SAFETY TIPS
SENIOR
CITIZEN SAFETY
Safety
Tips:
- Always
keep your doors and windows locked. Install
deadbolt locks on all your doors.
- Keep
your home well lit at night, in and out, and keep your curtains closed at
night.
- Install
a peephole in your front door so you can see callers without opening he
door.
- Ask for
proper identification from deliverymen or strangers. Don’t be afraid of asking.
If they are legit, they won’t mind.
- If a
stranger asks to use your telephone, offer to place the call for him
yourself. Never let a stranger
into your home.
- Don’t
leave notes on your door when you are gone, and do not leave your keys under
the mat or in other conspicuous places.
- Never
give out information over the phone indicating you are alone or that you
won’t be home at a certain time.
- When
you are gone for more than a day, make sure your home looks and sounds
occupied. Use an automatic
timer to turn on lights and radio or television.
While
you are out…
- Carry
your purse very close to you. Also,
never leave your purse in a shopping cart.
- Don’t
carry any more cash than is necessary.
Many grocery stores accept checks and automatic teller cards instead
of cash.
- Avoid
walking alone at night. Try to
have a friend accompany you in high risk areas, even during the daytime.
- Do not
carry weapons. They may be used
against you.
- Have
your paychecks or government checks sent directly to you bank account.
Many banks have senior citizen discounts.
- Never
withdraw money from your bank accounts for anyone except yourself.
Be wary of con artists and get-rich schemes that are probably
to-good-to-be-true.
In
your car…
- Keep
your gas tank full and your engine properly maintained to avoid breakdowns.
- Always
lock your car doors and keep your windows rolled up., even when you are
occupying the vehicle. Driving
with the windows closed also improves gas mileage.
- Lock
packages and other valuables in the trunk.
Do not leave them on the back seat or on the floor of the car where
potential thieves can see them.
- When
you return to your car, always check the front and back seat before you get
in.
- Never
pick up hitchhikers.
- If your
car breaks down, pull over to the right as far as possible, raise the hood,
and wait inside the car for help. Do
not get out of the car or unroll the window until the police arrive.
If
you are a victim at home…
- If you
arrive at home and suspect that a stranger may be inside, DO NOT ENTER.
Leave quietly and call 911 to report the crime.
- If you
are attacked on the street, make as much noise as possible by calling for
help or blowing a whistle. Do
not pursue the attacker. Call
911 and report the crime as soon as possible.
- If you
have been swindled or conned, report the crime to the Public Safety Team.
Con artists count on their victim’s reluctance to admit they’ve
been conned, but if you delay, you help them get away.
Remember, if you never report the crime, they are free to cheat
others again and you have no chance of ever getting your money back.
CHILD
SAFETY
Safety
Tips:
- Never
leave your shopping cart unattended while your child is seated in it.
- Never
leave your child sitting in the car while you go into a store, no matter how
brief your visit might be.
- Don’t
let your child roam around alone in a store or mall.
- Prearrange
a meeting spot with your child in case you get separated in a public place
- If your
child disappears in a public place or store, immediately seek a security
guard, store manager, or clerk to notify them.
- Teach
your child to always check with parents or a guardian before going anywhere.
Your child should always tell you where he or she is going, how he or
she will get there, whom he or she will be going with and when he or she
will return.
- Instruct
your child to ask for permission from you before getting into a car or
leaving with anyone, even someone your child knows.
- If
accosted by a stranger, teach your child to shout, “This person is not my
father (or mother)”, or “Fire”. A
child who only struggles and yells may simply appear to be having a tantrum.
- Caution
your child to stay alert, walk confidently and pay attention to his or her
surroundings.
- Make
sure your child knows that he or she can’t tell what a person is like by
their appearance. Even though a
person looks friendly, they are still a stranger.
- Teach
your child that a stranger is anyone he or she doesn’t know.
- Instruct
your child to refuse a stranger’s request for help.
- A child
is more likely to go with someone who knows his or her name. Refrain from displaying your child’s name on clothing
or jewelry.
- Assemble
an identification packet for your child.
Include child’s height, weight, hair and eye color, dental records
and professional fingerprints, and recent pictures of your child in several
different positions. Take them
once a year for older children and for times a year of preschoolers.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
General
Crime Prevention Tips:
- Know
and avoid situations and locations that could invite crime, such as dark
alleyways and unlit parking lots.
- Decide
what you plan to do in the event you are confronted.
Alternatives include showing confidence, screaming, or fighting back.
- Consider
all your options in these situations and practice your responses often so
that you can recall them in a real situation.
Home
Security Tips:
- Have
peepholes installed in your doors. Make
sure you have the proper locks on doors and windows and use them while you
are at home as well as when you are out.
- Never
open the door for a stranger. Always
demand verification of the stranger’s identity and the purpose of the
visit.
- Never
tell a stranger calling by phone that you are alone or that you are
disabled.
- Plane
an avenue of escape from each room in your residence to use in case of
emergency, such as break-ins or disasters.
Consumer
Protection Tips:
- Always
ask for identification form all solicitors and call their agency for
verification.
- Don’t
commit yourself to purchase or charitable donations over the phone.
Ask the caller to mail the information to you so you can make an
informed decision. If you are not familiar with the company or
organization, consult the State Department of Consumer Affairs or the Better
Business Bureau.
- Be sure
to read and understand all contracts before you sign them. If your sight is impaired, have someone you trust read
the entire document to you.
- Beware
of anyone who is offering products or services at a “once in a lifetime”
offer.
- Consider
having your checks mailed directly to your bank to avoid mail theft or
robbery.
Travel
Safety:
- Whenever
possible, travel with someone you know.
There is safety in numbers.
- Leave
your plans with family members or friends, including your ultimate
destination and estimated time of return.
- When
waiting for buses, trains, or any other means of public transportation, wait
in a centralized location near other passengers.
- When
riding the bus, sit as close to the driver as possible, particularly during
late hours.
- Keep
your handbags and packages on your lap instead of the floor or the seat next
to you.
- Consider
using traveler’s checks instead of carrying cash.
- Be
aware of those around you, particularly when exiting a bus or train.
- If you
have a speech or hearing impairment, always carry a card of communication
symbols.
Vehicle
Burglary Prevention Tips:
- Always
secure your vehicle by rolling up the windows, locking the car, parking
in the driveway, garage or well-lit areas, and possibly investing in an
anti-theft device.
- Never
leave keys or valuables, such as cell phones, laptops, purses, or money
in plain view. Either take your valuable with you or secure them in the
trunk.
- Never
leave running vehicles unattended even for a few seconds.
- Be
aware, alert and active. Always report suspicious or unusual activity to
the La Mirada Community Sherriff's Station.
If
you become the victim of a crime:
- Get
help immediately by calling the Public Safety team, a doctor, a friend, or a
relative.
- Try to
remember as many details about the person or vehicles involved as possible,
such as clothing, hair color, identifiable mark, make and model of the
vehicle, color of the vehicle, license plate number, and any identifiable
features of the vehicle.
- Do not
destroy any possible evidence.