PROTECTING YOUR HOME

1. LOCK YOUR DOORS!!!!! It is truly amazing (and disturbing) how many residents do not lock the doors and windows of their homes and automobiles. Burglars love unlocked doors. Please don’t invite a burglar into your house or auto by leaving the doors unlocked.

2. Lock Your Doors - Part 2. Don’t forget to also lock the door leading from your garage into the main portion of your house. Your automatic garage door opener is NOT a good form of security.

3. Protect sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a long piece of wood in the tracks. Install spacers between the top of each door and the frame to prevent the door from being lifted off it’s track. The police department can show you how; see Tip #9 below.

4. Use timers on lights, radios and television sets to make your home appear occupied even if you’re away.

5. Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Ask a relative or trusted neighbor to collect your mail, newspapers, and other deliveries. Also, a car parked in a driveway (again, ask a neighbor) is an excellent way to make your home appear occupied.

6. Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.

7. Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Floodlights that illuminate potential break-in points (doors and windows), as well as low voltage outdoor lighting, are effective ways of discouraging burglars.

8. Never leave a message on your answering machine telling callers that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.

9. Call the Cape Coral Police Department to arrange for a free security survey of your premises. The department’s six District Resource Coordinators (DRC) are certified Crime Prevention Practitioners. They can evaluate the state of your home’s security and make recommendations for improvements. Call 242-3351 to speak to a DRC.

10. Get involved in your community by joining Neighborhood Watch. Call 573-3048 for more information.

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PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS

1. Lock up! Make sure your business premises are secure before closing up for the night. Don’t forget windows, rear doors, and attics/rooftop access.

2. Lock your safe!

3. Use the highest quality door locks you can afford. Dead-bolt locks are the best type.

4. Use hardened steel doorframes; in conjunction with dead bolt locks, these resist prying better than weak wooden doorframes.

5. Windows and glass doors are prime targets for after-hours business burglars. Consider shatter-proof glass for these vulnerable entry points.

6. Leave the lights on even when your business is closed. No burglar wants to attract attention by being seen in a well-lighted office or store after hours.

7. At the end of the day, if you have a cash register, empty the contents into a safe and leave the drawer open in plain sight. If a thief sees there is no cash in the register, he may choose to go elsewhere.

8. Keep the outside of your business well lit at all times. Perimeter lights, particularly in alleyways or other low visibility areas, may scare off potential burglars.

9. Call the Cape Coral Police Department to arrange for a free security survey of your business premises. The department’s six District Resource Coordinators (DRC) are certified Crime Prevention Practitioners. They can evaluate the state of your business’ security and make recommendations for improvements. Call 242-3351 to speak to a DRC.

10. Get involved – report suspicious persons or activity to the police department. Call 574-3223.

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PROTECING YOURSELF

1. Always be aware of your surroundings; pay attention to those around you.

2. Don’t park in remote corners of parking lots, especially at night.

3. If you think you are being followed as you walk to your car, go back to where you came from or go to a well-lighted area where there are other people present. If you are shopping, notify store personnel of your situation and ask them to call the police.

4. If you think you are being followed while driving home, do not go home; if you have a cell phone, call the police – in Cape Coral the number is 574-3223. Or drive to a well-lighted, well-populated area.

5. Don’t flash large amounts of cash when shopping.

6. If you get lost while driving, don’t stop to ask a stranger for directions; look instead for an open business, or a police or fire station.

7. Ladies, never leave your purse unattended in the cart when grocery shopping.

8. If you are attacked, scream “FIRE! FIRE!”

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CON GAMES AND SCAMS

Residents should beware of scam artists and con men (and women). These criminals prey on innocent victims, frequently the elderly, with a variety of tactics. They may pose as salesmen, repairmen, bank examiners, government officials, charity workers, even clergymen or police officers.

Con artists are difficult to detect by looks alone, but they can often be spotted by their words or expressions. Watch out for offers, arrangements, and deals that involve the following:

1. “Cash Only” -- Why is cash necessary? Why not a check?

2. “Last Chance” -- If it’s worth it, why is this the last chance?

3. “Secret Plans” -- Why are you being asked to keep it a secret?

4. “Get Rich Quick” -- Any scheme of this type should be thoroughly investigated.

5. “Something for Nothing” -- Any time you are offered something for nothing, you usually end up with nothing.

6. “Contests and Sweepstakes” -- Beware if you are required to pay money to enter or to receive your “prize.”

7. “Today Only” -- If it’s such a good deal today, then why not tomorrow?

8. “Too Good to Be True” -- Such a scheme is likely neither “good” nor “true.”

To report a scam, Cape Coral residents should call the police department at 574-3223.

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BICYCLE SAFETY

Safety Tips for Motorists

1. Motorists are urged to be extra-alert for bicycles and bicycle riders.

2. Police officers will be on the alert for bicycle violations.

3. Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of any other type of vehicle.

