Crime Prevention Tips

The Eureka Police Department offers the following crime prevention tips to the citizens and businesses of the city to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of our citizens, businesses, and community. 

Preventing Larcenies from Automobiles

The best way to prevent larcenies from motor vehicles is to never leave valuables in your car unattended and unsecured—particularly electronic goods such as cell phones and laptop computers.  Get into the habit of locking your vehicle even when your vehicle is parked in your driveway.  Remember Lock It and Pocket the Key.  Many of these automobile larcenies are “crimes of opportunity” that could have been avoided if the vehicle had been locked.  Even items such as loose change in an open console can attract someone’s eye. So before you walk away from your auto, scan the interior for valuables. 

Prevention Methods

  • Parking your car in a driveway or parking lot rather than on the street provides some minimal deterrent.   If you must park on the street at night, try to park under a street light or otherwise in a well-lit area and secure your vehicle by rolling up the windows and locking the doors.
     
  • Audible alarms: triggered by motion or impact sensors. Thieves aren’t likely to stick around when they go off.
     
  • Theft deterrent decals: an inexpensive way to bluff a thief into thinking that your vehicle is protected by an alarm or another device but you still need to secure your vehicle.
     
  • When parking at shopping malls or hotels/motels, try to park near the entrance, and always secure your vehicle.
     
  • When you park in your garage don’t leave the garage door up.  Don’t leave valuables in the vehicle, especially wallets, purses and keys.

Beware of Scammers

Scammers make up all kinds of stories to get your money, from telling you that you’ve won a prize, you owe a debt, or your family member is in an emergency. But some things stay the same: scammers want your money, they want it fast, and don’t want you to be able to get it back. They’ll ask you to pay in ways that make it hard to track them down — and once you know what these are, you’ll have one more clue to tell if you’re dealing with a scammer.

Watch this video of how scammers may tell you to pay. 

If you have received one of these calls, make a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Door Security Tips

Lock your door. Even if you’re using added door security, the first protective measure is to keep your home’s doors locked at all times to prevent lurkers from easily entering your home. If your lock isn’t sturdy enough, consider a smart lock for extra home security.

Go windowless. Door windows allow light to filter into your home and pose a home security risk. If the window is located within arm’s reach of your lock, it may be easier to break in. If you have a door with a window.

Protect your sliding doors. Make sure your sliding doors are made from reinforced glass or plastic (like polycarbonate), and not thin, easy-to-break glass. Place a wooden or metal dowel in the track – no more than 1/4″ less than the track length – to prevent forced entry. And consider installing curtains so lurkers cannot see inside easily.

Install a deadbolt. Doors are only as strong as their lock. Deadbolt locks add additional security by only opening with a rotating key without the spring most standard locks have. They’re known to resist force better than most, and can often only be opened from inside if you don’t have the key.

Door Security Bar available at most online stores and home centersdoor secuirty bar

Business Owner Tips

Provide after-hour emergency contact information to the Police Department by filling out the Emergency Contact for Businesses Form.  The form can then be mailed, faxed to 636-938-6602 or you may contact the Police Department business office at 636-938-6600 to have an officer pick the form up or for email information to email it.

Tips for Businesses

  • Keep cash to a minimum with frequent, irregular deposits or a "drop safe." Use visible stickers or signs to advertise your cash control policy.
     
  • Install visible closed circuit television cameras near cash registers.
     
  • Keep your establishment well lit at night. Clear any obstructions that prevent someone on the street from seeing what is happening inside the store.
     
  • Designate a small bundle of cash "bait money." Record the serial numbers of these bills and make sure you give this cash to robbers.
     
  • During a robbery, remember that a robber is a bundle of nerves and, therefore, is very dangerous. Instruct your employees to obey a robber’s instructions calmly and politely.
     
  • Have employees memorize a signal or "code" to alert each other to potential or actual robbers.
     
  • If robbed, try to memorize as much as possible about the robber’s description as in height, weight, hair color, eye color and race.
     
  • If a vehicle is used as a means of escape, provide a brief description of the vehicle, license plate information and the direction of travel.
     
  • After the robber has fled the scene and it is safe to do so, dial 911and report the incident immediately.  While waiting for the Police/Authorities to arrive, remember Do Not touch anything at the scene.

Crime Prevention Resources