Crime Prevention Tips

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time. 
• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
• Push-button locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. 
• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security. 
• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory. Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars. 
• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately. 
• Mark your valuables with an engraver with your driver's license number. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover. 
• Consider installing a burglar alarm system.

Newport Police Department - (541)-574-3348