NORTH HILLS WEST HOMEOWNERS GROUP

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

 

July 2 2014 - Community Alert!

 

We are seeing an increase in stolen vehicles. The most frequently stolen vehicles have been 1990's model Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and Honda Accord. These vehicles have been targeted because of the 
ease in which they can be stolen. Below are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of a car thief:

 

Never leave your car unattended, even to dash into a business, store, etc.; Never leave your keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes; Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home; Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight; Park in high-traffic, well lighted areas, when possible.

 

Please do not respond to this email, replies are not monitored 
Important Telephone Numbers 
| EMERGENCY CALL 911 
| CITY-WIDE DIRECTORY 311 
| NON EMERGENCY 1-877-ASKLAPD 
for additional Crime Prevention information, Log on: www.lapdonline.org 
Support the LA Police Foundation: www.lapolicefoundation.org

 

 

 

PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY - REMEMBER ..............

 - HIDE IT, LOCK IT, KEEP IT!

 

Crime is everywhere, in every community - Below are some safety points that you might find useful.  In addition, we are urging EVERYONE to please purchase a locking mailbox - mailbox theft is on the rise and a locking mailbox is one way to protect yourself and your identity - think about it?  credit card billis with your account number indicated, checks with your name and again, account numbers; social security information, the list goes on and on  - with identity theft running rampant; we must take charge and protect ourselves in any way we can!

 

Please also remember to protect your vehicle and your purchases - HIDE IT (PLACE ITEMS IN YOUR TRUNK OR COVERED WITH A  BLANKET IN THE BACK) - LOCK IT (HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SAY TO YOURSELF I AM JUST RUNNING IN FOR A MOMENT.....IT ONLY TAKES 3 SECONDS FOR A BURGLAR TO TAKE YOUR CAR) - KEEP IT (EVERYONE WORKS HARD FOR WHAT THEY HAVE SO KEEP IT SAFE)!

 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US OR CALL..........

 

If you’re locked out of your home, can you still get in? . . . through an unlocked window in the back, or using an extra key hidden under a flowerpot or up on a ledge?

 

If you can break in, so can a burglar! A small investment of time and money can make your home more secure and can reduce your chances of being a victim of burglary, assault, or vandalism. Get to know your neighbors. Watchful neighbors who look out for you, as well as themselves, are a front-line defense against crime. In almost half of all residential burglaries, thieves enter through an unlocked door or unlocked window.

 

Check the Locks

* Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed deadbolt lock with a minimum of 1½" bolt.

 

* Secure sliding glass doors with commercially available locks or with a broomstick or wooden dowel in the track to jam the door, in case someone tries to pry it open. Insert a pin in a hole drilled in the sliding door frame that goes through to the fixed frame to prevent anyone from lifting the door off its track.

 

* Secure double-hung windows by using keylocks or by sliding a bolt or nail through a hole drilled at a downward angle in top corners of the inside sash and partway through the outside sash. Secure basement windows too. The hole should be large enough that the nail or bolt slides in and out freely, in case you have to open the window fast in an emergency.

 

* Don’t hide keys in mailboxes, planters, or under doormats. Give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.

 

* If you’ve just moved into a new house or apartment, have the locks changed.Check the Doors Locks aren’t effective if they’re on flimsy doors.

 

* Make sure all exterior doors are metal or solid, 1¾" hardwood.

 

* Doors should fit tightly in their frames, with hinge pins on the inside.

 

* 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 not security devices—they break easily and won’t keep out an intruder.Check the Outside To discourage burglars from selecting your home as their target of opportunity, make sure to:

 

* Trim shrubbery that hides doors or windows. Cut tree limbs that could help a thief climb into windows.

 

* Turn on outside lights after dark to illuminate porches, entrances and yards—front & back. Consider timers that turn on outside lights, or install motion detectors.

 

* Keep your yard well maintained. Store ladders and tools inside your locked garage, basement, or storage shed when you’re not using them.

 

* Clearly display your house number, so police and other emergency vehicles can find your home quickly.

 

* Keep up the appearance of the neighborhood. Broken street lights, abandoned cars, vacant buildings, graffiti, litter and run-down areas attract crime. Work with the local government and your neighbors to organize community clean-up days. * Put lights and a radio on timers to create the illusion that someone is at home when you go away. Leave shades, blinds and curtains in normal positions. Stop the mail and newspapers, or ask a neighbor to take them in.

 

* Update your home inventory, listing pilfer able items like VCRs, stereos, cameras and computers. Take photos or make videos of items, list descriptions and serial numbers. Check with law enforcement about Operation Identification—engraving your valuables. If your home is burglarized, this can help identify stolen items & make insurance claims easier to file.What about Alarms If you have valuables in your home, or if you live in an isolated area or a neighborhood vulnerable to break-ins, consider an alarm system.Before you invest in alarms:

 

* Check with several companies and decide what level of security fits your needs. Sources of information include your local police department, the public library, and the Better Business Bureau.

 

* Look for an established company and check its references before using them.

 

* Learn how to use your system properly. If you continually set off false alarms, your neighbors will ignore the noise, and you could even be fined by local law enforcement agencies.Burglars can take more than your Property Burglars generally don’t want to run into their victims. But if they’re surprised by someone coming home, or if they pick an occupied home, someone may get hurt.

 

* If you see a screen that has been cut, a broken window, or a door that’s been left open, don’t go in. Call the police from a neighbor’s house or a public phone.

 

* If you hear a noise that sounds like someone breaking in or moving around, quietly call the police and wait calmly until they arrive. If you can leave safely, do so. Otherwise, lock yourself in a room, or, if the intruder enters the room you are in, pretend to be asleep.

 

 * Think carefully before buying a firearm for protection. Guns can be stolen and sold to anyone, or captured and used on you or the police. If you do own a gun, keep it locked up, with the ammunition secured separately, and learn how to use it safely.Look beyond locks and alarms

 

* Join or help start a Neighborhood Watch group. If one doesn’t exist, ask your Devonshire PD Senior Lead Officer, Kate Luna,  to help you start one.

 

* Look around for things that could contribute to crime—poor street lighting, abandoned cars, vacant lots, littered playgrounds with broken equipment, homes that elderly people have trouble maintaining. Help organize a neighborhood cleanup/fix-up day.

 

 

 

* Keep written records of all furniture, jewelry and electronic products. If possible, keep these records in a safe deposit box,

fireproof safe or other secure place. Take pictures or a video, and keep purchase information and serial numbers if available. These help law enforcement agencies track recovered items.

 

* If your neighbors are ever victims, help them out. Offer sympathy and support; help with meals, repairs, or baby-sitting. For full details, view this message on the

 

web.https://local.nixle.com/alert/5189766/?s...May 1 in Crime & Safety to 6 neighborhoods