L STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

A Better Community Through Cooperation

po box 38361, dallas, tx 75238, info@lstreets.org

Crime Watch Tips

Ten Things L Streets Residents Can do to Help Fight Crime

1. Turn on your porch lights at night, burglars hate to be seen!

2. Don't park on the street, but rather in your driveway, carport, or garage. Cars on the street are an easier target for "smash and grab" thefts.

3. Since many of us have a one car garage, if you must leave your car outside, lock your car, close the windows, and take any valuables. Don't leave anything in plain site to tempt a thief.

4. Borrow an engraving pen from your local police and put your driver's license number on valuables. If something is stolen, police can easily identify it at pawnshops and can more quickly return your belongings.

5. Keep your plants and bushes trimmed below three feet. Thieves and prowlers like to hide behind big bushy plants, do you want to be able to see them?

6. Get to know your neighbors. Who are they? What do they do? Do they work at home? Do they have frequent visitors? If you don't know this, you won't know when something is suspicious. Would you want your neighbor to call when she sees something suspicious at your house, then get to know your neighbor.

7. Call 911. No, not only if someone is having a heart attack, but if you see anything or anyone suspicous. Many times people say, "Oh yeah, I saw a strange car slowing driving by the house a couple of times before it was robbed." This would be useful information to have before the robbery.

8. Join VIP, Volunteers in Patrol. This is a group of neighbors that drives around the neighborhood a couple of times a month keeping an eye out for you. Neighborhoods with VIP patrols have lower crime, it's as simple as that.

9. Keep your garage door closed. Hey, that lawn mower, looks useful!

10. Become an active member of the L Streets Neighborhood Association. We need your help, you couldn't do it alone, we can't either.

Last Updated 10/8/2005