Although our area is one of the safest in Pennsylvania, we need to always stay vigilant. Safety experts agree the single most important factor in surviving a criminal attack is to have a personal safety strategy in place before it is needed.
Home Security
- Good lighting both inside and outside of the house is crucial. Bright motion lights on the exterior of your property are great deterrents. Thieves do not like lights!
- Keep your windows free of shrubs, trees and plants that can be used to conceal an intruder from breaking into your house via the windows.
- When setting up your new electronics, do not advertise to the perpetrators patrolling your neighborhood by just leaving the empty boxes outside. Instead, turn the boxes inside out, break them down into smaller pieces and put them out with the recyclables.
- Make sure all of your doors are secure and not an easy point of entry. Front and rear doors, garage doors, sliding glass doors and even pet doors need to be secure.
- Alarms: Anything is better than nothing.
- Stop your mail when you are away.
- Do not advertise on social media platforms about going away. This alerts the would-be burglars that you won’t be home. Instead, post all your pictures once you return.
Vehicle Security
Recently, there’s be a huge increase in thefts of Catalytic Converters because of the value of platinum. Vehicles parked in both residential and commercial lots are at risk. It can take thieves just two minutes and fifty seconds from start to finish.
- Always lock your car doors after entering or leaving your vehicle.
- Park in well-lighted areas.
- Have your car keys in your hand so you do not have to linger before entering your car.
- Check the interior of your vehicle for intruders before entering your car.
- If you think you are being followed, drive to a public place or a police department.
Personal Safety
- Practice good safety habits.
- Walk in pairs.
- Park near lighted areas of the parking lots when possible.
- Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
- Always act calm and confident like you know where you are going.
- Take a personal safety course.
- Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys where someone could hide.
- Do not respond to conversation from strangers on the street, continue walking.
Personal Protection Equipment (there are pros and cons to each of these)
- Keys
- Mace / Pepper Spray
- Personal Panic Alarm
- Knife
- Taser
- Firearm
Phone Apps for Personal Safety
- bSafe https://www.techsafety.org/bsafe
- NOONLIGHT https://www.noonlight.com
- Lively https://www.lively.com/services-apps/lively-lin