HomeCrime PreventionStaying Safe at Home
Burglars usually stay away from homes that have lots of light and sound coming from them. Burglars look for 3 basic things when choosing their target. They look for:
Since September 1998, telephone solicitors that use live callers, or automatic dial announcing, are now required to provide on all Caller I.D. units their company’s name and a working call-back; telephone number. Companies that do not provide this information can be fined $1,000 a day. If a telemarketer calls you without providing the company’s name and a working incoming call-back number on your Caller I.D. unit, try to get enough information about the company to file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission.
Public Utility Commission
Office of Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711
1-888-782-8477
Fax: 512-936-7003
e-mail: customer@puc.state.tx.us
Organize an initial meeting, set goals, plan strategy, post
signs, meet on a regular basis, plan and execute special "team"
building projects like a Neighborhood Clean-up day, neighborhood
barbecues and block parties, sport/game/hobby clubs. (Home
Owners Associations good place to start with this effort)
If
nothing in place, start with just your block, or part of the
street--get organized and active and then work to make it
grow.
Ask local law enforcement to attend your organizational
meeting.
(If your possessions are stolen, your TDL engraved on something and/or the serial numbers may be the only way to prove to law enforcement that the possessions really do belong to you, so you can recover them.)
(Someone breaking into your car will get a lot more if you have your home information and keys inside the vehicle.)