CRIME PREVENTION TIPS TO REDUCE RISKS AND ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS

Published 25 June 2019

Buckie Got It St Kitts And Nevis News Source

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS TO REDUCE RISKS AND ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITOR

Household and General Safety Tips

• It would be wise to install burglar bars on your windows and doors.
• Purchase a ‘latch protector plate’ to guard the tongue of the dead bolt and knob locks on your exterior doors.
• There are persons who live in project houses and/or closely knit neighbourhoods’ and strangers often walk through their yard as short cuts to their destination. Please fence your property. This prevents strangers from using your yard as short cuts and looking through your open windows with a strong possibility of returning sometime later to break in and steal something.
• Be your brother’s keeper/ your neighbours’ keeper. ‘If you see something say something’. Look out for any stranger in your neighbourhood and report it to the police and also warn that particular neighbour.
• Manicure the grass at least six (6) feet away from your outer fencing. This allows you to see any would be criminals standing along your fence line.
• The old adage of ‘A dog is a man’s best friend’ still stands. Invest in a dog to assist with the security of your yard. A dog can be a deterrent and also a warning device especially at nights.
• I would encourage individuals who are ‘house sitting’ for friends, family or love ones overseas living or on vacation, please check the premises regularly at least once per week. Not only the exterior but go on the inside of the premises if possible and ensure that everything is intact.
• Install light motion sensors on the exterior of your house. Any movement would trigger the light coming and deter any would be criminal.
• If you can afford it approach a security company and install an electronic security system in your home. This will trigger a noise or silent alarm when doors and windows are opened by a stranger.
• Take advantage of the government’s tax exemption/duty free on surveillance cameras. Install camera systems with internet protocol (IP) capabilities on your home. Activities at your home can be recorded and even live video footage fed to you phone wherever you are in the world.
• If you are at the back of your home, lock the front door and vice versa. Intruders can gain entry at any time. When retiring to bed at night, make sure to lock ALL windows and doors.
• When you’re coming home and approaching your front door, have the entry key already at hand to insert into the lock and go into your house. Always minimize standing at your door and searching for the entry keys.
• Try and minimize sitting outside in your vehicle when you have reached home at nights. Go straight inside your house and continue what you was doing when your secured on the inside.
• If you’re driving home and you feel like you’re being followed, drive to the nearest police station and report the matter to the police.
• Persons who have cellular phone please down load and become familiar on how to track your phone location. Just in the event it gets stolen.
• Download a program name “CM security” and set it up so that if anyone try and intrude on your phone it silently takes a picture and forwards it to your email address. That way you would know who tried to go into your phone.
• Record the make, model and serial number of all your electronic items. Type them out and send an email to yourself. In the event something gets lost or stolen you can always refer to the information from online to assist the police.
• You can also record the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number which is a unique 15-digit serial number registered to every mobile phone which can then be used to check information such as the phone’s location. The Model Code, Serial Number and IMEI are printed at the back of the device. To do find your IMEI number dial *#06# and the long number that comes up is unique to that phone. This number can also assist investigators in locating your phone.
• Do not leave valuables on the seat of your car or visible in your vehicle. It takes about 5 seconds for someone to break the glass of your vehicle and steal items that are visible.

Security Tips for business places

• Have Visible Security Systems: Whether you use security mirrors, faux cameras, motion sensors or security guards, make sure your security systems are visible to customers. Knowing you have security measures in place will stave off shoplifters. We would also recommend hiring a standing security officer at you business place.

• Maximize Visibility: Keeping an eye on merchandise is the first step in loss prevention. Place shorter displays close to the register and taller displays near the perimeter of the store so all merchandise is completely visible from your perch. Use mirrors to eliminate any blind spots, and be sure to keep your store neat and tidy, so employees can tell at a glance if something is missing or out of place.

• Share Your Shoplifting Policy: Determine the shoplifting policy and communicate it to your customers with posted signs. Posting statements such as, “Shoplifters Will Be Prosecuted,” can act as an effective deterrent.

