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.

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