of the gift.
• Beware of 900 numbers. If you call them there is a fee.