Safety Tips
Please see the following methods and procedures to discover and deter crime. The valuable materials were prepared by the Nassau County Police Department.
Commercial Burglary Prevention
General Safety Tips – If We Can See It So Can Thieves
Shopping Safety Tips – Conceal It or They'll Steal It
Safety First!
There have been recent incidents of cars being left unlocked and property being removed during the overnight hours. The Public Safety Department recommends you lock your car and set the alarm. Remove all valuables from the vehicle including your remote garage door opener. Leave outdoor lights on which light-up the entrances and front of your home. Notify the Police at 911 and Public Safety at 484-7052 if you hear a car alarm or observe suspicious vehicles, persons or activities.
Important Suggestions on Safety/Crime
The Village of East Hills Department of Public Safety offers prevention tips to residents.
Remember: If you observe suspicious activity, vehicles, or persons call the
Police at 911 and your Public Safety Department at 484-7052
- Doors and Locks. Make sure exterior doors are made of solid wood or metal, and secured with a heavy-duty deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt and a heavy-duty knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism. Don’t forget garage and back doors, which burglars know are often the weakest entry points.
- Windows. Close the latches on all windows and, for extra security, place a secondary blocking device such as a wooden dowel or through-the-frame pin. Make sure the blocking device can be easily removed from bedroom windows in case of fire.
- Lighting. Create the illusion of occupancy with light-timers on interior lights near the front and back windows with the curtains drawn. Similarly, exterior lighting on the front of a property should be on a timer. Don’t leave them on all the time — unless you want burglars to think you’re out of town.
- Neighbors. Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers, and oversee vendors such as lawn mowing services. Encourage him to park in your empty driveway once in a while, and even give him a key to check inside your home to make sure all is well. Don’t leave a key hidden in flower pots, under doormats or on ledges.
- Landscaping. Trim tree branches up to 6 feet off the ground and trim shrubs down to 3 feet. This makes it easier for neighbors to monitor your yard and minimizes hiding places for burglars.
- Alarm Systems. Besides arming your alarm system before you leave, make sure you have alarm company signs near the front and rear doors, and alarm company decals on ground floor windows to deter burglars.
- Preventive steps: In order to deter burglaries consider installing an alarm system in your home with a monitoring feature. Make sure your home is secured with deadbolt locks and ensure that landscaping around it doesn’t provide places for people to hide. Check other access points, such as gates, and make sure they have been secured. Consider installing exterior lighting around your home. Make sure that your home is fully secured with windows closed and locked before you go to sleep and items, such as ladders, have been stored inside. Prepare a plan to vacate your home in case of any emergency. This should include, but is not limited to, a fire. Have a plan if an intruder tries or gets into your home.
Children should never be left alone in a vehicle, not even to run a quick errand. The following tips are offered to parents to help keep their children safe.
- Plan ahead to use drive-through services where available such as pharmacies and banks. More and more services are adding drive-through convenience, including dry cleaners, restaurants (beyond fast food), libraries, grocery stores, and even dog grooming. A quick search on the Internet will help you find convenient drive-through services in your area.
- Call dry cleaners and other businesses to schedule pick-up and drop-off services at your vehicle. Most businesses will bring service curbside if you call ahead.
- Make advance arrangements for your child-care provider to meet you at your vehicle. Alternatively, plan extra time into your pick-up/drop-off routine to bring all children inside with you.
- Use your debit or credit card at the gas pump.
- Ask grocery store clerks to load your bags into your vehicle and return the grocery cart.
- If possible, leave your children with a responsible adult. Arrange a baby-sitting co-op with your neighbor to give you an hour to run errands.
Accidents can happen right in your own garage or driveway. The following tips are offered to help prevent accidents in or around vehicles.
- Keep vehicles locked at all times — even in the garage or driveway.
- Never leave keys within the reach of children.
- Teach children to never play in or around vehicles.
- Consider installing cross-view mirrors and/or a backup detection device on your vehicle.
- Make sure all young passengers have left your car after it is parked.
- When a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks immediately.
- If a child is locked inside a vehicle, get them out as quickly as possible. If they are hot or appear sick, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Preventing crime during family/business travel starts with making sure your home is protected while you’re away. The key is to make it appear though you never left.
- Keep shades and blinds in their normal position.
- Stop mail and newspapers or ask a neighbor to pick them up daily.
- Install timers on several household lights so they go on at different times, include a radio preset to news or talk station-for voice.
- Ask a neighbor to park a car in your driveway each night.
- Have your snow shoveled or grass cut while you are gone.
- Unplug the cord to the motor of your garage door opener, so your garage door can’t be opened.
Some tips on what to take, NOT to take:
- Clean out your wallet/purse before you go, take only essential credit cards.
- Use credit cards or travelers checks whenever possible.
- Carry your purse close to your body in front of you.
- Keep your wallet in an inside pocket not in your back/hip pocket.
- Wear a fanny pack.
- Pack your belongings in inconspicuous bags; expensive designer luggage can draw unnecessary attention to your belongings.
- When checking luggage keep anything of value and prescription drugs with you. Keep prescriptions in the original bottles.
While you are traveling:
- Don’t display expensive jewelry, cameras, money or other items that will draw attention.
- If you use an ATM don’t walk away while counting cash.
- Keep an eye on your children at all times. Be certain they know where they are staying- name and address and phone number. Consider putting a tag in each child’s pocket with pertinent information.
- Always lock your car when parked.
- Keep valuables locked in the trunk.
- Don’t advertise that you’re a tourist, keep maps and guidebooks out of sight.
- Ask for a room between the third and fifth floors-high enough for fire truck ladders, too high for burglars from the outside.
If you travel abroad:
- Make photocopies of all family passports and keep them separate from the actual passport.
- Consider scheduled tours rather than renting a car, except in CanadaRemember crime does not take a vacation.
