Crime Prevention Safety Tips
At home

1. Get to know your neighbors. Check on each other daily.
2. Report suspicious activities in your neighborhood.
3. Let a trusted neighbor or friend and the police know when you will be out of town so they can keep on eye on your home for you.
4. Use common-sense security precautions at home. Put your lights on a timer or leave several lights on in different parts of the home whom you are out. Leave your T.V. or radio on a talk show. Stop mail and newspaper delivery or have someone pick deliveries up for you. Leave things looking as normal as possible
5. Lock up! light up! criminals do not like light. You cannot burglar- proof your home, but you can make if burglar-resistant.
6. If someone comes to your door, ask him to identify himself before you let him in, If it is a service person you are not expecting, look up the number of the business and call for verification.
7. Do not put an address on your keys. Leave an extra key with a friend or relative; don't hide it in a "safe" place around your home.
8. Engrave your driver's license or state identification number on valuables, if feasible. Keep a List of important serial numbers in a sale place.
9. If you think someone has broken into your house while you were away, don't go in. Call the police from a neighbor's home. Let the police go in and check the home for you.

Personal

1. Do not keep large amount of cash in your wallet or at home. Carry only necessary cash.
2. Women, carry your purse under your arm close to your body. Men, do not carry your wallet in your back pocket or anywhere else if can be easily pickpocket ed.
3. Walk confidently with your head up. Make eye contact. Let people know that you see them.
4. Try to shop during the day. If you must shop at night, try not to so alone. Do not carry more packages than you can handle and be sure you can see over them.
5. When shopping, place already purchased items in the trunk your vehicle. If your vehicle has no trunk, make a special trip home to drop off your purchases.
6. If you use public transportation, try to sit near the driver
7. If accosted by someone demanding your wallet or your money, hand it over. Your safety is more important than your money,
8. If you are attacked or assaulted, try to remember what your attacker looked like, what he said, whether he was in a vehicle or on foot and his direction of travel following the attack.  Call the police immediately.
9. Contact your local victim's assistance agency.  Ours is administered through the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department.

General

1. The #1 security hazard is APATHY.  Train yourself to be alert and aware at all times.
2. Arrange for checks to be direct-deposited rather than sent to your through the mail.
3. Don't sign a check or contract without knowing and understanding the terms and details involved in the agreement.
4. Beware of "get rich quick" schemes.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Check with the police or the Better Business Bureau if you are unsure of whether someone is legitimate or not.

Vehicle

1. When you are out after dark, try to park in a well-lighted areas.
2. Do not leave valuables visible inside your vehicle.
3. Keep your vehicle well-maintained with a full tank of gas.
4. Keep windows closed and doors locked, even if you are only going for a short drive or getting out of your vehicle for a "minute".
5. As your approach you vehicle, have your keys ready.  Glance under your vehicle as you walk toward it.  Glance inside before unlocking it.
6. As your approach you vehicle, have your keys ready.  Glance under your vehicle as you walk toward it.  Glance inside before unlocking it.
7. If you think you are being followed, drive to a safe place; the police station, a convenience store, a gas station, etc. DO NOT panic and DO NOT lead someone to your home.
8. If you have car trouble and are stranded, put your flashers on and your hood up.  Keep your windows up and your doors locked.  If a stranger approaches, roll your window down just enough to tell the person to call the police.  If you have a placard indicating you need help, put it in your vehicle where it can be seen by passing motorists.

Fire Prevention Checklist

Smoke detectors

Test the batteries monthly. A battery- powered smoke detector can only save lives if its batteries are working. Put new batteries in every six months and get in the habit of changing your batteries when you change your clocks.
.Test the smoke detectors, too. Make sure yours are still in good working condition. Replace any that are 10 years old or older.
Regularly vacuum smoke detectors to ensure they don't get clogged with cobwebs or dust.
Place at least one working smoke detector on every level of your home, and in every area where people sleep.

Fire Extinguishers

Keep fire extinguishers handy.
Multi-purpose dry chemical extinguishers work well on wood, grease, other flammable liquid and electrical fires.
Make sure there is at least one extinguisher on each floor of your house, particularly in or near the kitchen, garage, laundry room and workshop.
Have every adult in the household read the extinguisher instruction manual so they know how to use it properly.
Periodically inspect your extinguishers to determine if they need to be recharged or replaced.

Fireplaces

Clean your fireplace regularly and have the chimney cleaned and inspected every year.
Use a screen around the fireplace to protect your home from popping embers.
Extinguish the fire before you go to sleep.
Place embers in a closed metal container on a fire-proof surface.
Never start a fire or try to revive one with gasoline or other flammable liquids.
Trim tree branches back at least 10 feet from your chimney.

Electricity

Have a professional electrician check for faulty wiring, especially if you're moving into an older home. Be certain your wiring is professional and can handle today's sophisticated electrical needs.
Never use an electric appliance for anything other than its intended use. Hair dryers aren't meant to dry clothing, and ovens aren't intended to heat your home.
Unplug all counter-top appliances when not in use, including toasters, space heaters, coffee makers and irons. When plugged into an outlet, all appliances still have dangerous electrical voltages inside of them -- even when they're turned off.
Keep appliances and their cords away from water. If an appliance falls into the water, don't retrieve it until you've unplugged the appliance. Don't use the product again until you've had it inspected and repaired by a qualified technician. Water conducts electricity, so water-damaged products can give you a lethal electric shock.
Replace light bulbs with bulbs of equal or lower wattage than that recommended by the manufacturer. Using bulbs of higher than recommended wattage can cause the lamp or fixture to overheat and start a fire.

Space Heaters

Never add fuel to a portable heater that is turned on or still hot; the fuel could explode into flame.
Never run the heater's cord under a carpet, rug or furniture. This could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
Keep flammable materials -- including bedding, clothing, draperies, rugs and furniture -- at least three feet away from the heater, even if your space heater has safety features such as cut-off switches or heating element guards.
Don't use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised, and might poke fingers or other objects through the heater's protective guards. Even the slightest contact with a heating coil or element can cause a severe shock, burn or fire.
Never leave space heaters on while you're sleeping.

Wood or Coal Burning Stoves

Check your stove pipes and chimney regularly for creosote build-up. Shiny creosote deposits look like black paint, and are an indication that your wood stove is not working properly.
Burn seasoned wood to minimize creosote build-up. Wood stored in the spring will be seasoned and ready to burn in the fall, although a longer storage time is preferable.
Don't overload the stove with wood. This can cause the wood to smolder, and produces excessive creosote build-up.
Keep combustibles away from the stove.
Keep a dry chemical fire extinguisher on hand in the event of a chimney fire. Close the damper and air inlet immediately, then call the fire department.
Don't connect a wood stove to a fireplace chimney unless the chimney has been properly sealed around the stovepipe. Don't connect more than one stove to a chimney.
Check heating equipment regularly for rusted parts and insecure mountings.
Keep furnace clear of all combustible materials.
Install a ceiling of fire-resistive materials such as fire drywall or fire-resistant acoustic tile, especially if heating equipment is in a basement that is often in use.