| Not
every stranger who comes into your neighborhood is a criminal by any
means. There are many perfectly legitimate door-to-door salesmen,
repairmen, and servicemen moving around our neighborhoods all the
time. But criminals do take advantage of this by assuming the
guise of legitimate business representatives. After all, if a criminal
looked like a criminal, no one would have any trouble spotting him.
Check
identification of all solicitors, meter readers, and repairmen prior
to allowing entry into your home. Be suspicious of an alleged
deliveryman with a wrong address or asking if someone else lives
there. Some of the not so obvious things to watch for are:
Someone
Going Door-to-Door In Your Neighborhood
Watch
for awhile. If, after a few houses are visited, one or more of the
persons tries a door to see if it is locked, looks into windows
or goes into a back or side yard, it could be a burglar. Such action
is even more suspicious if one person remains in the front when
this occurs or if there is a car following a few houses away. Call
your local law enforcement department or 911 immediately; do not
wait for the person to leave.
One
or More Juveniles Walking Casually Through The Neighborhood Looking
into Automobiles, Backyards, Etc.
A
Person Running, Especially if Carrying Something of Value
Someone
Carrying Property:
If
it's at an unusual hour, or in an unusual place, or if the property
is not wrapped as if just purchased.
A
Person Exhibiting Unusual Mental or Physical Symptoms:
May
be injured, under the influence of drugs or otherwise needing medical
or psychiatric assistance.
Human
Traffic to And From a Certain Residence:
Is
not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily or very regular basis;
especially during late or unusual hours. It could possibly be the
scene of vice activities or a fence operation.
Any
Person Taking a Shortcut Through a Backyard:
May
have just broken into your neighbor's home.
Any
Vehicle Moving Slowly And Without Lights or Following a Course That
Appears Aimless or Repetitive in Any Location:
But
particularly so in areas of schools, parks and playgrounds. Occupants
may be looking for places to rob or burglarize, or they could be
drug pushers or sex offenders.
Parked,
Occupied Vehicles Containing One or More Persons:
If
it is an unusual hour they could be lookouts for a burglary in progress,
even if the occupants appear to be legitimate.
Vehicles
Being Loaded With Valuables if Parked in Front of a Closed Business:
Or
unattended residence-even if the vehicle is a legitimate looking
commercial vehicle. More and more professional thieves are taking
the time and trouble to customize their vehicles with special signs
in order to move more freely without suspicion.
Apparent
Business Transactions Conducted From a Vehicle:
Especially
around schools or parks. If juveniles are involved, it could mean
a possible drug sale.
Persons
Being Forced Into Vehicles:
Especially
if juveniles or females, may mean a kidnapping.
An
Abandoned Vehicle Parked On Your Block:
May
be a stolen car.
Continuous
Repair Operations at Non-Business Locations:
Could
mean stolen property is being stripped, repainted or otherwise altered.
Open
or Broken Doors or Windows at a Closed Business or Residence:
If
owners are absent, could mean a burglary in progress or already
completed.
A
Beam From a Flashlight in a Neighbor's Home:
Especially
if they are away.
Persons
Wearing or Carrying Bloody Clothing:
Could
be a suspect or victim of a serious crime.
Persons
Making a Quick Change of Vehicles:
May
be attempting to elude the police or abandoning a stolen vehicle
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