Crime Prevention Tip of the Month

September 2005
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Greetings!

Welcome to the Crime Prevention Tip of the Month. First, a little about me. I'm a working Police Officer in my thirtieth year with a major North American Police Service. I've been involved in Crime Prevention for 9 years and specialize in CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). In fact, I instruct other officers in this at the Police College. In my position as Crime Prevention Officer, I consult with homeowners, businesses and developers in their attempt to design out crime.

I am delighted to contribute to Mr. Goodbar's website. I firmly believe that physical security is the best kind of security because it leaves no question in the mind of the criminal as to the premise's level of protection. In my opinion, the use of window bars is the next best visual deterrent to having a Police Officer standing on your lawn.

Home Alone: Security for Kids
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Kids start staying home alone for an hour or two after school somewhere between the ages of 9 and 12. If you have a child taking this major step toward independence this year, help him or her do it safely with these simple tips.

Provide a safe environment. Back issues of this newsletter (see the link at the bottom of this issue) tell you everything you need to know about physically securing your home. If you haven't taken easy security measures like installing solid locks, door grilles and window security bars, now is the time to do so. Another great tip: lights on timers that turn on at sunset ensure your child isn't entering a dark house in the winter months.

Write down important information. An unusual situation can wipe your child's memory clean of telephone numbers, addresses, etc. Keep a list in an obvious place, close to the phone. Include the home address, parents' work addresses and telephone numbers and the phone number of a relative, neighbor or friend who can be counted on to help out.

Plan for and practice dealing with emergency situations. Common problems your child might encounter are:

Knowing when to call 911. It's all well and good to tell your child to call 911 in case of emergency, but precious time could be lost if your child is wondering if it's a "bad" enough emergency to warrant the call. Tell him that if he thinks it's time to call 911, it is.

Coming home to an open door or broken window, or seeing someone in the house. Let your child know that if you're going to come home unexpectedly, you'll be on the step when she gets home. In other words, she should never just "check" to see if it's you who is in the house. Establish a plan to follow if something looks unusual, such as going to a designated neighbor's and calling police if the adult deems it necessary.

Losing or forgetting the house key. Where should the child go? Whom should he contact? A plan can prevent a very uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous, situation from developing.

When a stranger comes to the door. Your child should either not answer the door when home alone or look through the glass or peephole and, if it's a stranger, inform the person that you are napping or in the bath and to come back later. Tell your child to never open the door to a stranger, even if the person claims it is an emergency. If the person refuses to leave or tries to get in, your child should call 911 immediately.

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Protect Your Friends and Family
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See back issues of the Monthly Security Tips!