Crime Prevention

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• Crime Prevention
• at
• Christmas
• Presented By
• Lt. Earl Johnson
• Det. Michael Murphy
• Fayetteville State University Police Dept.

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While we may think of the Christmas season as a
time of
Everyone does not show Good Will during Christmas
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Crime during the Christmas season

• DECEMBER 2007 CRIME STATS
• Robbery
• Fayetteville PD 50
• Cumberland Co. SO 10
• MV Theft
• Fayetteville PD 72
• Cumberland Co. SO 20
• Burglary
• Fayetteville PD 273
• Cumberland Co. SO 124
• Larceny
• Fayetteville PD 624
• Cumberland Co. SO 243

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Crime Prevention Tips

• This presentation will provide
• some tips for safety while
• Using ATMs
• Shopping
• In Parking lots
• At Home

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Lets go Christmas shopping
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A safe way to use a teller machine

• When using an ATM machine, be alert and stay
  aware of the individuals around you
• Have your debit card out and ready for the
  transaction
• Try to limit the number of visits to the ATM
• Limit the amount of cash you are withdrawing
• Immediately place your withdrawal transaction
  into your pocket. Do not stand around counting
  your money
• Only use ATM machines that are in plain view of
  the public and only ATMS that are inside
  businesses.
• If you are having a problem making a withdrawal,
  immediately contact the business twenty-four
  hours hotline to ensure that someone has not
  tampered with the machine

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When not to use a teller machine

• Never use a ATM at night
• If you must use an ATM at night, survey the
  parking lot first. Drive through the parking lot
  searching for suspicious activity or subject
  lingering around or sitting in parked cars for no
  apparent reason.
• Trust your gut, if it doesnt look or feel right,
  leave

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ATM Robberies
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Holiday Christmas Shopping Crime Prevention tips

• When shopping, dont take on the physical
  appearance of a victim
• Criminals tend to prey on victims that gives the
  impression that they are an easy target.
• Remember body posture is extremely important, so
  keep your head up, and your shoulders back.
• Remember always make eye contact with everyone
  you encounter.
• Wear comfortable clothing when youre shopping.
  Leave the high heels at home.

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Holiday Christmas Shopping Crime Prevention Tips

• Most attacks will happen when you are alone and
  not alert.
• Carry very little cash with you, and only the
  credit cards you are going to use.
• Carry your cash and credit card in your inner
  jacket pocket.
• Remember if your are confronted by a robber, its
  just a property crime. Dont resist the
  assailant, comply with there demands and give the
  suspect your wallet or purse.

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Becoming a victim
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Holiday Christmas Shopping Crime Prevention Tips

• The most important thing to remember is to keep
  yourself safe.
• If you are a victim, report the incident as soon
  a possible.
• Remember immediately document the physical
  characteristics of the assailant. Race, gender,
  height, weight, hair color, facial hair, clothing
  description, type of weapon, vehicle description
  and direction of travel.

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Robbery suspect

• Remember if you make eye contact with all of your
  daily encounters, you will reduce your chances of
  becoming a victim. If you should become a victim
  report the crime immediately, and obtain a
  physical description of the assailant.
• Remember the police cannot do it alone, they need
  your help, so report all suspicious activity
  immediately.

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Where should I park?

• Drive through and scan the parking lot for
  suspicious behavior before parking your car.
• Never be in a hurry to park your vehicle.
• Only park your car in a well lit area / parking
  lot.
• Try parking your car as close to the business
  entrance point.
• Scan the parking lot and determine if the parking
  space that you have chosen will be lit when you
  return from your shopping trip.
• Make sure that all items that can be stolen are
  placed into the trunk of your car before you
  arrive at your shopping location.

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What should I be doing while Im walking to my
vehicle?

• When returning to your vehicle, stay alert and
  scan the area to see if someone is hiding inside,
  near or around your vehicle.
• Carry your car keys in your hand as youre
  walking to your vehicle.
• Never leave the business alone. Try to leave the
  business with other customers or in a group.
• Never stop and search through your purse or
  pockets for your keys while standing near your
  vehicle.
• Most cars today have an alarm systems and panic
  buttons attached to the key ring. If you notice
  suspicious activity as youre approaching your
  car, push the panic button and activate your
  alarm system. Try to draw attention to yourself
  and others.

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Where should I place my packages?

• When returning to you vehicle after your shopping
  trip, always place your packages in the trunk of
  your car.
• Never place your packages into the trunk of your
  car and return to the same business.
• If your are going to continue shopping, move your
  vehicle to a new location and start the process
  all over again.
• Remember if your car windows are tinted, you are
  more likely to become a victim of a vehicle
  break-in because they believe that you are hiding
  something.

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What can I do to protect my home from burglars?
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What is the first step for protecting my
property?

• Close and lock all doors and windows
• Close and lock garage doors
• Sliding doors should be locked
• and have locking pins or bars to
• prevent the door from being pried open
• Use deadbolt locks in addition to regular locks
• Do not hide keys outside of your home

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What about alarm systems?

• Use alarm systems with monitoring by the security
  company
• Use alarm systems which provides an audible alarm
  in your home
• Display signs indicating that
• your home is protected by an
• alarm system

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Is it a good idea to use signs?

• Place signs in your yard and decals on your
  doors and/or windows indicating that you
• - have an alarm system
• - have a dog
• - have your property marked
• (even if you really dont)

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Dont allow your home to look like an easy target.

• Keep shrubs/bushes trimmed so they do not cover
  doors and windows (They are good concealment for
  thieves.)
• Use outdoor lighting and
• lighting on motion sensors to
• light the area around your home
• Keep doors/windows and their casings
• in good repair

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What can I do before I leave home?

• Place lights, TVs, etc. on timers
• Leave a TV or radio on a talk channel
• Stop your mail and newspaper
• If you leave a car in your drive, have a trusted
  person move it on a regular basis

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Are there things that I can do to protect my
property?

• Record the make/model/serial number of valuable
  property
• Mark valuables with your drivers license number
  and state
• Request your local police department to provide a
  security check of your home while you are out of
  town

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Are there additional things that I can do?

• Perform a Home Security Survey using the Home
  Security Checklist available from the National
  Crime Prevention Council at http//www.ncpc.org/pu
  blications/brochures/home-safety/homechk2.pdf
• Request a security survey of your home from your
  local police department

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• MERRY
• CHRISTMAS
• From the
• Fayetteville State University Police Department