Be responsible, DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE! It is not worth the risk to the lives of others or yourself. Do not use any illegal drugs and report anyone you know who is. Alcohol is illegal for anyone under 21 years old to consume or possess. Do not furnish alcohol to minors or you will be charged with the maximum possible penalties. A minors maturity level is obvious when they use alcohol as often times it results in death or serious injury. Do not host under age drinking parties, as this is both illegal and immoral. Be a good role model and follow the law and help us save the lives of our youth from the destructive path of alcohol and drug abuse.

Always secure all doors and windows. Locks are only as good as their application. Leave adequate lights on for both the interior and exterior. Burglary alarms are a good augmentation to good physical security practices and should be considered for both the business and residential communities in areas that may warrant such a system. Call the Troy Police Crime Prevention Section to schedule a free security survey. A crime prevention officer will come out to your home or business and asses your current security measures and make any recommendations on actions you could take to better increase your security. Call Officer Harden at 248-524-3452.

Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle in plain view. Always lock your vehicle doors. Automobile thefts are on the rise and some simple steps can help prevent this:

• Park in a well lit well populated area.
• Lock your vehicles door and roll up the windows.
• Consider installing a steering wheel locking device like the club.

In the event that your vehicle is stolen call the Police right away. Make sure you know your plate number, the vehicle VIN number and the insurance information. It is not wise to leave your insurance and registration information in your vehicle while you are not driving, as these are legal documents that a thief would have access to.

Always keep your credit card, bank account numbers and social security number guarded. Use a shredder for all documents and do not throw information of a personal nature in the trash. Do not give personal information out over the phone. There are several scams going on in the area. A scam artist using official sounding formal titles that the citizen is unfamiliar with will call unsuspecting citizens. The scam is to get the citizen to give as much personal information as possible so the scammer can open fraudulent credit accounts. If you receive one of these calls try to get a number where the scammer is calling from, get as much information as you can from them and call the Police. Remember, if they are calling from the credit card company, they should already have your name, address, etc.

No reputable company EVER solicits personal information over the telephone!

If you see a suspicious incident call the Police.

Sexual predators are usually progressive, starting out with public exposure and leading to more risky and dangerous behaviors. You can check the state of Michigan registered sex offenders list at www.mipsor.state.mi.us for offenders that live in your area.