The West Chester Police Department encourages all to be mindful of their surroundings and take precautions so they don’t become a victim of crime. A few important reminders:

• Never leave any of your possessions in plain view inside your car, whether in a store parking lot or at home. This is especially true for laptops, cell phones, and iPods. Thieves will break into your car for as little as the loose change in your cup holder.
• Lock your car.
• Park your vehicle inside your garage if possible.
• When parking outside, park your car in site of the roadway. This way, neighbors and the police, when in the area, can see if your car looks disturbed.
• Install timers or motion sensors to turn lights on when you’re not home or when you’re asleep.
• If you notice anything unusual, call the police. Use 9-1-1 for emergencies or 513-777-2231 (West Chester, OH) for non-emergencies. It may not seem like much, but some things are more than what they appear. Information from alert citizens often leads to arrests.
• Call if you see anyone who you think is suspicious.
• Call when you hear unusual noises outside during the night.
• Call if you see people walking behind buildings.
• Call if you see people walking around vehicles and looking into car windows.
• Report all break-ins, even if you think nothing of value was taken.
• Before leaving your place of work or a store, have your keys in hand and be aware of your surroundings.
• When at home, keep the garage door closed and doors locked to keep intruders out and when leaving home make sure all doors and windows are locked, garage door is closed, no valuables are visible and blinds are drawn.
• Leave a light on in your house at all times and if going out of town ask a neighbor to keep a “lookout”, stop mail and newspaper deliveries. Register with police for an unoccupied home check.
• Be skeptical of contact with new charitable organizations and solicitations by e-mail or phone. Do research before making contributions.
• If purchasing online, use a credit card with a low spending limit to reduce risk and make sure the business is reputable.
• Be mindful of what you put out at the curb for trash pick-up. A pile of boxes from new electronics invites criminal activity. Take these boxes to West Chester recycling sites instead.

http://www.westchesteroh.org/eNews.cfm