Crime prevention important year-round

FALLBROOK — We have all noticed the change in the weather as the flowers carpet the hillsides in beautiful colors and the warmer air causes a change in our clothing attire.

It is a seasonal change of nature, to be sure, but what is not a seasonal change is helping to deter crime and criminal activities. Deterrence is something that we should all practice every day of the year.

There are many things that each of us can do to help ourselves reduce the opportunity of becoming another statistic on the “police blotter” by taking the time to be more cautious in our daily routines.

Being cautious does not mean that you have to be paranoid. It is a very uneasy feeling to be criminally victimized, yet it is easy to deter that from happening.

Always make your home or apartment appear occupied. Keep your doors locked, even when you are home, and lock up your house when you are away, even if you leave for just a few moments.

Most residential burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when children are at school and parents are at work, and take less than 10 minutes. Advise family and trustworthy neighbors when you are going to be away for any length of time, and the Sheriff’s Department offers free security checks of your home while you are away.

For many more ideas to consider, call the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 451-3124 for a free in-home consultation.

Leaving things in plain view in your car is an invitation/challenge for a thief to take those items. If you do not want anything stolen from your car, do not leave your valuables in your car at all.

As you leave your vehicle, roll the windows up, lock the doors, set the alarm if you have one and leave nothing in view of a passerby, even when you park in your own driveway.

Report suspicious activity when you see it. If you see anything that just does not look right, call the Sheriff’s Department as it happens, if you are able, and have the deputies check it out. The important thing above all is to report the activity as soon as you can.

Be a good witness by getting a suspect’s description, the make and color of the car, license plate numbers and the last known direction of travel. Do so safely and do not put yourself in harm’s way; let the trained professionals investigate suspicious activity. It may be nothing, but then again, you may have just prevented a criminal activity from taking place.

Establish and maintain an active Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch is a simple three-step program that people of all ages can participate in.

You and your neighbors know your neighborhood better than anyone does, so become involved in crime deterrence in your neighborhood by being an active member of your Neighborhood Watch Program.

To establish a program in your neighborhood, call the Sheriff’s Department at (760) 451-3124.

There are steps that you can take to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. The absolute worst thing that you can do is to divulge your Social Security number to someone you do not know.

Do not give personal information on the telephone, by mail or over the Internet to someone you do not know. Shred all important documents that you are discarding and do not simply throw those documents out in the trash.

Get a free credit report each year from each of the three main credit-reporting agencies and then review the reports for any inconsistencies or unknown charges or accounts.

Consider getting a locking mailbox made of cast iron or hardened rubber to deter mail theft, especially in the outlying rural areas.

Everyone from preschoolers to the elderly can practice crime prevention every day. Be wise and do not become a victim.

For more information about crime prevention education and public programs, call John McLelland at the Fallbrook Substation at (760) 451-3124.