Everyone looks forward to summer vacation -- particularly criminals who look for opportunities to take advantage of empty houses and unsuspecting travelers. The Prince William County Police Department encourages you to protect yourself, your family and your property this summer by following these safety tips:
Personal safety tips
* Always be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Encourage your children to do the same.
* Never leave valuables unattended. Items such as cameras, iPods and cell phones are easily picked up.
* Don't carry more cash than is necessary.
* Avoid walking alone at night.
* Park your car as close to your destination as possible and in a well-lighted space.
* Trust your intuition. Report all suspicious activity to the police.
Property safety tips
* Lock your vehicles at all times! Do not leave vehicle doors unlocked, even for a few minutes.
* Do not leave spare keys in the vehicle or somewhere on the outside of it.
* Keep track of serial numbers for your items, or take a photograph to aid in identification if the property is stolen and later recovered.
* Keep all doors and windows locked, even if at home.
* Keep your front and back porch lights on. Use motion sensors.
Many criminals look for the easiest opportunities to commit a crime. Therefore, the best method of prevention is to look for and remove the opportunities before criminals spot them. Using these preventative steps will help keep your summer enjoyable and safe.
Send questions or comments to PWCPD-PIO, 8900 Freedom Center Blvd., Manassas, VA 20192 or via e-mail to policedept@pwcgov.org.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement