The “SEASON” is here in the Coachella Valley. With additional tourists and traffic come distractions. IF we don’t pay attention to our own safety, no one else will. We are all responsible for our family’s security, but we tend to put it on the back burner. The increased “seasonal” population makes for increased criminal activity in the valley so we all must be proactive and aid in our own safety.
I have written numerous legal articles for the CV Weekly on Scams/Theft and related topics. I am supplementing those TIPS and suggesting homeowner’s” prevent criminals from “shopping” in our homes. If you consider what you would do to break into your own home you will find weaknesses in your home security, that you would normally not consider if you didn’t look for them:
· Always close and lock your windows, even when you are home.
- Locking your exterior doors and setting your alarm should be common sense, even if you will only be away for a short time.
- Be sure your security alarm is working properly. If not, don’t wait to address that issue when it’s too late.
- You should consider using dead bolt locks since spring latch locks can easily be bypassed.
- Leaving a key anywhere outside your home, even in a fake rock or under a mat, isn’t safe. It is the first place crooks will look. Always make
arrangements to leave an extra key with a relative, neighbor, friend, etc. You might lose your key while you are in town or are on vacation and need to be able to get into your own home or have someone gain entry.
- NEVER leave notes on your front door or anywhere outside your home for any service people or guests. That’s a “welcome invitation” for the bad guys.
- Use a crow bar or rod and place it in any tracked door or window to see if you can gain access. You can often lift the sliding door by both ends and get it off the track to gain entrance.
- Your garage doors should always be kept closed unless you are in the garage. The security code from the factory-setting of all garage door openers should be changed.
- Never leave a voice mail message that alerts the bad guys that no one is home. Consider saying that “you cannot come to the phone now and to leave a message”.
- If the bad guys think that someone is home they are less likely to try to break in. Thus, consider making it sound like someone is in the house. Set your TV to a 24 hour news station like CNN or FOX. That will give the illusion that your home is occupied and the different TV scenes cast different lights in the home. You can also consider a timer that turns interior lights on and off … whether you are away for an hour or a month.
Consider parking your car in your garage. However, if that isn’t possible, lock your vehicle and never leave a spare key in the vehicle.
- Never leave anything of value in your car when parked in public, especially the glove box or yourgolf carts.
- Cancel your newspaper requestthe Post Office hold your mail. Nothing says “come in and help yourself to my property” like old piled up newspapers in the driveway!
- Alert your neighbors that you will be away and if you or they ever see anything suspicious call Riverside Sheriff immediately! If you ever witness a crime or feel threatened you should call 911 first and then call security if you live in a gated community.
. Vacation pictures shouldn’t be posted until you return, as it alerts the bad guys to take a shot at your home.
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A family centric 10.0/5 Star PI/DUI firm that limits the caseload so calls are answered the “old fashioned” way… by Dale. His rich legal and philanthropic career, led to over 25 Top Lawyer Awards, 9 Man Of The Year Recognitions, 4 Dale Gribow Days… and awarded “Mr. Charity.”
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GIVE THIS DUI CARD TO OFFICER WITH LICENSE | REGISTRATION | INSURANCE
Upon the advice of attorney Dale Gribow, I exercise my right to remain silent until you contact him at 760.837.7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com for his OK. He advises, the VOLUNTARY FIELD SOBRIETY (FST) and BREATH TEST at the scene, are OPTIONAL (unless one is on probation). Thus, I elect not to take them but I want to cooperate and am happy to take a BLOOD TEST.
Silence is Golden & Handcuffs are Silver. It’s not what you say, but what the insurance company/police, thought they heard you say. They are “NOT on Your Side”; “You are NOT in Good Hands” and “Your Friendly Neighbor” will NOT give you a “Piece of the Rock
