Protecting
Yourself From Crime
Most crimes
are "crimes of opportunity". A criminal often
targets the easiest home to enter, the easiest
car to break into, or the easiest purse to snatch.
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of
becoming a victim of a more serious crime such
as assault, sexual assault, or robbery, is to
avoid dangerous situations. Most criminals want
easy targets, so making it tough for them will
reduce your risk. You can reduce your risk of
becoming a crime victim by reducing the opportunity.
Here are some ideas:
Personal Safety
Basic Street Sense
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Stay alert
and aware of your surroundings. |
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Send the message that you're
calm, confident, and know where you're going. |
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Trust your instincts. |
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Know the neighborhoods
where you live and work. |
On Foot - Day and Night
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Stick
to well-lighted, well-traveled streets.
|
• |
Avoid
shortcuts through wooded areas, parking
lots, or alleys. |
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Don't
flash large amounts of cash or other tempting
targets like expensive jewelry or clothing. |
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Carry
a purse close to your body, not dangling
by the straps. |
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Put
a wallet in an inside coat or front pants
pocket, not in a back pocket. |
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Don't
wear shoes or clothing that restrict your
movements. |
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Have
your car or house key in hand before you
reach the door. |
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If
you think someone is following you, switch
direction or cross the street. Walk towards
an open store, restaurant, or lighted
house. If you're scared, yell for help. |
On Wheels
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Keep your car
in good running condition. |
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Always roll up the windows,
lock car doors, and never leave valuables
in plain view. |
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Avoid parking in isolated
areas. Be especially alert in lots and parking
garages. |
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If
you think someone is following you, don't
head home. Drive to the nearest police
or fire station, gas station, or other
open business to get help. |
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Don't pick up hitchhikers.
|
• |
Never leave your car running
while unattended. |
If Someone Tries to
Rob You:
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Don't resist.
Give up your property; don't give up your
life. |
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Report
the crime to the police. Try to describe
the attacker accurately. Your actions
can help prevent others from being victims.
|
Home Security
Check
the Locks
Did you know that in almost half of all completed
residential burglaries, thieves simply entered
through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked
windows?
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Make
sure every external door has a sturdy,
well-installed, one inch throw, dead bolt
lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are
not enough. |
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Sliding
glass doors can offer easy access if they
are not properly secured. You can secure
them by installing commercially available
locks or placing a broomstick or dowel
in the inside track to jam the door. |
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Give
an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
|
• |
When
you move into a new house or apartment,
re-key the locks. |
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Keep
the garage door closed and locked and
always lock the connecting door to your
home. |
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Don't
leave an extra key under a doormat. |
Check the Doors
A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective
as locking your car door but leaving the window
down.
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All
outside doors should be metal, metal clad
or solid wood. |
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If
your doors don't fit tightly in their
frames, install weather stripping around
them. |
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Install
a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all
entry doors so you can see who is outside
without opening the door. Door chains
are easily broken and offer a false sense
of security. |
Check the Outside
Look at your house from the outside; make sure
you know the following tips:
• |
Install
outside lights and keep them on at night.
|
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Keep
your yard clean - prune back shrubbery
so it doesn't hide doors or windows. |
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Clearly
display your house number so police and
other emergency vehicles can find your
home quickly. |
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Create
the illusion that you're home by setting
some timers that will turn your lights
on and off in different areas of your
house throughout the evening. |
• |
Don't
leave ladders or tools outside that a
burglar could use to gain entry. |
There's More You Can
Do
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Join
a Neighborhood Watch group. If one doesn't
exist, you can start one with help from
local law enforcement. |
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Never
leave a message on your answering machine
that indicates you may be away from home.
Rather than saying "I'm not home right
now," say, "I'm not available right now."
|
• |
Work
with neighbors and local government to
organize community clean-ups. The cleaner
your neighborhood, the less attractive
it is to criminals. |
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Be
suspicious of strangers who appear out
of place or who ask about your schedule
or plans. |
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Be
aware of telephone calls with no apparent
purpose and hang-up calls. This can be
a ploy used by criminals to identify target
homes. |
Identity Theft
Identity theft is becoming one of the fastest
growing crimes. Last year, the Federal Trade
Commission received over 680,000 complaints
of identity theft. Despite your best efforts
to manage your personal information, skilled
identity thieves may still gain access to your
personal data. Fort Collins police provides
tips to protect your identity and information
on what to do if you become a victim of identity
theft.
