By Sarah Frierson
The holiday season should be nothing more than joyous and celebratory, but unfortunately this time of the year can present a few more challenges as we try to keep the neighborhood safe and sound. Here are a few safety reminders as we enter into December:
• Don’t leave valuables in your car. It will be tempting to leave gifts in your vehicle until you are ready to wrap them, but don’t. Same goes for the items that keep popping up on police reports from our neighborhood: laptops, purses, cell phones, etc. Take them with you.
• If you must leave purchases or items in your car as you are running errands, do not leave them in plain sight. (All together now: “Stow it. Don’t show it!”)
• Park in well-lit areas. If a light is out on your street, call 820-7878 to report it.
• Don’t forget to cut down boxes or packaging from new purchases before you put them out on the corner for garbage pickup. No reason to advertise the new goodies in your house.
• Leave your porch light on and consider a timer for interior lights if you are going to be out of town.
• Inspect your Christmas lights and other decorations for wear and tear. Turn off Christmas lights when you leave the house or go to bed or even if you leave the room for an extended period. If you have children or pets, be mindful of potential poisoning and choking hazards.
• If you travel during the holidays, put your house on vacation watch. The MPD can send a directed patrol by your house several times a day to check the property. Call the Crump Station desk at 636-4600. This service is a free and easy way to protect your home while you are away.
• If you need to report a robbery, burglary or theft, call 545-COPS. Police cannot combat crime if they don’t know about it.
• If you witness suspicious activity, call 911 immediately.
As always, keep an eye out for your neighbors. We are each other’s best security team. If you have concerns or ongoing problems, call the CYCA office at 272-CYCA. Have a safe and happy holiday!
