What are some home safety tips?

Burglary is a serious crime to which we are all vulnerable. It is however one of the most preventable of crimes. A few simple precautions will greatly reduce the possibility that you will become a victim of this crime. Follow these guidelines to help prevent crime in your home: Make your home look occupied at all times. Leave interior lights on when you go out for the night and utilize exterior lighting or motion sensitive outdoor lighting. Lock your outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Do not allow daily deliveries, such as mail and newspaper, to accumulate. If you are gone, have a neighbor pick up these items for you and arrange to have your lawn cut in the summer and walks cleared in the winter. You should maintain a detailed description and the serial numbers of all appliances, tools, radios, televisions, firearms, and other valuables you own. The police department’s website has a link to LeadsOnline, where this information can be stored in a secure environment for future use. Whenever possible, inscribe or label your valuables with your driver’s license number. The Elgin Police Department offers programs that provide crime prevention techniques you may implement to help protect you and your home. Police officers can also conduct a security survey of your home to make sure it is safe. For more information about home safety programs, contact the Elgin Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at 847-289-2530.

Community Relations / Crime Prevention

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1. Where can I find general information about the Elgin Police Department?
2. What happens with an abandoned vehicle?
3. What is Elgin's bicycle registration policy?
4. What do I do if I suspect there is a child abuse situation?
5. What is the Citizen's Police Academy?
6. What Community Relations/Crime Prevention programs are there?
7. What is the Crime-Free Housing Unit?
8. How can Crime Prevention help a business?
9. What does Elgin do about curfew violations?
10. How can I get information about domestic violence?
11. What is the city's door-to-door solicitor policy?
12. How do I file a drug or gang activity complaint?
13. Does Elgin charge for false alarm responses?
14. What are some home safety tips?
15. What can I do about illegally parked vehicles?
16. How do I report a missing person?
17. What happens if I receive a moving violation?
18. What is the Neighborhood Watch program?
19. What happens with reported noise violations?
20. How do I obtain a police record or report?
21. Does the city monitor overweight vehicles?
22. What information is available about parking violations?
23. What personal safety tips do you offer?
24. What are police chaplains for?
25. What information should be provided in a police emergency?
26. How may I schedule a police department tour?
27. How can I schedule a ride-along?
28. Do I need my vehicle's title and registration?
29. Does the department offer vacation house watch services?
30. Do you offer victim services?
31. Does Elgin have a women's safehouse?