Crime Prevention Tips

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Alarm System: Arm your alarm even if you are only going to be gone for a short period of time.  If you have a burglar alarm, make sure you have motion detectors and or glass breakage sensors.  Burglars are breaking windows and entering homes in an attempt to bypass the alarm systems. Many alarm systems now include security cameras. Consider upgrading your security by adding this technology to your system or consider cameras such as Ring, Nest and Arlo. If you purchase these type cameras, pay for the recorded subscription.

Electronics:  Please remember that if you have important information on your home computer, back it up on a separate device or use an on-line back-up service that automatically backs up all of your information.  It is devastating to lose years of family pictures or other valuable information, because a thief took your computer. Keep a file with all serial numbers of your electronics which can help us recover them.

Flood Lights: Floodlights with motion detectors can be effective in deterring people from wandering around your driveway or around your home.  They are relatively inexpensive and can be installed easily.  Once installed, the lights will come on immediately if someone enters that particular area near your home. Again, consider using your alarm company as a provider or products such as Ring, Nest, etc.  Lighting is considered the #1 crime Deterrent.

Neighborhood Watch: Please watch out for your neighbor’s property and call us if you see anything suspicious. A good rule of thumb is to call if you’re undecided as to whether you should.  “When in doubt make the call.”  “See something, say something.”

Packages:  Try to limit the opportunity for theft of delivered packages. Utilize online package tracking to avoid leaving your deliveries unattended for a long period of time. Request a signature or a scheduled delivery when possible to avoid the package from being left unattended. Consider having items delivered to your place of work and or have trusted neighbors and friends pick up your packages.

Contract Workers:  Limit access to your personal property when having work done in your home.  This includes cleaning services and healthcare sitters.

Lawn Equipment:  Don’t leave lawn equipment and or bicycles unattended in your yard.

Door-to-Door Peddlers: In order to sell door-to-door in Mountain Brook, all persons must purchase a license to do so. Some of these persons may be persistent in their attempts to sell their product. If you are not interested, ask the person or persons to leave. If they do not leave, contact the police department.

Door-to-Door Scams: A common scam involves people claiming to be out of gas or that their vehicle is disabled.  They ask for a loan or money to help them out. Do not give money to anyone at your door that you do not know.  Anytime an individual approaches you and states that they have material left over from another job, whether it is chemicals, asphalt etc., be suspicious. Ask to see their City of Mountain Brook business license.

Going on Vacation: Have the post office hold your mail until you return. Don’t advertise that you’ll be gone.  Leave some exterior and interior lights on, as if you were home. Keep all doors and windows locked. Use deadbolts. Don’t hide keys. Instead, leave an extra set with a trusted neighbor, friend or relative.

Scams: There has been a recent increase in phishing scams. Scammers use emails, text messages, or pop-up messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. They may try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers by pretending to be someone they're not. They may trick you into installing something onto your computer. If successful, they will remote in to your computer and gain access to anything stored therein such as your email, bank and or other account information. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day and they’re often successful. Scammers often update their tactics, but there are some signs that will help you recognize a phishing email or text message. Phishing emails, text messages, and pop-up messages may look like they’re from a company you know or trust.  They may look like they’re from a bank, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store. Verify any requesting company/representative by contacting them through a published number and not one provided on a pop-up message, text message or email. The scammers may request that you purchase gift cards as a form of payment.  No real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card. Anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card is a scammer. If you believe you are the victim of a scam, please contact the Mountain Brook Police Department. For more information on common scams, visit FTC - Scam Alerts.

Phone Calls: Don’t allow telemarketers or local sales calls to pressure you into contributing money or signing up for services over the telephone for any reason. Always ask to be removed from their calling list before you just hang up.  If you do not do this, they are allowed to call back.  To be added to the nationwide “Do Not Call List”, go to: https://www.donotcall.gov.  This will prevent most sales calls to your home.  Political advertising/solicitation and charities are exempt from the registry and so you must ask them, each time they call, to remove your number. You can determine whether an organization requesting charitable contributions is legitimate by checking with the State Attorney General’s Office.

Inventory of Valuables:  There are many thefts where people discover their jewelry missing months after they saw it last.  It is a good idea to inventory your jewelry, valuable household items and firearms and put all valuables in a secure location if possible. Consider keeping valuables including documents in a properly secured and locked safe and or a safety deposit box. Take pictures of jewelry and silverware. These will assist police in finding stolen items after the fact. Document serial numbers for all valuables, including firearms, by photographing and writing them down in the event of theft of destruction. This is valuable for insurance and law enforcement investigative purposes. If the item doesn’t have a serial number, you may mark it with your own personalized identification number.

