Crime Prevention Tips

The goal of the Decatur Police Department is to help citizens avoid becoming the victims of crimes. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself, your home and your family.

• Outside doors should be solid wood or metal. Hollow doors are easily broken through.
• Make sure all outside doors have good locks and make sure you use the locks.
• Make sure all hinges are on the inside so the hinge pin cannot be removed.
• Never hide keys outside in a "secret" place. Burglars can usually find these places.
• Make sure all windows have good locks and use those locks.
• Secure sliding glass doors. Burglars will look for sliding glass doors because they are the easiest to open.
• Trim overgrown bushes and shrubs. Don't give a burglar a natural hiding place.
• Make sure all entrances are well lit. A dark house is a more inviting target.
• If you go out of town, have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers. Also arrange to put some of your lights on timers.
• Turn the phone ringer on low. A burglar close by can hear that nobody is answering the phone, indicating an unoccupied home.
• Never leave notes on the door saying you're gone and specifying the time of your return.
• Don't allow people you do not know into your house. They could be legitimate, but they could be trying to see what you have of value.

Is someone soliciting door-to-door in your neighborhood? Please remember that:

• Anyone soliciting door-to-door must have an approved door-to-door Solicitation Permit.
• This requires completing a permit application and submitting it to the police department for approval. The department conducts a background check on each individual involved in the solicitation process.
• If a permit request is approved, each door-to-door solicitor is required to have the signed permit in his/her possession at all times.

• Thefts usually occur between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
•  Place power tools and lawn equipment in areas that are locked and not easily accessible.
• Active neighborhood watch involvement is encouraged and will assist Decatur police officers in efforts to end this type of criminal activity.
• Be cautious of people soliciting yard work.
• Be observant of any suspicious activity in your community. 

To receive periodic crime prevention and safety tips, and/or monthly crime statistics and updates, email Juanchella Grooms, community relations specialist, call 404-370-4161 or send an email.

Some people fail to call the police simply because they are not aware that seemingly innocent activities might be suspicious. Others may notice suspicious activity and be hesitant to call for fear of seeming to be a "nosey neighbor" or a crank. Still others take it for granted that someone else has already called.

Call the police immediately about all suspicious activity and do it yourself. Don't worry about "bothering" them because this is what the police are for. Don't worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove unfounded. Think instead of what could happen if you don't act.

Detailed information helps the police:

• What happened? When? Where? Anyone injured?
• Vehicle license number and vehicle description.
• Direction of travel.
• Description of persons (including clothing). When describing suspects notice age, race, sex, height and weight. Compare your own weight and height with the suspects'. Pick out some unique characteristics (scars, noses, jewelry, etc.) That will help you identify the suspect in the future if need be.

What Is Suspicious?
Anything that seems even slightly "out of place" or that is occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity.

Some of the most obvious things to watch for and report are:

• A stranger entering your neighbor's house when it is unoccupied may be a burglar.
• A scream heard anywhere could mean robbery or assault.
• Anyone removing accessories, license plates or gasoline from a car should be reported.
• Anyone looking into a parked car may be looking for a car to steal or for valuables left in the car.
• The sound of breaking glass or loud explosive noises could mean an accident, housebreaking or vandalism.

Protecting Your Vehicle
Most thefts and break-ins are crimes of opportunity. That means it would not have occurred if the owner had taken a few preventive steps. Here are just a few:

• Always try to park in a well-lit, heavily traveled area.
• When you park always roll up the windows, lock the doors and take the keys with you.
• Never leave your car running unattended no matter how long you plan on being away from it.
• If you have a garage, use it.
• Install and activate anti-theft devices.
• Take all belongings with you or lock them in the trunk.
• When selling a car, don't let a stranger take it for a test drive alone.
• Record the serial numbers for stereos and car phones.
• Get wheel nuts and a fuel cap that lock.
• Carry a card with you that lists the following: license plate, make and model of vehicle and vehicle identification number (VIN).
• Don't leave any kind of ownership papers in the car. If the car is stolen these items can help the thief show ownership of your vehicle.
• When you park, turn the wheels towards the curb, leave the car in gear and apply the emergency brake.
• Consider etching your VIN into all windows, T-tops, and other expensive, removable parts. This will aid the police in identifying stolen auto parts.
• Drop a business card or something like it down the window slot into the door panel. This could help police in identifying stolen auto parts.
• Check periodically to make sure your VIN plate is still intact. This is a small metal plate that is usually located on the driver's side where the windshield and dash meet.

Driver Safety
Even though car jacking and other vehicular crimes receive a lot of media attention, they occur infrequently. Nevertheless, there are several ways you can protect yourself and passengers when out and about in your vehicle.

• Lock all doors even if you are driving only a short distance.
• Always look inside the car before entering.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Avoid asking strangers for directions.
• Remain alert at all times.
• When parking in a parking lot or deck, leave only the ignition key with the attendant.
• When approaching your vehicle, already have your keys out and ready. Avoid standing at the door fumbling around for them.
• Keep your car in good condition and keep the gas tank at least 1/4 full.
• Plan alternative routes to your destination. This way if the primary route is closed or inaccessible, you can get to your destination safely in familiar territory.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood and place emergency reflectors or flares. Then stay in the locked car. If someone stops and offers to help ask them through a closed or cracked window to call the police for you.

What to Do When Stopped by the Police
A traffic stop is one of the most frequent encounters between citizens and police. Usually, police officers will pull a vehicle over if they have reason to believe that some offense has occurred. You may feel anxious, irritated at the delay, or concerned about a possible citation. However, officers are also concerned about possible threats to their personal safety while performing their duties.

These recommended procedures will ensure that the traffic stop can be completed quickly and safely. This is not provided as a legal advisory but as a courtesy to you:

• When signaled by an officer, safely pull over to a place out of traffic flow.
• Sit calmly, with your hands visible on the steering wheel.
• If you have passengers, ask them to sit quietly with their hands visible.
• Avoid sudden movements or ducking in the seat; these actions can unnecessarily alarm the officer.
• If it is dark, turn on your inside light when you pull the car over.
• For safety reasons, the officer will want to visually scan the car's interior before proceeding.
• Do not exit your car unless the officer asks you to step out. If you are asked to do so, comply in a calm manner. A sure way to put an officer at ease is to communicate what you are doing.
• If the officer asks for something, and that item is in your glove compartment, tell the officer it is in there before you reach for it.
• If you receive a citation, accepting it is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment that you have received the citation.
• A courtroom is the place to air arguments or protests about the citation, not on the street with the officer.
• If you are stopped for speeding, you have the right to request a check of the radar, but you do not have the right to see the radar unit (this applies only to Georgia). This is for your safety and the safety of the officer.