About
The mission of the Woburn Police Department Crime Prevention Services is to prevent crime by making the general public aware that there are several courses of action they can take to make themselves, their families, their businesses, and their homes less susceptible to crime.
- Home / apartment security
- Auto theft prevention
- Personal safety
Robbery Prevention Presentations
These presentations are given at retail businesses, banks, or at any organization that handles money. These presentations are designed to instruct employees in procedures to prevent robbery, and proper actions employees should take if they are a victim of an armed robbery.
Personal Safety Presentations
This program can be given in just about any setting, or with any group of people. This presentation gives assorted tips and suggestions of actions that individuals can take to make themselves less susceptible to crime.
Shoplifting Presentations
These presentations are given at retail businesses or at high school co-op classes. Such topics as: shoplifting recognition and prevention; and short change artist recognition and prevention are covered.
Commercial Business Security Surveys
A thorough security survey is conducted of both the interior and exterior of the business; covering lighting, locks, and types of doors and windows. Also; exterior fencing, parking, alarms, and personnel security practices are reviewed. A confidential typewritten security survey report is provided for the business owner.
Senior Citizen Safety Presentations
These programs cover such subjects as: personal safety, home security, cons and scams, and auto theft.
Crime Prevention Displays
Displays are conducted for area businesses, schools, and universities. Numerous brochures covering a large array of Crime Prevention topics are provided for the general public.
Crime Prevention Safety Tips
When You’re at Home:
- Replace or rekey all locks when you move into a new home or apartment.
- Install 1 inch case hardened steel deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
- Keep windows and doors locked at all times.
- Have curtains or blinds on all windows, and keep them drawn.
- Install a 190-degree door viewer or door scope in your front door. Look before opening your door to anyone.
- Require Identification from all repair persons or public service individuals without opening the door.
- Hang up on frightening or obscene calls. Invest in an answer machine and screen your calls.
- On your answer machine message, never say you’re not at home. Just say you’re not by the phone.
- If a prowler enters your home, get out! Go to a neighbor and call the police.
- If you come home and you think someone is in your home, do not enter!
- Go to a neighbor and call the police.
- Contact the SAPD Crime Prevention Specialist at your substation and schedule a free home security survey
When You’re Walking:
- Always be aware of your surroundings, and the people who are around you
- Avoid walking alone; either walk with someone, or walk in areas where others are near
- Stay in well lighted areas, away from alleys, bushes, and doorways
- Avoid shortcuts through alleys, parks, vacant lots, or other deserted places
- Walk in the middle of the sidewalk facing traffic
- Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers!
- If the driver of a car stops and harasses you, walk in the opposite direction
- If you are walking to your car in a parking lot, and anything makes you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts, go back in the store. Get someone to walk with you to your car
- When you approach your car, check the back seat and under the car
- Have your keys in your hand. Enter the car, lock the doors, and drive away
- Do not sit in the car in the parking lot and check your packages!
- Also, If you have a cell phone, carry it with you when walking or driving and be prepared to use it to call for help. Know what numbers to call and be prepared to give your exact location to the emergency operator
When You’re Driving:
- Never pick up hitchhikers
- Keep the car doors locked and the windows rolled up at all times
- Keep your car properly maintained and be sure you have enough fuel
- Leave enough space from the car in front of you to maneuver
- Look for pedestrians, many carjackers approach on foot
- Learn your area, especially your neighborhood
- If you feel you are being followed, do not go home! Go to an open business, or
- a police substation or fire station to get help
- If you are bumped in the rear, do not get out of the car! Go to an open business, or a Police Sub-Station or Fire Station and call the police
- Try to park your car in well lighted areas, as close to the door as possible
- Avoid drive through ATM’s at night after the banks are closed
- Again, carry and be prepared to use your cell phone.
Sexual Assault Prevention:
- Make sure all your windows and doors are locked, even when you are at home
- Never allow strangers in your home
- Single women, last name only on your mail box
- Avoid parking in isolated areas
Personal Safety:
- Be especially alert in unattended parking lots and enclosed parking garages
- If you drink alcoholic beverages, be very cautious where you drink, and who is with you
- Never leave clubs or night spots with strangers
- In elevators, stand near the control panel. If someone gets on the elevator that makes you uncomfortable, get off of the elevator
- If attacked in an elevator push as many floor buttons as possible
- Be very selective of whom you date
- If your car breaks down, open the hood, turn on the flashers, and get back in the car and lock the doors. If someone stops to help, crack your window and ask them to phone for help
- If you get a flat, drive on the rim to an open business to get help
- A cellular phone is an excellent security investment
At The Work Place:
- Never leave valuables or keys lying about on your desktop
- Engrave all personal items such as calculators or radios that you bring to work, with your Texas Drivers License Number
- Lock up all valuables before leaving your work area
- If you notice anything suspicious: persons, vehicles, or objects; always notify your supervisor, and security personnel
- If you work late, move your vehicle close to the entrance before dark, and make sure all exterior doors and windows are closed and locked
- Always try to leave the building with co-workers, and have your car keys in your hand ready to use
- Get to know your co-workers, and look out for each other
- Always let someone know where you’ll be in case of an accident or confrontation with a hostile client
- Insist on identification for repair persons who come to your work place, and stay extra alert while they are there
- Report all potentially violent encounters with, or threats from co-workers to your supervisor
Tips to Avoid Identity Theft:
- Do not routinely carry your social security card or birth certificate in your wallet or purse
- Carry only those credit cards you use regularly and cancel all credit cards you do not use
- Keep an accurate list of all credit cards and bank accounts including the name, mailing address and telephone number of the creditor, the account number, and expiration date. Update the list regularly and keep it in a secure place
- Review closely all credit card and bank statements each month to detect unusual activity or unauthorized charges
- Destroy pre-approved credit card solicitations and reduce the number of those solicitations by calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT 1-888-567-8688, or visit the website at Opt Out Pre Screen
- Disclose your social security number only when absolutely necessary. Social Security numbers were implemented as a method to account for your taxable earnings, not as a universal identifier
- Change your driver’s license number to a randomly assigned “S number.”
- When you pay by check, the seller can only record your name, address, driver’s license or Massachusetts ID number, and your choice of a home or daytime telephone number (M.G.L. c. 93, § 105)
- If you have a random license number, you avoid disclosing your Social Security number every time you pay by check
- Don’t give out any personal information on the telephone, through the mail, or over the Internet, unless you’ve initiated the contact or are sure you know with whom you are dealing
- Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office instead of an unsecured mailbox. Remove mail promptly from your mailbox. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Office at 1800-275-8777 or stop by the Post Office and request a vacation hold
- Destroy all credit card and ATM receipts and do not discard them at banks or retail establishments.
If You are the Victim of Identity Theft
File a police report and take actions immediately to minimize damage to your credit record, and to ensure that you are not held responsible for debts which the identity thief incurred using your name. Keep a record of all correspondence and conversations with financial institutions and other companies, credit bureaus, and law enforcement officials. Send all correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested, to document what the company received and when. Massachusetts law provides that identity theft is a crime (M.G.L. c. 266, s. 37E). You should be aware that not all identity theft complaints can or will be investigated. However, by providing law enforcement offices with a written report, you make it possible for law enforcement offices to spot trends and patterns, and to identify the prevalence of identity theft.
Keep copies of everything.
Further Information
For further information visit these sites:
