Behind the Badge
Set a nightly reminder on your phone to lock up at 9 p.m.
That’s the message of the Anaheim Police Department’s #9pmRoutine social media campaign, aimed at reminding the public to lock their doors, windows, garage and vehicles to prevent theft.
The campaign runs through October.
“I think it’s just good for all of us to remember that a lot of crime is preventable,” said Kristina Hamm, assistant public information officer for the APD. “There are small steps that we can take to make our homes and communities safer.”
The Anaheim PD is coordinating the #9pmRoutine campaign in conjunction with the National Crime Prevention Council’s designation of October as Crime Prevention Month.
Since 1984, the NCPC has promoted this month to recognize and celebrate the practice of crime prevention, promote voluntarism, and create safer communities.
With night falling earlier as the season changes, thieves can more easily commit home burglaries, mail/package theft, and car burglaries. A lot of property crimes are also committed because someone spots a backpack or purse through a window, Hamm said.
“It’s about getting rid of the situations that may trigger the crime,” she said.
Every Friday in October, the Anaheim PD will highlight tips for preventing different kinds of theft on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Anaheim officers share many of these same suggestions at neighborhood watch and other community meetings.
Here are examples of the crime prevention tips the public can expect to hear about:
— Trim bushes and shrubs around your home to be below window level and off the ground
— If you have a surveillance camera system, make sure that it’s recording properly
— Check the delivery status of your packages online so you can be home when they arrive
— Arrange for packages to be shipped where someone can receive them
