Crime is everywhere. Recognizing this unfortunate truth is your first step toward crime prevention. Integrating this awareness into your day-to-day lifestyle is a practical matter. The security recommendations and safety tips within this section will provide a starting point for doing just that.

The crimes we fear the most occur the least.  Armed robbery, severe assault, murder and rape, while highly publicized are relatively rare; the average citizen is unlikely to become a victim.  Prevention consists of common-sense measures; avoid dangerous areas, especially alone at night, use street lights for visibility, stay in view of others, walk in groups when leaving public events and call for police assistance if you have any reason to fee suspicious.

The crimes that everyday citizens are more likely to be victims of are theft, Identity theft, fraud, vandalism or burglary.  There are steps that as a citizen you can take to prevent these types of crimes from occurring to you:

• When you leave home leave it secure
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle
• Lock your vehicle even if it is in your driveway
• Keep a light on outside at night to discourage prowlers
• If you have a unsecure mailbox make sure it is checked everyday for mail do not leave mail unattended
• Do not throw anything in the garbage that has your personal information on it- burn it-shred it
• Do not give out personal information to anyone on the phone
• Do not give out personal information on the Internet unless it is a secure sight you trust
• Do not fall for the "You have won this money now send us back our share" this is always a scam

These are just a few tips to keep you and your family safe from the crimes that are most likely to occur to the average citizen.  Remember, there are no sure preventatives of crime. Each situation can be different. Your most important defense is to stay aware and be alert!