Summer Safety Tips

by Jim Neuenfeldt, Cottage Grove Crime Board Member

Summer is finally here and you can open your windows, let in the fresh summer air, do yard work, enjoy walks, ride bikes; overall, more activities outside the home. The kids are out of school which means more outside activities and more free time for them too. However, from a police perspective it can also mean an increase in curfew violations, thefts from garages, vehicles and homes. From a criminal’s viewpoint summer can be an open door of opportunities.

The following safety tips can hopefully help you have a crime free summer.

At Home

If you are out doing yard work and no one is in the house, lock the door to the opposite side of the house you are working. If you are in the back yard, lock the front door and vice versa. It only takes seconds for someone to enter your home and remove valuables.
Do not leave keys in hiding places. Thieves will find them.
Screens do not keep intruders out. At night and when you are away close and lock the windows on the first floor.
At night close and lock your garage and shed doors. It only takes seconds for someone to enter and remove items.
Have a well-lit yard. Light areas in which an intruder may hide.
If applicable, have an alarm system installed.
Chain bicycles to stationary objects when unattended when you are away and at home. (Many bikes are taken from garages or left in the yard.)

The Car

Park you vehicle in a well illuminated area.
Keep valuables out of plain sight. Remove credit cards, cell phones, computers, cameras, purses, etc. If you cannot replace an item, do not leave it anywhere in your vehicle.
Don’t leave spare keys in or on the vehicle. A good thief will know the hiding places. Keep a spare key in your wallet or purse.

Suspicious People

Insist on seeing identification from sales and service people.
Avoid confrontations with criminals. It is better to get their description, vehicle description and/or license number and contact your local police.
If you see something or someone suspicious, call the police—911 – as it is happening. Try to obtain and give police as much information as possible.

Tips, Reminders for Parents

Know where your children are.
Know their friends and keep a list of their phone numbers.
Ask your child what they are going to do and if they will be supervised. If they are not sure, call the friend‘s parents. Pay attention to sleepovers, you’d be surprised at the times everyone says they are sleeping at Johnny’s and no one is at Johnny’s including Johnny.
Discuss and set limits with your children regarding where they can go, who they are with and curfew.
Choose a safe house in your neighborhood. Pick a neighbor or safe places where your children can go if they need help.
Check with your local police for curfew laws (city laws vary).

The most important fact to remember is that no community is immune to crime, so take action as an individual or as a neighborhood to prevent crime. Have a Neighborhood Watch Program in place. If you do not have a Neighborhood Watch Group, start one.

For more information about the Neighborhood Crime Watch program, please click here or call Diane McCabe at (651) 458-6053.

How to Protect Your Home from Vandals
By Troy Meduna, Cottage Grove Crime Board Member

Vandalism is a criminal act against property. More specifically it is willfully damaging or defacing property belonging to another person or to the public. People who own property that is damaged or destroyed by vandals see red- red rage from anger and red ink from lost dollars to repair or replace the damage.

The first step in preventing the crime is to understand the crime. Vandalism most often occurs in the evening hours when few people are around and during the summer and fall. Vandals usually choose buildings where the design and the lighting offer concealment. They also commonly choose areas frequented by young people such as schools, parks, shopping plazas and public buildings. They want others to see the finished product when they are done.

Like most crimes, a vandal has three natural enemies, noise, visibility and time. If a criminal has a good chance of being heard, has a good chance of being seen while committing the act, or does not have enough time to vandalize property and get away, there is less chance the vandalism will take place.

Have you seen the walls of businesses or street signs that have been spray painted or “tagged”? Have you seen damaged play equipment at the park? Have you ever had your mailbox smashed? Have you ever had your tires slashed? Have you ever had the windows of your car smashed? Have you ever had your landscaping torn up? How would it make you feel if someone did vandalize your property?

Destroying someone else’s property isn’t funny. Cities, schools and businesses have to spend a considerable amount of money to repair and replace damaged caused from vandals. When the city has to replace signs, when schools have to replace damaged windows, when businesses have to continually paint over writing on walls, this costs all of us. Taxpayers end up paying in the end. The city raises taxes; schools supply less and charge more for school activities, and businesses raise prices.