Tips
to Protect your Identity
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Never
give your credit card number or other
personal information on the phone, through
the mail, or over the Internet unless
you have initiated the contact or you
are sure you know who you are dealing
with. Personal information includes: social
security number, driver license number,
account number(s), date of birth, place
of birth, home address, mother's maiden
name or passwords.
|
• |
When you order new checks,
consider removing extra information such
as your social security number, driver license
number, middle name and telephone number.
|
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Check your credit history
and bank records frequently. Look for signs
of inaccurate or suspicious activity. |
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Keep detailed and accurate
records of your banking, check writing,
credit card and ATM usage. |
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Ensure that carbons on
credit card receipts are destroyed. |
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Shred
or completely destroy any items with personal
information or identifiers, such as address,
date of birth, social security number,
driver license or identification card
number and account number(s), rather than
discarding them in the trash. |
• |
Do not carry extra credit
cards, your social security card, birth
certificate or passport in your wallet or
purse, except when needed. |
• |
Cancel your cellular phone
account or long distance calling card if
it has been stolen or you discover fraudulent
charges in your bills. |
What to do if
you have become a victim of Identity Theft!
Notify the police: Contact your local police
department to file a
criminal report and provide specific information
on what occurred such as bad checks, credit
card abuse, name, etc. Keep a copy of the police
report.
Contact the
Driver License Office: Once you have filed a
police report, contact your local drivers license
office and ask for assistance in determining
the best course for your situation.
Notify Creditors:
If unauthorized charges have been made on your
credit card accounts, cancel those cards and
request replacement cards with new account numbers.
Cancel all unauthorized credit cards and accounts
and report fraudulent activity to the credit
card issuers and credit reporting agencies.
Notify Your
Bank: Ask them to flag your account and contact
your regarding any unusual activity. Place a
stop payment order on stolen checks. Close any
unauthorized bank accounts.
Automatic Teller
Machine (ATM) Cards: If your ATM card was stolen,
contact the issuing institution and request
a new card, account number, and password. Be
sure to change your old password.
Report the theft
to one of the three major credit reporting agencies:
Request that a fraud alert and a victim's statement
be placed in your file. Also, request a FREE
copy of your credit report to determine if any
accounts were opened without your consent and
request the agency remove inquiries and/or fraudulent
accounts stemming from theft. Since these agencies
share information, you need only notify one.
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Equifax: To
request a credit report:
1-800-685-1111, to report fraud 1-800-525-6285
or write to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA
30374 or website:
www.equifax.com
|
• |
Experian:
To request a credit report or
report fraud: 1-888-397-3742 or write to
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013 or website:
www.experian.com
|
• |
Trans Union: To request
a credit report:
1-800-888-4213. To report fraud: 1-800-680-7289;
write to P.O. Box 6790,
Fullerton, CA 92634; or email:
www.fvad@transunion.com
|
Contact the
Social Security Administration: Report unauthorized
use of your personal information to SSA Fraud
Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
Contact the
Federal Trade Commission: The FTC is the one
place to report ID theft to the federal government.
To file an identity theft complaint or request
information call: 877-438-4338, write FTC, Identity
Theft Clearing House, 600 Pennsylvania Ave,
NW, Washington, DC 20580, or www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
Be sure to ask for the free brochure: ID Theft,
When Bad Things
Happen to Your Good Name.
Notify the U.S.
Passport Agency: Notify the U.S. Passport Agency
to be on alert for anyone fraudulently applying
for a new passport in your name: U.S. Passport
Agency, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Washington D.C.
20522-1705, 202-647-0518 or at: www.travel.state.gov/passport
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON IDENTITY THEFT, go to
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/idthft_ncpw.htm
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