[safety tips]
break
Family safety tips from the Tampa Police Department
break
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maryanne Hunsberger, an officer with District One Crime Prevention. She provided us with some fantastic safety tips and bulletins designed to keep you informed and your family safe.
break
Door to Door Sales
Stay-at-home moms may know about this one best. The Tampa Police Department receives numerous complaints about suspicious people selling magazines door-to-door without a permit. Someone recently reported two male juveniles acting suspicious in her neighborhood, reported it, and a “street check” by an officer was made. Act when you see something suspicious by contacting the authorities immediately.
break
Vacation Watch
The bags are packed, the plants watered and the kids excited. Going on vacation is a wonderful way for families to reconnect---unless you come home to a burglarized home. Go to the Tampa Police Department website and download their Vacation Watch form (under the Neighborhood Watch heading). This form alerts the police department that you will be on vacation and allows you to communicate with them emergency contact persons, alarm company information, pets and who will care for them and if any authorized persons are allowed on the property. Additionally, more frequent patrolling of your home will be done while you are away. Tampa Police Department
break
Neighborhood Watch Program
Organized by a minimum six block radius, the Neighborhood Watch Program is a great way for you to get your whole area involved in being crime preventers. With only two required meetings per year, this program allows neighbors to communicate with each other about concerns specific to their area. Each Neighborhood Watch will have a coordinator assigned to them to help with the meetings and educate its members about theft prevention, fraud and much more. Essentially, you are organizing a neighbors watching out for neighbors program---a win-win for everyone. To get started, contact the Tampa Police Dept. Crime Prevention Unit at 354-6692.
break
Amber Alerts on Your Cell Phone
The majority of us are most accessible these days through our cell phones. That’s why Amber Alerts have gone mobile. Go to www.wirelessamberalerts.org and sign up today to receive FREE Amber Alerts issued in the areas you choose. You will receive free Amber Alerts through a text message when they are issued. Don’t be helpless to help a child…
break
Reverse 911
We all know that 911 allows us to reach out to authorities but did you know that the Reverse 911 program allows them to reach out to us? This system is used by fire and police departments to rapidly alert citizens of critical information (evacuations, missing children alerts, crime alerts) in a time sensitive fashion. In fact, the Reverse 911 system is used in conjunction with the SPIN program (Sexual Predator Identification and Notification Program) to alert you to sexual predators registered in your area. Don’t think that you will automatically get a Reverse 911 call to keep you informed…if you have an unpublished and/or unlisted telephone number you are not included in their database. Visit www.tampagov.net website and go to the Police Department’s website to register your number.