March 2010 * Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch Newsletter
HOW TO RUIN A CRIMINAL’S DAY:
Crimes of opportunity are the name of the game! Criminals hate not finding easily pawned valuables in cars. And they are especially annoyed when you don’t respect that unlocked cars are, indeed, their personalized invitations to grab and run. So don’t “give crime a chance!”
- Coats > remove keys, wallets, checkbooks, other personal belongings when hanging coats in public places.
- Hide! > If you don’t want to lose it, hide it in the trunk of the car or put it in the house!
- Passenger windows > Keep passenger windows up so purses or valuables can’t be snatched at a stoplight.
KEYS: Quick Safety Ideas
- Separate them > Keep car keys separate from house keys. If you need to give car keys to a valet or mechanic, they don’t get access to your house keys.
- Emergency key > Keep an emergency car key in your wallet or other secure location, in case keys are accidentally locked inside your car.
- Lockbox anyone? > Ever consider a lockbox with a combination to store spare keys should you get locked out of the house? DO NOT hide spare keys anywhere outside.
- Have your door keys ready > Carry them in your pockets, not buried in a purse.
‘Tis the Season of Spring Cleaning!
Someone once asked whose perverse idea it was to have spring cleaning at the same time as spring hay fever. Good question! But seriously, spring cleaning can be dangerous for us all with falls and poisoning being two of the top causes of home injuries.
- Keep floors, walkways, and stairs cleared of objects as you clean and re-organize.
- Keep children away from cleaning buckets to prevent drowning – it only takes 2 inches of water…
- Keep cleaning supplies, and outdated medications that you are tossing away, out of children’s reach.
- Use step ladders to reach high places safely.
- Carry loads you can see over, and keep one hand free to hold banisters and railings.
See www. homesafetycouncil.org for more great home safety tips and ideas!
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