Safety Tips For Kids

First and foremost, children should be able to recite their full name, address and telephone number and know how to make emergency calls (911).

Additional Tips

• Teaching your children how to operate the door and window locks.
• Instilling in your children to never enter a home if a window is broken or if a door is open and, instead, should go to get help.
• Teaching your children to pay attention to what is going on around them at all times.
• Play games such as "What if" to help a child problem solve in a dangerous situation.
• Teach your children to never accept a ride from anyone, unless it has been previously arranged or the person knows a secret, established code word.
• Teach your children that an adult will never need the help of a child with directions or finding a lost item such as a puppy or bicycle.
• When personalizing clothing, make sure your child's name is not visible to strangers who could use the information to confuse your child and lure them away.
• Make sure your child knows their neighborhood and knows where to go if there is an emergency.

Safety Tips For Businesses

Prevention is Key

• Provide training for employees so they are familiar with security procedures
• Use high security locks and alarm systems Keep up-to-date records on inventory
• Permanently mark equipment

Burglary Prevention

• Make sure all outside doors have deadbolt locks
• Windows should have secure locks – consider installing metal grates over glass windows
• Light the inside and outside of your business
• Make sure the parking area has good lighting

Robbery Prevention

• Greet every person that comes in – personal contact can discourage a criminal
• Invest in quality security cameras
• Keep windows clear and make sure the building is well lit
• Avoid tinting windows Cash registers should be place in the front of the store
• Make bank deposits during business hours and avoid patterns of when making deposits
• Keep small amounts of cash in the register to reduce loss
• Cooperate with a thief, if confronted - Your safety is first and foremost

Preventing Shoplifters

• Keep the store neat and orderly
• Use mirrors to eliminate blind spots Keep displays full and neat
• Keep expensive merchandise and, if applicable, liquor away from exits
• Cash registers should be inaccessible to customers, locked and watched by employees Keep dressing rooms locked and limit the number of items taken in

Safety Tips For Your Car

Check All of the Vehicle’s Locks
More than two thirds of car thieves will generally enter a vehicle through an unlocked door or an open window.

Valuables
Keep all valuables out of sight.

Theft Prevention
Use anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks, alarm systems or locating devices.

Vehicle Identification Number Window Etching Program
Car theft is a crime of opportunity. Most automobile thieves can make more money by selling the vehicle in pieces, than as a whole. One area that car thieves make a considerable amount of money is by re-selling the glass panels.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office offers a “free” etching process to all residents. The vehicle will have the identification number engraved on to the glass panels, making the vehicle impossible for a potential chop shop to re-use or re-sell the glass. It also becomes a liability as the glass can be traced back to a specific vehicle. For more information about this and other anti-theft programs, contact 480-837-2047.

Watch Your Car Program
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) is offering a "free" anti-theft program to all residents in Fountain Hills.

The "Watch Your Car" Program is a voluntary program that owners of vehicles enroll in. By enrolling in the program the Sheriff's Deputies and all law enforcement officers in the state know that your vehicle in not normally in operation between the hours of 1-5 a.m. This enables law enforcement officials to stop the vehicle if it is in operation within those hours and determine if it is being operated illegally. The program also allows for the vehicle to be stopped at any time of the day if it is within one mile of any border of Arizona or if it is being operated in a suspicious way.

Stickers affixed to the front and rear windows identify to law enforcement officials that the vehicle is enrolled in the program, as well as a notation on the license plate. To enroll in the program, contact the Community Services Division of Fountain Hills at 480-837-2047.

Safety Tips For Your Home

Safety Tips for the Home

• Check all of the locks: Almost half of all burglars will generally enter a home through an unlocked window or an open door.
• Check all of the exterior doors: All of the doors on the house should be good and sturdy as a flimsy door is easily broken.
• Check around the outside of the house: Look at the house from all sides and check if it provides places for a potential burglar to hide.
• Purchase a good burglar alarm: Alarms are a good investment and a good deterrent.
• Plant cactus in front of windows: Cactus in front of windows will be decorative and will also deter a potential burglar from trying to enter through that window.
• Beware of illegal peddlers: Burglars frequently pose as door-to-door peddlers to determine potential targets. The town code mandates that all legitimate peddlers have a business and peddlers license. In addition, peddlers are required to obtain Town-issued identification; this does not apply to religious organizations. If a peddler does not have identification or a Town of Fountain Hills’ business license, please call the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office non-emergency number immediately at 602-252-7840 or 480-837-2047.