Full Notification

Don’t forget to set clocks ahead one hour tonight as Daylight Saving Time starts. Area fire departments encourage changing smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries when you adjust clocks. This is also a good time to think about home security issues as the weather gets warmer and criminals tend to become more active.

-Check door and window locks. Doors should be equipped with deadbolt locks that extend at least one inch into the door frame. Make sure to lock doors and windows, including locking sheds and garages, even when you are home, visiting a neighbor, or outside working. Use a metal pipe or thick wooden rod on sliding glass doors. Don’t hide a house key outside the door as thieves know the usual places to locate these.

-Replace or install exterior lighting. Burglars are often deterred by outside lights since it exposes their activities. Motion detector lights are a good option.

-Trim back shrubs and bushes. Large outdoor plants provide hiding places for thieves as they approach a residence so keep shrubbery trimmed.

-Keep vehicles in the garage. Cars and trucks left outside make tempting targets for thieves, especially when the vehicles are left unlocked or when valuables are easily seen in the passenger compartment. If a vehicle must be left outside, park in the driveway, lock the car, and leave lights on around it. Don’t leave garage door openers in vehicles parked outside.

-When leaving on vacation, make sure your home looks occupied. Consider putting lights as well as a TV or radio on a timer, have mail and papers held, arrange for someone to mow the yard, and have neighbors or friends check on the house.

-Consider installing a home security system. If you have one, please use it. Dogs can make effective deterrents as well.

-Do a home audit of your valuables. Write down make, model, and serial number of electronics, firearms, and other items, photograph jewelry and valuables, and document your possessions. Store this information in a safe place. The possibility of tracking stolen items increases with this information available to law enforcement.

-Think like a thief. Put yourself in the place of a burglar and then walk around and through your house to see how you can improve safety and security.

-On the roads, watch speeds as children, bicyclists, joggers, road construction workers and others are out and about more. Pay special attention in school zones and work zones. Speeds tend to increase with warmer weather so follow posted speed limits whether you agree with them or not.

-Get out and meet your neighbors. Join together in watching for suspicious activities in the area and report them to Hamilton County Public Safety Communications at 317-773-1282.