• What can I do to keep my vehicle safe?
• How can I make my home more secure?
• How can I reduce false alarms from my home?
• When can I have my fingerprints taken for my employer?

Crime Prevention for your Automobile

One of the most important ways to avoid becoming a victim is to be constantly aware of your surroundings. Many criminals are on the lookout for easy prey. Some of the suggested ways to prevent the theft of your vehicle or from your vehicle may seem obvious, but are not always followed:

• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended.
• Never leave your keys in the ignition, even at home.
• Never leave your vehicle unlocked.
• Secure your vehicle in your garage overnight.
• Park in well-lighted areas, especially when shopping at night.
• Never leave items visible in the passenger area of your car.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle overnight.
• Install an alarm system on your vehicle.

Thefts from a motor vehicle are usually a crime of opportunity.

Crime Prevention for your Home

When you leave home, whether you’re planning to be away for an hour or several days, you can minimize the chance that your home will be broken into and your valuables stolen. Consider the following prevention tips:

• Deadbolt locks should be used on all external doors. Locks are only good if they are used.
• Sliding doors should be secured with a sturdy pin to hold them in place or with a sturdy bar to jam the door into place.
• Double-hung windows should be secured by drilling a nail size hole between the inner and outer frames, and inserting a nail to prevent them from being forced open. A window lock is worthless unless you keep it locked.
• Never hide a key outside the home. A trustworthy friend or neighbor should keep a key you can use in an emergency.
• Rekey the locks if you lose a key, or if you move into a new home.
• All external doors should be constructed of metal or solid wood.
• Use a wide angle viewer on external doors to identify visitors before you unlock the door.
• Use external lighting where possible. A thief will generally avoid a well-lit area.
• The more visible your house is to passersby or neighbors, the less likely it will be chosen as a target for a break-in.
• Shrubs should be planted in locations which would not obstruct the view of passersby or neighbors.
• Create the illusion that someone is home by using electronic timers on lamps or radios.
• When you’re going to be absent from home for a few days, ask a neighbor to pick up newspapers or mail, or stop delivery during the period of time you are going to be away from home. Piles of newspapers advertise that no one is at home.
• Leave shades and curtains in normal positions while you are absent from home.
• Don’t advertise that you are going to be away from home for a period of time. Tell only trusted friends or neighbors.
• Record a list of all items of value in your home with descriptions and serial numbers, and keep this list in a safe place (such as in a secure filing cabinet at work, or a safety deposit box. Valuable items should also be photographed, and a video tour of each room detailing valuable items of personal property would be helpful if a problem did occur.
• Use “owner applied” personal numbers, such as North Carolina Driver’s License Number on valuables, such as televisions, VCRs, and bicycles.
• If you decide to have an alarm system installed, shop around for a reliable alarm company.
• Never leave high value items unsecured outside the home in plain sight, such as riding lawn mowers.
• Be aware of suspicious traffic and/or persons in your neighborhood. Report any suspicious activity to the local police or sheriff’s office.

  Remember, in order for a crime to occur, three elements must be present:

• The desire to commit a crime.
• The ability to commit a crime.
• The opportunity to commit a crime.

If you do all that you can do to eliminate the opportunity for a person to commit a crime by protecting your home using the tips above, you minimize the chances that your home will be broken into.

False Alarms

Security alarms are a great investment, however they can tie up valuable resources if not properly maintained. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office responds to thousands of false alarms annually. Rarely does an alarm prove to be legitimate. Roughly 99% of alarm calls prove to be false. You can help keep our deputy sheriff's available to respond to other real emergencies by ensuring that your security alarm is properly operated and maintained.

Here are some suggestions that will help you help us reduce the number of false alarms in your community. Routine maintenance can greatly reduce false alarms. Have your alarm company check and service your system (including batteries) regularly.

• Call your alarm company immediately if your system doesn't seem to be working properly.
• If your alarm activation was accidental, carefully disarm the system. Once the system has been reset, wait for the monitoring company to call you before leaving.
• Rehearse alarm cancellation procedures with everyone who might use the system.
• Call your alarm company if you change your phone number, get a pet, or plan to sell or remodel your home or business.
• Make special arrangements for all guests, visitors, and repair technicians.
• If your alarm continuously goes off during inclement weather, consult your alarm company to see what can be done to resolve the problem.

Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting for citizens is conducted every Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 9am - 3:30pm. The fee is $10.00 cash.