SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION

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 •You are the most valuable asset for our law enforcement officers and community!

•Know your neighbors and look after one another.

•If you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately and stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you the call is complete.

•If you see anything at all suspicious, call the RCSD at 803.576.3000

•You may call RCSD and request a home security assessment from one of our sheriff’s deputies. Our Community Action Team representative is Deputy Steven Reyes and he can be reached at 803.772.2278. Deputy Reyes or one of his colleagues attends RITCO meetings to update us on activity in Riverview Terrace and our surrounding neighbor communities.

•Whenever possible make your home look occupied with shades closed, lights on, and perhaps sound from a television or stereo/radio. An old pair of muddy shoes or work boots at the back door can be a deterrent.

•If you are home and a stranger comes to your door, speak to them through the closed, locked door. Let any perpetrator know you are home; do not pretend to be away. if someone is casing your home for a robbery, they will rarely attempt to break inside if someone’s there. Of course, always also call law enforcement if you feel trouble is around your property.

•Do not leave valuables in your parked car and ALWAYS lock your car doors. Do not leave large towels (beach style, etc.) or jackets in seats. Thieves may assume they’re covering valuables and break in your vehicle.

• Do not leave your vehicle running and unattended at your home or workplace. That offers car thieves their easiest opportunity to steal your vehicle. In these cases non comprehensive insurance may not cover items inside and insurance companies may subject you to a fraud investigation. Just don’t leave cars running when you’re not inside.

•Keep garden tools locked away. They’re not only valuable; but can also be used to break into your house, garage or shed. Don’t leave other items, including trash, outside that can also be used to break in.

• Don’t leave any other items of value on your property that can be viewed from the road. Secure all your property, such as lawn equipment etc. in a storage shed or garage. Avoid using car ports as a means of security – even if they are well lit with cameras at night.

•Sometimes we forget about crawl spaces. Make sure they’re secured with a substantial lock, chain or perhaps a deadbolt that would make theft difficult and time consuming.

•Keep property landscaped and well maintained. This alone deters many criminals.

• Trim hedges and trees to promote better visibility.

• During night hours, equip the home with lights that are set on timers when you’re away. Both smart lighting and inexpensive timers that have been sold for decades are great.

• Always keep doors locked even when you are home and always lock them behind you, even when you’re going in and out. Quiet, wooded land and homes next to vacant properties may attract perpetrators. Make sure these areas are not visually cluttered and easy to inspect.

•Always secure all windows, especially those on the ground level. Criminals take advantage of opportunity.

• Equip doors with deadbolt locks. Always secure lower level entry doors as well, including the bottom door which enters the lower level directly. Make sure all lower level windows are secure as well. Fairly inexpensive upgrades can be purchased and installed from a reputable contractor.

•Consider installing sturdy storm doors with keyed locks for additional protection.

• Keep your cell phone charged and with you inside and around your property in case of emergencies.

• Don’t let your mail accumulate when you’re away from home. Make arrangements to temporarily stop delivery or for someone to collect your mail, because you don’t want perpetrators knowing you’re not home.

•Also try to manage deliveries of packages and parcels. You want to avoid both porch pirates and of course letting criminals know you’re away. Late November to early January are especially busy weeks for criminals targeting deliveries. When ordering consider lockbox and other pickup options from Amazon, Fedex, etc.

• Install timed flood lights around your property and run them from dusk until dawn. Current flood lights with LED bulbs offer terrific illumination with low wattage costs.

• If finances are available, home alarm systems greatly deter criminals.

• Periodically check to ensure your fencing is secure-- especially in the rear of your home so a potential criminal can more easily be spotted trying to break in.

• Don’t leave ladders out or tools that could potentially be used to gain access into your home or someone else’s home.  Of course, never leave ladders up toward windows and roofs unless you or contractors are actively using them during projects.

• Never let anyone you don’t know or expect for an appointment inside your home to offer information. All contractors, utility company staff, etc. should be wearing clearly visible company identification. Don’t rely solely on uniforms, traffic vests or a particular vehicle. If you’re not sure, ask for information through the locked door (or via video camera, etc.)

• NEVER supply any random person asking for your personal information – especially social security numbers and other government information-- over the telephone or internet. Never give anyone your banking or credit information. Scam artists prosper on opportunities.

• If you’re going away on vacation, other than notifying those you trust, don’t advertise your plans. Load your luggage during a time of day or night with less traffic and activity.

•Do not post photos to social media until after you have returned home. Don’t let everyone know that either most or all of the household is away. Also carefully consider posting any pictures of your home and valuables.

• Copy serial and model numbers of all valuable personal items in your home and safely store them.  Save all store receipts for these items as well. Video footage of your home’s interior that captures footage of the valuable items may well assist law enforcement and help with insurance claims. Keep copies of numbers, receipts and video footage offsite via a safety deposit box, other physically secure means, and/or cloud/internet applications.

• Secure all small items of value, such as electronics, personal files and jewelry in a vault that can be secured within the home. A safe can be reasonably purchased and should be bolted to the floor or wall studs out of view for maximum security. 

• Equip your home with clearly visible numbers for your address so that it can be easily located by emergency personnel. Also, let emergency dispatchers know if your home is accessed from another street. More information can reduce response time for emergency assistance.