• Know How to Spot a Shoplifter: Certain behaviours should put your employees in alert mode. Watch for customers who appear nervous, stare at employees or other customers, wander aimlessly around the store, hang out in hard-to-monitor areas, and repeatedly leave and return.

Cash Handling Tips

Good cash handling procedures are considered the most effective robbery deterrent as they limit the amount of accessible cash and other valuables.

Some tips for staff handling cash include:

• Keep the cash register fund to a minimum
• Use a drop safe with a time lock on it. Don’t hide money in a drawer or under the counter
• Encourage credit or debit card payments
• Vary the time of day that the cash register is emptied by at least 2-3 cash drops per day rather than 1 big cash drop at the end of business.
• Keep “bait money” (several bills with recorded serial numbers) in the cash tray for positive identification in the event of a robbery
• Post signs visible to the public indicating that
  – There is a limited amount of accessible cash on the premise
• Design the counter high and deep enough to provide some physical distance from a threatening person.

After the robber leaves:

• Don’t chase or follow the robber — This will only invite violence, and it may confuse the police as to who is involved with the robbery
• Write down information immediately — As soon as the robber has left, make notes about their appearance, mannerisms, and specific features, as well as the time and the direction they took when they left. If possible, get a description of their vehicle and write down the license plate number, but never leave the safety of the premises or follow a vehicle to do so!
  Download a sample Suspect and Vehicle Identification Sheet
• Call the police — Dial 9-1-1 as soon as it is safe to do so. Don’t hang up until they tell you to
• Lock the doors and protect the crime scene. Discontinue business until the police are finished. Don’t touch any evidence.
• Give the Police a report describing the robbery and include all the information you can.

Tips to prevent Burglary

Homes with no security measures in place are five times more likely to be burgled than those with simple security measures. Locked windows and strong deadlocks can make a big difference.

Taking just a few steps can make a big difference in keeping your home safe from burglary. Here are a few tips:

• Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden or at the back doing something.
• Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight. (Remember a burglar could put a rod through you window and extract visible keys to get into your home).
• Install burglar alarm system
• Install good outside lighting
• Get a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property especially if you are leaving island.
• Leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
• Make sure the fences around your garden are in good condition
• Secure bikes/ motorcycles, scooters at home by locking them to an immoveable object in or outside of your garage or walkway.
• Keep ladders and tools stored away; don’t leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home
• Ensure side gates are locked to prevent access to the rear of the property
• Ensure rear fencing is in good repair
• Improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges
• Consider joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch group
• Remove valuables from view of ground floor windows
• Store any high value items (i.e. jewellery, passports) in a properly secured safe or bank vault

Going away on holiday

Make your home look like someone is living in it:

• Use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark
• Trusted neighbours may be able to help you by collecting your post, opening and closing curtains and they could park their car in your driveway
• Avoid discussing holiday plans on public social networking sites – burglars can use any information you post on there to their advantage

Theft and robbery

Robberies (including muggings, and snatch thefts) are crimes that often involve violence or threats. While the likelihood of this happening is small, you should be aware of what you can do to keep yourself and your property safe.

Staying safe from robbery

• If you have to walk alone at night take extra care. Stay on roads that are well lit and relatively busy
• Plan your route in advance
• Avoid short cuts that involve alleyways, lonely areas and use well –lit areas to walk
• If you’re carrying a bag, try to have it across your chest and keep your hand over the fastening
• Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to what’s going on around you
• Be careful with your electronics; talking on a mobile phone, listening to an MP3 player or carrying a laptop bag shows thieves that you have something to steal
• Don’t carry important documents or credit cards that you do not need
• Only take your wallet out when you need to
• If you think you are being followed, cross the road or go into a shop and stay there until you’re sure you’re safe

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE- IT’S ALL ABOUT, POLICING WITH YOU TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY!