Crime Prevention Tips

Crime in the United States is unfortunately a fact a life for most Americans.  However, there are many things that you can do every day to prevent crime happening to you!  Click on the links below to see some tips on how to prevent crime, or click here for a list of the neighborhood watch groups.

You may think this is a good idea, but guess what? If you can break in, so can a burglar!

One out of ten homes will be burglarized this year. For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of being a victim.

Many burglars will spend no longer than 60 seconds trying to break into a home. Good locks - and good neighbors who watch out for each other - can be big deterrents to burglars.

Check the locks

Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries, thieves simply breezed in through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked windows?

• Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not enough.
• Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the slide door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.
• Lock double-hung windows with key locks or "pin" your windows by drilling a small hole into a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. Secure basement windows with grilles or grates.
• Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
• When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

Check the doors

A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down.

• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.

• If your doors don't fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.

• Install a peephole or wide angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don't keep out intruders.

Check the outside

Look at your house from the outside. Make sure you know the following tips.

• Thieves hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night.

• Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn't hide doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window.

• If you travel, create the illusion that you're at home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.

• Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And don't let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick it up.

• Make a list of your valuables - VCRs, stereos, computers, jewelry. Take photos of the items, list their serial numbers and description. Check with law enforcement about engraving your valuables through Operation Identification.

• Ask local law enforcement for a free home security survey.

Consider an Alarm

Alarms can be a good investment, especially if you have many valuables in your home, or live in an isolated area or one with a history of break-ins.

• Check with several companies before you buy so you can decide what level of security fits your needs. Do business with an established company and check references before signing a contract.

• Learn how to use your system properly! Don't "cry wolf" by setting off false alarms. People will stop paying attention and you'll probably be fined.

• Some less expensive options...a sound-detecting socket that plugs into a light fixture and makes the light flash when it detects certain noises, motion sensing outdoor lights that turn on when someone approaches, or lights with photo cells that turn on when it's dark and off when it's light.

Burglars Can Do More Than Steal

Burglars can commit rape, robbery, and assault if they are surprised by someone coming home or pick a home that is occupied.

• If something looks questionable - a slit screen, a broken window or an open door - don't go in. Call the police from a neighbor's house or a public phone.

• At night, if you think you hear someone breaking in, leave safely if you can, then call the police. If you can't leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call the police. If an intruder is in your room, pretend you are asleep.

• Gun are responsible for many accidental deaths in the home every year. Think carefully before buying a gun or keeping weapons in the home.  If you do own one, learn how to store it and use it safely.

There's More You Can Do

• Join a Neighborhood Watch Group.  If one doesn't exist, you can start one with help from the Joliet Police Department by contacting Officer John Hanke Crime Prevention Officer by email or phone, at 724-3194.
• Never leave a message on your answering machine that indicates you may be away from home 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 crime.

When you go to work, don't leave your crime prevention sense at home. Almost any crime that can happen at home or in your neighborhood, can happen in the workplace. But common-sense prevention skills can help make life at work safer for all.

Office Theft

• Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or other valuable items with you at all times or locked in a drawer or closet.

• Check the identity of any strangers who are in your office -- ask whom they are visiting and if you can help them find that person. If this makes you uncomfortable, inform security or management about your suspicions.

• Always let someone know where you'll be -- whether it's coming in late, working late, going to the photocopier or mail room, going out to lunch or a meeting.

• If you bring personal items to work such as a coffee pot, a radio, or a calculator, mark them with your name or initials and an identification number.

• Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit corridors, doors that don't lock properly, or broken windows. Don't wait for someone else to do it.

• Be discreet. Don't advertise your social life or vacation plans and those of your coworkers to people visiting or calling your place of work. 

Trouble Spots

• Reception area -- Is the receptionist equipped with a panic button for emergencies, a camera with a monitor at another employee's desk, and a lock on the front door that can be controlled?

• Stairwells and out-of-the-way corridors -- Don't use the stairs alone. Talk to the building manager about improving poorly lighted corridors and stairways.

• Elevators -- Don't get into elevators with people who look out of place or behave in a strange or threatening manner. If you find yourself in an elevator with someone who makes you nervous, get off as soon as possible.

• Restrooms -- Attackers can hide in stalls and corners. Make sure restrooms are locked and only employees have keys. Be extra cautious when using restrooms that are isolated or poorly lighted.

• After hours -- Don't work late alone. Create a buddy system for walking to parking lots or public transportation or ask security to escort you.

• Parking lots or garages -- Choose a well-lighted, well-guarded parking garage. Always lock your car and roll the windows up all the way. If you notice any strangers hanging around the parking lot, notify security or the police. When you approach your car, have the key ready. Check the floor and front and back seats before getting in. Lock your car as soon as you get in -- before you buckle your seat belt.

Workplace Violence

Violence in the workplace takes many forms, from raised voices and profanity or sexual harassment to robbery or homicide. While homicide in the workplace is rising, 75 percent of work-related homicides are committed by unknown assailants while committing a robbery or other crimes. Despite media hype, the attacker usually isn't a disgruntled coworker. To assess a workplace's vulnerability to violence, ask yourself these questions.

• Is your office secure? Do you have easy-to-use phone systems with emergency buttons, sign-in policies for visitors, panic buttons, safe rooms, security guards, office access controls, good lighting, and safety training?

• Does your employer take care in hiring and firing? Before hiring, are employment gaps, history, references, and criminal and educational records thoroughly examined? Are termination procedures defined clearly with attention to advance notice, severance pay, and placement services?

• Could you recognize potentially violent employees? Signs of stress that could erupt into violence include: depression, frequent absences, talking in a louder-than-normal voice, being startled easily, increased irritability and impatience, and concentration and memory problems.

• Are you encouraged to report unusual or worrisome behavior? Is there a clear, written policy that spells out procedures in cases of violence and sanctions for violators? Make sure you know to whom you should report unusual behaviors.

Do you work in a supportive, harmonious environment? Is there a culture of mutual respect? Does your employer provide an employee assistance program (EAP)?  If you are an employer, and are interesting in holding some Workplace Crime Prevention Seminars at your place of business, please contact our Crime Prevention Officer, John Hanke, by email or phone, at 724-3124.

Babysitting is a great way for teens to earn money, and can sometimes be a source of steady income.  Becoming a good babysitter takes common sense, patience, and good communication, both with the children and the parents.  Here are some tips that every good babysitter should use as rules of thumb.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU ACCEPT A BABYSITTING JOB

Make sure that you know who the family is.  Don’t accept the job if you don’t know the person calling.  Find out who recommended you for the job, and then follow up to find out about the family.

Check with your parents and see if they know the family.  Ask for the person’s phone number and call back after you’ve checked.

Ask the family about the ages, sex and number of children that you would be watching.  Think about it, and know your limits.  How many children can you reasonably care for at the same time?

Do they have an infant?  Infants are sometimes easier, and sometimes more difficult to babysit than older children.  They are not self-sufficient, and need extra care.  Do you have any experience with infants?  Can you carry, change the diaper of, and bottle feed a small baby? 

Make sure that when you accept to do the job, you are free of other commitments.

  THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ACCEPT THE BABYSITTING JOB

Babysitting is a job.  Be businesslike and explain the days and hours you are available, how much experience you’ve had (older children, infants, etc.), what you charge per hour.  Try to arrange a visit to the home to meet the parents and children.  Make arrangements for transportation to and from the job.  Even if it’s only a short walk from your home, an adult escort might be a good idea.  Determine at the outset exactly what you will be doing to earn your fee.  Will your duties go beyond babysitting and into household chores?

  THINGS TO DO PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE BABYSITTING JOB

Get the parent’s name, phone number and address

Ask about the number of children, their names and ages

Ask about the expected time of arrival at job and estimated length of stay

Leave your parents a note with the name, phone number and address of the family for whom you’ll be babysitting and the time you expect to be home.

  THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Get as much information as you can from the parents and write it down.

Where will the parents be?  Get their cell phone numbers, or in the alternative, the phone numbers of theaters, restaurants or friends the parents will be visiting.  What time do they expect to return?

Ask for the name and phone number of a neighbor or friend who lives close by.  You should also the phone number for the poison control center.  Post both numbers near the phone.

Ask instructions on handling incoming phone calls.  For maximum security, you should never tell a caller that you’re home alone with the children.  Explain to the caller that the adult at home but they are unable to come to the phone (they’re taking a shower, out in the garden, whatever you can think of that sounds good).  Then, ask if you can take a message and phone number.

Be sure doors and windows are locked and ask which lights should be left on if you’re to stay late at night.

Is there a fire escape, fire extinguisher or second exit?

What time is bedtime?

Ask about what the children are allowed (or not allowed) to do, in terms of their use of the TV, stereo, computer or videogames.

Find out about diapers, baby bottles, meals, snacks, checking homework, whether or not friends of the children can visit.

If the child is taking some type of medication, determine the time of the last dosage as well as the time for the next.

  WHILE YOU’RE BABYSITTING

NEVER open the door to strangers.

Check and lock doors and windows.

Be aware of strange noises, prowlers at the windows, unusual phone calls.

If you take the children outside, NEVER talk to strangers.  Be extra careful near swimming pools, roads and strange animals.  Don’t let the children out of your sight.

If you hear any suspicious noises, check them out by turning on the outside lights.  Do not go outside.  If you suspect someone is there, call the police immediately.

If you receive unusual or obscene telephone calls, do not let the caller you are alone.  Hang up and call the police.

If someone comes to the door requesting to use the telephone, do not let them in the house.  Make the call for them.  If they attempt to enter, call the police.

IN CASE OF FIRE:   Get the children out of the house immediately.  Stay close to the floor to avoid deadly smoke and fumes.  Feel doors to see if they’re hot.  There may be fire on the other side.  When everyone is out, go to a neighbor’s house and call the Fire Department.

AVOID ACCIDENTS: Pick up toys or other objects on stairs or in passageways, or have the children clean their toys up.   Know the location of medicines, cleaning and electrical outlets, and keep children away from them.   If the house is suddenly quiet, check on the children right away… they could be up to something!

  CHECK YOUR OWN BEHAVIOR

Don’t tie up the telephone with calls to friends.  The parents may be trying to reach you.   Don’t allow friends to visit.   Stay out of closets, desk drawers and personal papers.   Enjoy only those snacks that you’ve been offered.

 WHEN PARENTS RETURN

Tell them about any problems encountered during your stay, either with the children or otherwise.   Give the parents all messages taken during your stay.   If, for any reason, you should feel uncomfortable with the parent who is to escort you home, insist on calling your own parents to make other arrangements.

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.  Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, affecting approximately 500,000 new victims each year.

• In public places, criminals may engage in “shoulder surfing” – watching you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number.

• Some criminals engage in "dumpster diving" - going through your garbage cans or a commercial dumpster or trash bin - to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address or even your telephone number.

• Criminals may simply steal your wallet or purse.

• If you have received applications for “pre-approved” credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their use without your knowledge.

• Criminals may open up a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and Social Security number.  When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.

• They may establish a cellular phone service in your name.

• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.

• Criminals may pilfer bank statements, credit card statements, pre-approved credit card applications, etc., from your mailbox.

• Limit the amount of confidential or personal information you carry in your wallet or purse. Do not carry bank account number, personal identification numbers (PINs), passports, birth certificates or Social Security cards.

• Avoid carrying more blank checks than you actually need. A criminal can fraudulently use the sensitive information often pre-printed on your checks (address, bank account number, and telephone number).  Do not have your Social Security number pre-printed on your checks.

• Keep good backup information about your accounts, in case your wallet or purse is lost or stolen.  When you go on vacation, take along a list of toll-free telephone numbers for your banking and credit card companies - not your card numbers - and keep the list in a safe place other than your wallet or purse.

• Consider canceling any credit cards you don’t really need or haven’t used in six months.

• Never provide personal information (Social Security number, credit card number, address, etc.) over the telephone unless you initiate the call and are familiar or acquainted with the business.

• Destroy – preferably shred – credit card applications you receive in the mail and don’t use.

• Review your credit card bills and your checking account statements as soon as they are received, to ensure that no fraudulent activity has taken place.

• Obtain a copy of your credit report at least once a year to check for errors.

• Be careful at ATM’s and using phone cards. “Shoulder Surfers” can obtain your “PIN Number” and get access to your accounts.

• Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post Office.  Mail theft is common.  It is easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.

• When you order new credit cards in the mail, or your previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time.  If it is not received by a certain date, call the credit card granter immediately and find out if the card was sent.  Find out if a change of address was filed if you don't receive the card or billing statement.

• Obtain a post office box, or locked mailbox, if you can.

• Do not put your telephone number on your checks.

• Consider making your telephone number an unlisted number or just use an initial instead of full first name in the directory.

• Obtain credit cards and business cards with your picture on them, whenever possible.

• If someone you don’t know calls you on the telephone and offers you the chance to receive a "major" credit card, a prize, or other valuable item, but asks you for personal data - such as your Social Security number, credit card number, or mother's maiden name - ask them to send you a written application form, if they won't do it, tell them you are not interested and hang up.

• When you are traveling, have your mail held at your local post office, or ask someone you know well and trust to collect and hold your mail while you are away.

