NHW 57

Keep a Watch Over Schools, Door To Door Sales, Precautions For Home Security When On Holidays

By - 31st January 2002 - Back to News

Neighbourhood Watch Inc. No. A0037920V

Neighbourhood Watch Area LTB1, Bridle Estate.

Area Coordinators Carmen Cook 5134 1920, Val. Bartholomeusz 5133 9685.

Next Meeting

When: Monday the 17th of December 2001.
Time: 7.15pm to 8.30pm,
Where: Salvation Army Hall,
Bridle Road, Morwell.

The December meeting will be the last for the year, at the conclusion there will be a short social gathering. Residents are asked to bring a plate; tea and coffee will be provided.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 18th of February 2002.

Keep a Watch Over Schools:

Schools can sometimes suffer vandalism and other types of damage during school holidays, because no one is around to look after them. Neighbourhood Watch volunteers and residents can help to prevent this, by keeping a lookout for their local school, and ringing the Police on 000 if they see anything suspicious. A school project could involve Junior Neighbourhood Watch volunteers, and other school children writing to local residents in their school’s area, and asking them to keep a lookout for their school during the holiday period.

Precautions For Home Security When On Holidays:

Cancel newspaper deliveries. Arrange for a friend or trusted neighbour to collect "junk mail" and any other deliveries such as local newspapers which may be made in your absence.
Remove money and valuables to a place of safety, such as a bank.
Consider asking the Post Office to hold your mail during lengthy absences, or if you have a good neighbour you may prefer to ask them to collect and hold your mail.
Use timing switches for lights and radios to create the appearance that someone is home.
Lock away garden tools, ladders or any other implements which could help somebody to break into your home.
Have someone mow your lawn and keep your house exterior tidy. Trim shrubs growing near the house, if they are overgrown they could provide a hiding place.
Don’t leave spare keys hidden in the house.
Let relatives and trusted neighbours know where you are going and for how long you will be absent. Always leave a contact address and phone number.
Keep blinds and curtains open. Make the house look lived in. Ask a neighbour if they could park their car in the driveway occasionally.
If possible leave a house key with a relative or friend who live nearby, or a trusted neighbour.
Most important obtain an "Absence from Residence" form from the Police Station, fill it in, and leave it at the Police Station.

Police Crime Statistics for November 2001, NHW Area LTB1 Bridle Estate

Due to privacy considerations NOT ALL offences for this area are listed

4/11/01 The Avenue Theft.
6/11/01 Cherry Crescent Theft of a motor vehicle.
8/11/01 Waratah Drive Theft from a car parked in the driveway, car window smashed.
9/11/01 Chestnut Avenue Theft from a motor vehicle parked in the driveway.
12/11/01 Ash Street Theft from a motor vehicle parked in the driveway.
17/11/01 Chestnut Avenue Property damage to a flat.
20/11/01 Airlie Bank Road Property damage to a house.
21/11/01 Gabo Way Theft from a house.
24/11/01 The Avenue Property damage in the front garden of a house.
25/11/01 Gabo Way Theft from a front garden of a house.
26/11/01 Buyip Court Theft from a house.

Door To Door Sales:

Some individuals out there are representing themselves as being authorised by NHW to sell products or services. There have been complaints about door to door sales of door viewers (peep holes) and house number painting services.

Neighbourhood Watch Incorporated does not endorse any organization to provide door-to-door products or services. You should be wary of any individual who states otherwise. Always check the identification of the person. Physically read their ID and contact their supervisor if unsure.

You do not have to let anyone into your home, and you are under no obligation to purchase anything.

Don’t be pressured into buying anything you don’t want, and if someone does approach you purporting to be authorised by NHW, contact the Neighbourhood Watch State Co-ordination Office on 9247 5311

We would like to wish all residents a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday.

Special thanks to Carmen, Val. Ros. Dave and S/C Brendan Clifford, and the Zone Leaders for the time and effort they have given to our NHW area over the past year.

Source: http://nhw.gippsland.com/

Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au

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