Tips to keep yourself, house safe from crime

Springtime can be prime time for thieves, since many families are planning outings as the weather warms. Here are some tips for keeping safe and stopping crimes of opportunity from Officer Lisa Rosier, the Cheney Police Department’s police, school and community liaison:

•In the car: Put anything of value in the trunk or a locked glove box prior to leaving your home. Many times thieves will see you placing items in the trunk and take the opportunity once you are out of sight to break into your car.

Lock all the car doors and keep the windows closed.

Rosier suggests getting a Club lock or similar steering wheel lock for your car. She said it is a cheap investment to deter car thieves.

•Parking: Always park in a public and well-lit area after dark. Drivers should be able to see around the car before getting into it.

If you are in a parking lot or garage, Rosier suggests backing into the spot, making driver and passenger doors more visible to potential witnesses, and making it easier to pull out if you need to drive away in a hurry.

When you are walking to and from your car, you should always have the key you are about to use in your hand. This will make it easier to unlock doors if you need to get away quickly. Rosier said that the key can also be used as a weapon.

“Have your house key and car key easily identifiable,” Rosier said, “so you don’t have to take time to distinguish which key you need.”

•At home: Sensor lights should be installed around your house, and you should keep lights on timers inside to make it look like someone is home.

Rosier also said that if you leave the house and know that no one is home, it’s a good idea to honk your horn and wave to the front window to give the appearance that you are communicating with someone in the house.

It’s always a good idea to get to know your neighbors, and Rosier said to make sure you let them know if you will be taking a vacation: tell them where you are going and for how long. If you have a friend come to check your mail or water the plants, you should let the neighbors know what kind of car the friend drives and what they look like.

Rosier also suggested letting police, or the local COPS Shop or SCOPE station know when you’ll be out of town for a few days. Many smaller police departments such as Cheney or Medical Lake will take these calls, and if you live in a larger city, such as Spokane, let the COPS Shop or SCOPE station know.

When the right people know you are out of town, if they happen to drive through your neighborhood, they can make sure they check to see if there is anything unusual going on about your house.