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Newport Beach Police Department
Tuesday December 1st, 2015 :: 09:36 a.m. PST

Community

'tis the season for thievin' - Crime Prevention Tips for the Holidays

As you begin to celebrate this holiday season, we would like to remind you that ‘tis the season for thievin’.  Consider adding the following crime prevention tips to your to do list.

At home for the holidays:

  • Always lock all doors and windows whenever you leave your home.  Burglars often operate during the day, so don’t forget to secure your home when you make a quick trip to the store or take the dog for a walk.
  • Use timers to turn on a radio and lights. Timers are not just for vacation time, but should be used daily to keep your home well-lit and to give the appearance that someone is there.
  • If you decorate a live tree, always turn off tree lights when you are away to prevent a fire.
  • Avoid displaying holiday gifts and other valuables in places where they will be easily seen from your windows or doors.
  • Always keep your porch lights on from dusk to dawn using photo cells and/or timers.

When you leave for dinner or to go out for the evening:

  • Consider leaving the TV on and calling out to a fictitious family member or roommate (who will “stay home”).  For example:
  • “Tom, don’t forget to let the dog out!”, or
  • “Make sure you take the casserole out of the oven when the timer goes off”, or
  • Any other statement that would imply (to anyone who might be watching your home) that someone is still inside while you are gone.
  • Call the police to report anything suspicious.  If you see an unfamiliar vehicle, suspicious person, or anything out of the ordinary when leaving your home, call NBPD’s non-emergency line at 949-644-3717.

When you go away for the holidays:

  • Have a trusted neighbor watch your home and pick-up your newspapers and mail.
  • Call the Newport Beach Police Department and request a FREE Vacation Check at 949-644-3681.
  • Don’t advertise that you are out of town on your phone message or social profile.
  • Secure your garage door with a vacation bolt or pad lock and disable the remote access.

The Newport Beach Police Department wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Address/Location
Newport Beach Police Department
870 Santa Barbara Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1

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