• If your monthly credit card or bank statements do not arrive at the normal time of the month, call the financial institution or credit card company immediately and ask about it.

Those persons who have been the victim of identity theft or fraud should take the following measures. In dealing with authorities and financial institutions, they should keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names and phone numbers.  Confirm conversations in writing.  Send correspondence by certified mail (return receipt requested).  Keep copies of all letters and documents.  

• Report the crime to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Provide them with as much documented evidence as possible.  Obtain a copy of the police report.  Obtain the telephone number of your fraud investigator and provide it to creditors and other who require verification of your case.

• Immediately contact the fraud units of the three credit reporting companies – Eperian (formerly TRW), Equifax and Trans Union.

• Eperian (formerly TRW)  PO Box 2104  Allen, TX  75103-2104.  Fraud #:  (800)525-7195.  Website:  www.eperian.com.

• Equifax  PO Box 105873  Atlanta, GA  30348.  Fraud#:  (800) 525-6285.  Website:  www.equifax.com

• Trans Union Corporation  PO Box 34012  Fullerton, CA  92834.  Fraud#:  (800)680-7289.  Website:  www.tuc.com.

• Contact all creditors immediately with whom your name has been used fraudulently – by phone and in writing.  Obtain replacement cards with new account numbers for those that have been fraudulently used.  Ask that old accounts be processed as "account closed at consumer's request."  Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills for evidence of new fraudulent activity.  Report such fraudulent activity immediately to credit grantors.

• If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the check verification companies.  Put stop payments on any outstanding checks you are unsure of.  Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers.

• If your ATM card has been stolen or compromised, obtain a new card, account number and password.  Do not use your old password.  When creating a password, don't use common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security number of your birth date.

• Social Security Number Misuse. Call the Social Security Administration to report fraudulent use of your social security number.  As a last resort, you might want to change your Social Security number.  The SSA will only change it if you fit their fraud victim criteria.  Order a copy of your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement and check it for accuracy.

• If you have a passport, notify the passport office in writing to be on the lookout for anyone ordering a new passport fraudulently.

Want to conquer fear and prevent crime? Take these common-sense precautions.

Be Alert When Out and About

• Go with friends or family, not alone.
• Carry your purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
• Don't carry credit cards you don't need or large amounts of cash.
• Use direct deposit for Social Security and other regular checks.
• Whether you're a passenger or driver, keep car doors locked. Be particularly alert in parking lots and garages. Park near an entrance.
• Sit close to the driver or near the exit while riding the bus, train, or subway.
• If someone or something makes you uneasy, trust your instincts and leave.

Make Your Home Safe and Secure

• Install good locks on doors and windows. Use them! Don't hide keys in mailboxes and planters or under doormats. Instead, leave an extra set of keys with a neighbor or friend.
• Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. If you are the least bit worried, call the company to verify.
• Be sure your street address number is large, clear of obstruction, and well-lighted so police and other emergency personnel can find your home quickly.
• Consider a home alarm system that provides monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies.

Watch Out for Con Artists

• Don't fall for anything that sounds too good to be true - a free vacation, sweepstakes prizes, cures for cancer and arthritis, a low-risk, high-yield investment scheme.
• Never give your credit card, phone card, Social Security, or bank account number to anyone over the phone. It's illegal for telemarketers to ask for these numbers to verify a prize or gift.
• Don't let anyone rush you into signing anything - an insurance policy, a sales agreement, a contract. Read it carefully and have someone you trust check it over.
• Beware of individuals claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.
• If you're suspicious, check it out with the Joliet Police Department by email or phone at 724-3100, the Better Business Bureau, or local consumer protection office. Call the National Consumers League Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060.

Get Involved in the Community

• Report any crime or suspicious activities to law enforcement.
• Form a neighborhood watch to look out for each other and help the police.
• Work to change conditions that hurt your neighborhood. Volunteer as a citizen patroller, tutor for children, office aide in the police or fire departments, mentor for teens, escort for individuals with disabilities.

Vehicle theft is fast becoming a serious problem in Illinois, with an estimated 62,000 vehicles stolen each year. However, a recent survey of Illinois motorists revealed that nearly 90 percent of Illinois drivers do not believe that car theft can affect them. In fact, Illinois ranks seventh among states in the highest number of car thefts. These thefts end up costing Illinois residents almost $1 million a day!  Not only are stolen cars sold to others, but they are often used to commit other crimes. It is important to remember that older cars are stolen as frequently as newer ones.

YOU can prevent car theft by following a few simple guidelines: