Crime Prevention tips

provided by the City Of Federal Way Police Department

TEN WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT

You can minimize the risk of being victimized by taking the following steps:

Never leave your purse or wallet unattended, at work, at restaurants, at health fitness clubs, in your shopping cart, at church, at parties. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when locked.
Destroy all checks immediately when you close a checking account. Destroy or keep in a secure place, any courtesy checks that your bank or credit card company may mail you. Shred all financial offers, statements, etc.
Reconcile your check and credit card statements in a timely fashion and immediately challenge any purchases you did not make.
Limit the number of credit cards you have, and cancel inactive accounts.
Never give any credit card, bank, or social security or other personal information to anyone over the telephone or on the internet.
Minimize exposure of your social security and credit card numbers. If the numbers are requested for check cashing purposes, ask if the business has alternative options such as such as a check cashing card.
Safeguard your credit and debit and ATM card receipts and shred them before disposing of them. (Most places of business now will print only the last four digits of your card number, as soon will be required by law)
Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to make sure the charges are yours.
Memorize your passwords and personal identification (PIN) numbers. Keep your PIN numbers somewhere that only you know about, anywhere but with your credit cards. Don’t give out your PIN. Keeping your numbers to yourself is the best way to keep your credit cards secure. Identity theft is often traced back to family members.

10. Keep a list of, or photocopy all credit and identification cards you carry with you, including front and back, so that you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Keep the list or copies in safe place.

Crime Prevention tips

provided by the City Of Federal Way Police Department

C.P.T.E.D.

(Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

Landscaping. It is a beautiful thing – to a criminal. Criminals probably appreciate a nicely landscaped yard more than just about anyone else. Burglars, in fact, are especially fond of shrubs that are so large and lush they obscure the visibility of your residence from the street of your neighbors. They also like low or non-lit property. While you might look at things like these and appreciate them for their color and variety, a criminal looks and sees a place to hide. Whether that hiding place is a slightly overgrown juniper below a window, or a bushy lace-leaf maple next to the front door, one is as useful to a thief as it is beautiful to us.

Two of the basic principles of C.P.T.E.D. are well-trimmed shrubbery and adequate exterior lighting. You do not have to spend a lot of money to deter crime. Nor does your yard have to look like a barren old lakebed! A little money and thought go a long way toward making your residence more attractive to the average passerby and a lot less attractive to a criminal.

As a rule of thumb, keep ground-covering shrubbery below an overall height of three feet. Keep the trunks of taller trees and bushes trimmed up to a minimum of four feet. Doing this will substantially eliminate areas of concealment on your property.

There are several inexpensive exterior lighting options available. Motion sensors have dropped in price dramatically in recent years. They are ideal for crime prevention. Position any exterior lighting so that its focus is the illumination of the outside of your building. When installed correctly, a remarkable amount of light on your buildings can have little to no impact on the neighbors.

Aside from the obvious, that is reducing hiding places and improving visibility, a well cared for property is naturally less inviting to a criminal. Overgrown and run-down landscaping, on the other hand, sends a message that your overall attitude may be less than vigilant. Think about the next time you see a property in need of practicing a few of these suggestions.

With minimal investment and effort, you can both improve the appearance of your property and reduce its appeal to the typical burglar. Be sure that your chosen improvements stay within the bounds of your rules. Your entire property and neighborhood will reap the benefits of good C.P.T.E.D.

For additional information about C.P.T.E.D., or if you would like to schedule a C.P.T.E.D. survey on your property, call the Federal Way Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (253) 835-6720. You can also check out the National Crime Prevention Council website at www.ncpc.org

Crime Prevention tips

provided by the City Of Federal Way Police Department

CRIME PREVENTION, IT’S EVERYONE’S CONCERN

WHAT IS SUSPICIOUS?

The police department cannot function effectively without the assistance of concerned, responsible citizens. We are depending on you to call and report suspicious people and activity. Do not worry about “bothering” the police. Do not worry about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think instead about what could happen if you DO NOT act.

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR:

· Vehicles that are being loaded with valuables if parked in front of a closed business or an unattended residence.

· A vehicle that does not belong to you or your neighbors abandoned on your street.

· Broken doors or windows at a closed business or a residence where owners are absent.

· Anyone removing accessories or license plates from a car.

· Anyone going from car to car at night peering into parked vehicles.

· A stranger going door-to-door in your neighborhood who after receiving no answer at a home, attempts entry or goes to a back yard.

· Anyone forcing entrance into a residence, business, or vehicle.

While many of the situations described could have innocent explanations, we would rather investigate the situation than be called when it is too late.

REMEMBER – FOR REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY – DIAL 911