Crime Prevention is everybody’s job! There are many ways that crime around neighborhoods and businesses can be prevented; however, it takes the proper methods of crime prevention to ensure that the likelihood of crime is substantially lowered.
Crime prevention is the anticipation, recognition, and the initiation of action to remove or reduce crime. Prevention may take place at any given time and any given location, due to the fact that crime is not centralized in one area. Public awareness is one of the most important strategies out there for reducing crime. The more aware the people are around you, the more “eyes” you have looking out for your well being. A neighborhood watch program can be developed, or a business watch program can be implemented by neighboring businesses.
The fact of the matter is that crime prevention works. It is cheaper, it is safer, and better for the communities to prevent crime than to have to treat their victims, deal with the perpetrators, and lose productivity.
In an effort to reduce crime, please read the following crime prevention tips.
Inside your home
Outside your home
More home safety
Most victims of contact crime, whether it be a robbery or an assault, will tell you that they had the suspicion that something was not right moments before the crime occurred. Personal safety is not something we should practice in those moments. It is a lifestyle change to make you a harder target to criminals. Pettis County Crime Stoppers would like to offer you the following tips to help ensure your personal safety.
As always, if you see something suspicious do not hesitate to call the police. They are here to help us.
Pettis County Stoppers celebrates the practice of crime prevention, while promoting awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism, and creating safer, more caring communities. Our goal is to create a safe place to live, work, and play. Below we have including tips to help keep you safe in your vehicle.
Safety in the Car
Identity Theft is Booming
This rather broad topic takes in any number of privacy crimes, including theft of a Social Security number, a credit or debit card, or even the pilfering of phone calling cards. The numbers associated with identity theft are beginning to add up fast. A recent General Accounting Office report estimates that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year. And that number may be low, as many people choose not to report the crime or even know they’ve been victimized.
How It Can Happen
Officials say much of Identity Theft still comes down to hands-on mischief – things like ‘Dumpster diving,’ and ‘shoulder surfing.’ Officials also acknowledge that the Internet has opened avenues for theft. If nothing else, the Internet allows thieves to send stolen data to almost any worldwide location. One popular scam involves fake mortgage brokers and still another uses email in which the sender poses as an Internet service provider asking for information.
A Social Security card can also reap long-term fraudulent benefits. Virgil Gardaya, a corporate vice president with the credit bureau Equifax, notes that a stolen wallet containing a Social Security card lets a criminal quickly set up dummy bank and savings accounts. The very presence of the account may prompt the bank to give the criminal a credit card. From there, the con artist may waste little time maxing out the card, or take a bit more time and build up the card’s buying power. That can mean fraudulent purchases as pricey as cars and boats.
Simple Ways To Protect Yourself
There’s no ironclad protection that guarantees that you’ll never fall victim to some form of identity theft. But there are steps you can take to shield your privacy.
Remember to avoid S.C.A.M.s:
S: Be STINGY with your personal information. Don’t give out your Social Security number, bank account information or other personal or financial information to unknown persons or companies.
C: CHECK your financial information regularly. Most banks now offer online banking where you can monitor your account activity daily. Carefully review your monthly bank and credit card statements for unknown purchases or transactions.
A: ASK annually for a free copy of your credit report. Carefully review your report for inaccuracies.
M: MAIL THEFT is common. Consider purchasing a locking mailbox and placing outgoing mail in the secured boxes at the post office
Some Extra Tips To Help Protect Yourself
Pettis County Crime Stoppers celebrates the practice of crime prevention, while promoting awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism, and creating safer, more caring communities.
Local emergency room hospital staff will tell you that they see gun shots wounds almost every day. Ranging from crime related shootings to self-inflicted. The worst type to see is an accidental wound that could have been prevented. The following simple tips will help you with options for safe gun storage.
Trigger Locks – simple and affordable option for preventing a gun from being loaded or fired by an unauthorized user. Most new guns are now sold with trigger lock right in the box.
Gun Cases – available at local sporting goods stores in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and material options. Prices range from $10-$150 dollars. The primary role of this kind of affordable carry case is to protect one or more firearms from physical damage.
Strong Boxes and Security Cases – represents an effort by manufactures to provide gun owners with the anti-theft and gun-finish protection features of a locking gun. Prices vary greatly, anywhere from less than $50 to more than $300 based on the level of technology incorporated into the system.
Gun Safes – the most secure gun storage option available to the average gun owner. A basic, no frills safe is superior to any other storage options discussed so far in preventing unauthorized access to firearms. Prices vary from $500 to more than $2,500.
If a child should encounter a firearm in an unsupervised setting they should remember – “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.” This message is simple, easy to remember and fun for kids to learn.