Tip #1 - Home Burglaries:

• Keep all doors and windows locked, including overhead garage doors
• Make your home look occupied
• Adequate interior and exterior lighting
• Sturdy doors and locks
• Keep trees and bushes trimmed
• Have a security survey performed by a Troy Police Crime Prevention Officer

Tip #2 - Vacations:

• Have a trusted person watching the home (pick up papers, mail, cut grass or shovel snow)
• Set timers on interior lighting
• Leave a radio on inside, preferably on a talk station (voices in the house)
• Advise a trusted person or the Troy Police where you can be reached

Tip #3 - Thefts From Autos / Thefts Of Autos:

• Lock your doors
• Remove valuables from inside vehicle
• Park car in garage or illuminated area if possible
• In commercial areas, park car in well lit area
• Alarms and steering wheel locks work, but do not deter thieves when valuable items are visible inside your vehicle
• Replace your cigarette lighter after removing the power cord to your electronic equipment
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #4 - Shopper Safety (Holiday Season):

• Shop with another person (safety in numbers)
• Keep valuables (credit cards, ID, money) on your person, not in purse
• Park in well, lit area and pay attention to where you parked
• Do not accumulate excessive packages
• Be cautious of suspicious persons and vehicles
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #5 - Office Thefts:

• Take personal valuables home with you
• Remove laptop computers from premises, or store them in a locked desk or cabinet
• Report suspicious/unauthorized persons
• Record serial numbers of all office equipment
• Keep purses stored in locked desk or cabinet
• Contracted cleaning should be done during business hours (monitor cleaning crew)
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #6 - Business Burglaries:

• Sturdy doors and good locking devices
• Adequate interior and exterior lighting
• Lock plates and/or latch protectors to protect locking area
• Lock down devices to secure office equipment
• Security survey of your business site by a Troy Police Crime Prevention Officer
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #7 - Vandalism:

• Park vehicles in the garage or at least in the driveway if possible
• Have ample exterior lighting during hours of darkness
• Report all suspicious persons, vehicles, sounds, and activities immediately
• Organize neighborhood watches

Tip #8 - Gypsy Scams:

• If a deal sounds to good to be true-it probably is
• Attempt to confirm the credentials of repair persons/contractor, (ID cards, etc.)
• Do not pay in advance for work/repairs to be done
• Do not be pressured into having repairs/work done immediately
• Do not give personnel information to anyone over the phone (social security #, bank account #'s, driver's license #, etc.)
• Beware of strangers offering to share money/valuables
• Beware of any unusual requests from your bank (especially if it consists of withdrawing money from your account)
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #9 - Personal Safety Tips:

• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Attempt to do your activities with another person (shopping, jogging, walking to car, etc.)
• Do not open your door to anyone you are not comfortable with, (talk to them through the door)
• Car doors should be locked at all times
• Carry a phone in your car at all times for emergencies
• Maintain your vehicle (keep at least half of a tank of gas, and regular vehicle maintenance)
• Be aware of your environment; if you see suspicious persons or vehicles, report it to the police immediately

Tip #10 - Fraud:

• Do not give your social security number to anyone you have not verified and only when proven necessary
• Do not supply information by telephone to telephone solicitors. Supply information to tele-merchants only when necessary and after verifying their information
• Carry only those credit cards you plan to use immediately. Keep other cards and forms of identification in a secure place
• Sign the back of your credit card and mark it " see Michigan Drivers License with photo"
• Shred personal bills and statements, and unsolicited applications
• Review your personal credit history semi-annually.
• Contact Equifax at (888) 567-8688 and Experian at (800) 333-0809 to exempt your information from mailing lists
• Use extreme caution when supplying any credit related information over the computer

Tip #11 - Thefts (Larcenies):

• Do not leave anything of value unattended
• Close garage and storage shed doors when not in use, even when home
• Lock bicycles and mopeds with chain locks when unattended
• Keep bags, purses and wallets with you at all times when shopping