Video Log of Valuables: Many people take a video camera and video everything in their home.  This is invaluable after a fire and sometimes after a burglary.  Things are taken or destroyed that you may never miss unless you have some kind of inventory available. There are also professional services that will do this for you.  Ask your insurance agent about this idea and whether any of your items need a current appraisal in order for you to make a claim if something is lost or stolen. 

Vehicles

Valuables: Don’t leave valuables in your vehicles if at all possible. If you have to leave them in your vehicle, hide them. Do not leave any items of value visible from the windows of your vehicle. Lock all items of value in the trunk of your vehicle.  If thieves can see inside your vehicle and there is a purse, laptop or anything of significant value inside they will knock a window out to gain possession of that item.

Lock Your Car: Do not leave your car unlocked unless it has nothing of value in it and don’t ever leave your keys in your car.  Many people have their house key on their car key ring and have a garage door opener inside a car that may be parked outside their home. Some people have a fob which controls their home alarm system on their key ring.   This can compromise your personal security and that of your property. Remove your keys each time you leave your car so that no one can gain unauthorized entry.

Lock your car at daycare drop off: Thieves have discovered that women who are dropping off or picking up children at day cares are easy victims because they leave their cars unlocked.  Please be aware of this. 

Please don’t leave keys on a tire when you go walking:  Thieves know that people do this.

Convertibles: If you have a vehicle with a soft top, be aware that thieves are cutting those tops to steal from the vehicles.  It is very expensive to have these tops repaired.  It is better to leave these vehicles unlocked with no valuables inside than to have the top cut for an article worth much less than a new or repaired top.

Personal Safety & Theft

Parks, Trails and Shopping Trips: If you are out walking in a park or shopping in one of our villages, please pay attention to any suspicious vehicles or individuals.  Don’t walk trails after dark and in general always walk in well-lit areas. If someone looks out of place, call the police department. Always be self-aware and avoid being too preoccupied by a cellular device. Look away from your device often.  In particular, survey your surroundings when getting ready to use an ATM or enter a financial institution.  If you ever feel like you’re being followed, dial 911 and drive to the nearest police department.

Parking Lots: Always park in a well lit area. Prior to exiting a store or building, visibly scan the parking lot for anyone suspicious. If you discover someone is following you, try to go back into the building or store. Keep your cellphone handy should you need to call 911. Always be aware of who is nearby when loading packages into your car.  Lock your car before returning a buggy or cart to a store and watch your purse and car keys while loading or unloading your vehicle in a public place.  Once you've entered your vehicle to leave, immediately lock your doors and exit the lot. Keep an eye out to make sure no one is following you home.

Grocery Shopping: When you are grocery shopping, don’t leave an unattended purse in a buggy.  It only takes a second for a thief to remove your wallet or purse while you are distracted and you may not notice it until checkout. Carry your purse and keep it close to your body. Carry your wallet in your front pants pocket.

Identity Theft/Fraudulent Use: Shred bank statements and credit card statements. Don't carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. Stop credit card offers by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com. Monitor your bank accounts. Some banks have apps you can use to monitor your transaction history, cancel a stolen debit card and request a new one.  Use credit cards at gas pumps and restaurants instead of debit cards. Check your credit report at least once per year by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. Make sure when you write checks to use a gel pen.  Only shop online with companies you know. Keep personal information private and passwords secure. If you become a victim of identity theft, call the police and visit www.identitytheft.gov.

Mailing Bills and Sensitive Documents: Mail bills and sensitive documents by going inside the post office and using the interior drop box.  Do not mail them from home or from an exterior U.S. Postal Service box.  Pay bills online when possible.

Meeting for Online Purchases: Meet in a public place. Meet at the police department. Tell a friend or family member where you’re going and or take a friend with you. Do not take large amounts of cash. Consider using a payment app such as Venmo. Take your cell phone with you. Never meet at your house. For high priced transactions, consider meeting at a bank.

Additional Safety Tips

Smoke Detectors: A good practice is to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as a routine.

Auto Start: Please be aware of vehicles with an “auto start” feature. If the button on the key fob is pressed the vehicle will start. If the vehicle is inside the basement or the garage, this could lead to a dangerous level of carbon monoxide gas.

Again, please feel free to call or email and we will be glad to assist you. Thank you.