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KEYSTONE TIP
The effectiveness of your local police department's crime prevention
efforts can be greatly enhanced when private citizens, like you,
your family and your neighbors, take an active part. This can be
through activities as formal as a neighborhood watch program, or
as casual as just periodically looking out your windows.
By calling to report suspicious
persons or activities, you not only aid the police, you make your
community a safer place to live. Often, many people see things happening
that register as "odd" in the back of their mind, but
at a conscious level, they're much too busy doing something else
to stop, analyze and react to what they've seen.
Others may see suspicious
activity, but hesitate to call officials for fear of being labeled
a "busy body". Still others make the assumption that someone
else will call.
Basically, anything that
seems even slightly "out of place", or is occurring at
an unusual time of day or night, could be criminal activity. Here
are some of the most obvious things to watch for and report:
- A stranger entering
your neighbor's house when it's unoccupied.
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- A scream heard anywhere
may mean a robbery or assault is taking place.
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- Offers of merchandise
at ridiculously low prices could mean stolen property.
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- Anyone removing accessories,
license plates or gasoline from a vehicle.
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- Anyone walking up or
down the street peering into parked cars.
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- People entering or
leaving a business well after regular business hours.
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- The sound of breaking
glass or loud explosive noises.
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- Individuals loitering
around schools, parks or secluded areas.
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- Individuals loitering
in the neighborhood who do not live there.
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- Anyone using force
to enter a vehicle, residence or business.
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Not every stranger in your
neighborhood is going to be a criminal. There are many perfectly
legitimate door-to-door sales people, as well as repair and service
technicians and trades people who do have legitimate business around
our neighborhoods. Just remember, criminals take advantage of this
by often assuming the guise of a legitimate business representative.
- Always ask for and
carefully check the identification of all solicitors, meter
readers, and repairmen prior to allowing them entry into
your home. If there is ever any doubt, lock your door and
call the business or utility for verification. Be suspicious
of alleged delivery people with a wrong address, or anyone
asking if someone else lives at your address.
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- Be suspicious of anyone
going door-to-door in your neighborhood. Watch them carefully,
and if your notice that they try the door to see if it is
locked, look into windows, or go into alleyways or backyards,
report it to the police immediately.
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- Be suspicious of anyone
casually walking through the neighborhood looking into vehicles,
backyards, etc. Be suspicious of anyone running, particularly
if he or she is carrying something of value. Be suspicious
of people carrying property at unusual hours and in unusual
places.
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- Be suspicious of any
vehicle moving slowly and without their headlights on, if
dark, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive.
That includes your neighborhood and areas around schools,
parks and playgrounds.
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- Be suspicious of apparent
business transactions conducted from a vehicle. Be suspicious
of persons being forced into a vehicle. Be suspicious of
any abandoned vehicle that appears in your neighborhood.
And, be suspicious if you see a flashlight beam inside a
neighbor's home, especially if they are away.
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Many of these situations
could have innocent explanations. But any law enforcement officer
will tell you he or she would rather investigate 20 potential criminal
situations that prove harmless than be called to one when it's too
late. Your call could save a life, prevent an injury, or stop a
criminal act.
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