4. Any person operating a bicycle on a roadway must ride WITH the traffic and as close as practicable to the right-hand edge of the road.

5. An individual may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk, but must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

6. A bicycle rider or passenger under the age of 16 must wear a helmet.

7. Children under the age of 4, or weighing less than 40 pounds, must be secured in a child seat or carrier, and may not be left unattended on the bicycle.

8. Every bicycle in use between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with at least one front lamp and one rear reflector.

Safety Tips for Bicyclists

1. Remain seated at all times when operating your bicycle.

2. Do not carry more persons than the bicycle is designed or equipped to carry.

3. Regardless of your age, wear a helmet. If you are under 16, it’s the law.

4. Do not “hitch a ride” on the back of any motor vehicle.

5. Be alert for vehicular and pedestrian traffic at all times.

6. Use specially marked bicycle lanes when available.

7. Before riding, perform a safety check - ensure your bike has properly inflated tires, functioning brakes, a secure seat and handlebars, and correct installation of lights and reflectors.

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HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Halloween may be a fun time for kids, but for parents trick-or-treat time can cause some anxiety. Concerns about children’s safety can darken the day more quickly than a black cat. But not to worry -- you can make Halloween a treat for all by following these safety tips:

* Make sure children’s costumes are made of flame-retardant materials.

* Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.

* Try makeup instead of masks. Masks can be hot, uncomfortable, and may obstruct a child’s vision -- a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets or going up and down steps.

* Trick-or-treaters should stay in groups, and parents should always accompany young children.

* For older children, trick-or-treat with friends and visit only familiar homes or those where outside lights are on.

* Try to get your children to trick-or-treat while it’s still light out. If you must go after dark, carry a flashlight and stay on well-lighted streets.

* Make sure your kids know not to enter strange houses or strangers’ cars.

* Sometimes dressing up as a superhero, swashbuckling pirate, or space alien -- coupled with the excitement of Halloween -- can bring out aggressive behavior in children. Even fake knives, swords, guns, and other costume accessories can hurt people. If these objects are part of your child’s costume, make sure they are made of cardboard or other flexible materials. Better yet, challenge kids to create costumes that don’t need “weapons” to be scary and fun.

* Kids need to know not to eat any of their treats until they get home and before an adult examines them. Discourage on-the-go munching by feeding trick-or-treaters a meal or snack just before they go out on their rounds.

* Discard any treats not in their original, sealed wrapper.

* For a trick-or-treat alternative, consider organizing your own Halloween party at home, or attend one of the many “safe trick-or-treat” activities conducted by local organizations and businesses.

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PROTECTING YOUR MONEY -- TIPS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

• Do not participate in sweepstakes offers either by mail or over the phone, especially if there is an entry fee. The odds against winning are astronomical and many sweepstakes are scams and frauds.

• Never buy anything over the phone on the spur of the moment. Just say, “No thank you” and hang up.

• Before making investments or major purchases, ask family members and friends to recommend reputable firms.

• Don’t make a buying decision or investment based on emotion. Never let a salesperson convince you to “do it for the kids” or “do it for your grandchildren.”

• Beware of door-to-door sales people. Never invite them, or any other stranger, into your home.

• Never make a buying decision or investment at the time of the sales pitch. Count to three – wait three days before deciding.

• Before making a charitable contribution, ask for a written financial report from the organization.

• Get all estimates for repair work in writing. Before signing any contract, read and understand all terms and conditions, including the “fine print.”

• NEVER give personal or financial information to someone you don’t know. This includes your Social Security number, bank account numbers, driver license number, and credit card numbers.

• Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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IDENTITY THEFT -- MINIMIZE YOUR RISK

While you probably can’t prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information wisely, cautiously, and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft:

• Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others.

• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over you credit card account.

• Guard your mail from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up you mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777.

• Create passwords for your credit card, bank, and phone accounts.

• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you’ll actually need.

• Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, and over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know who you’re dealing with.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements your may be discarding, expired charge cards, and credit offers you get in the mail.

• Reveal your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.

• Don’t carry your Social Security card; keep it in a secure place.

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HOMEOWNER VACATION TIPS

When going on vacation or out-of-town for any reason:

• Don’t publicize vacations ahead of time when in public.

• Notify the police of your plans. They will keep an eye on your house when they are in the neighborhood.

• Stop deliveries of mail and newspapers or ask a friend to pick them up while you are gone.

• Arrange to have the lawn mowed.

• Leave information on where you can be contacted in an emergency with a trusted neighbor and ask him/her to keep an eye on the house.

• Give your house a lived-in appearance. A residence that presents a lived-in appearance is a deterrent to burglars.

• Have a neighbor occasionally use your garbage can.

• Put automatic timers on several lights and a radio. Set them so they will turn on and off at random times in different rooms –– especially the bathroom.

• Don’t leave lights on 24 hours a day.

• Leave drapes in a normal position to maintain a lived-in appearance.

• Have a neighbor park in your driveway or in front of your house.

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