Safety Guides & Tips

The Waterford Police Department, in in conjunction with the PROJECT CHILDSAFE program, have free gun locks available at the station. This is a national program to help ensure the safe and responsible firearms ownership and storage, developed by the National Shooting Foundation and supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant. These locks can be obtained anytime at the police department. there is no paperwork or other forms to complete, just come in and tell us how many locks you need.. Available while supply last.

Contents

Identity Theft
Firearms Safety
Why House Numbers?
Burglary Prevention Tips
Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts
How To Safeguard Your Children
How to Safeguard Your Home While on Vacation
How To Protect Yourself While Using An Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

Identity Theft - Lost or Stolen Purse, Wallet, Identification

Getting Purse-and-all

Psst...Want to know a secret? A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information for a new kind of crook-the identity thief.

Identity thieves can use information found in your wallet or purse-from credit cards, checks, your Social Security card, even health insurance cards-to establish new accounts in your name. That could create an identity crisis that can take months to detect, and even longer to unravel.

If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, the Federal Trade Commission suggests that you:

• File a report with the police immediately. Get a copy in case your bank, credit card company or insurance company needs proof of the crime. You will be given a case number when you report the incident. Reports will be ready in about 4 days. Call ahead to so it can be readied for you.
• Cancel each credit and charge card. Get new cards with new account numbers.  Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies: Equifax (800) 525-6285; Experian (888) 397-3742; TransUnion (800) 680-7289; Ask them to put a "fraud alert" on your account and add a "victim's statement" to your file requesting that creditors contact you before opening new accounts in your name.
• Ask the credit bureaus for copies of your credit reports. Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your existing accounts. In a few months, order new copies of your reports to verify your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
• Report the loss to your bank if your wallet or purse contained bank account information, including account numbers, ATM cards or checks. Cancel checking and savings accounts and open new ones. Stop payments on outstanding checks.
• Get a new ATM card, account number and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or password.
• Report your missing driver's license to the department of motor vehicles. If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number.
• Change the locks on your home and car if your keys were taken. Don't give an identity thief access to even more personal property and information.

If you've been a victim of identity theft, file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by telephone: toll-free 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or online: www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Ask for a copy of ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name, a free comprehensive consumer guide to help you guard against and recover from identity theft.
    modified 02/27/2006 SJR

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Burglary Prevention Tips

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.

• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.

• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

• Keep your garage door closed and locked.

• Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.

• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

• Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.

• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

Other precautions you should take.

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.

• Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.

• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9­1­1 immediately.

• Mark your valuables with your driver's license number with an engraver you can borrow from Waterford Police Department. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.

• Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. The Waterford Police can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary. Ask for your Community Policing Coordinator in your area of town by calling the Waterford Police Department.

• On a personal level, you may want to consider installing a burglar alarm system. The Waterford Police Department, however, does not and will not make any recommendations as to type or company to contact. This is a personal choice as a business or home owner.

Call the Waterford Police Department for crime prevention advice and for a free home or business security survey. The Waterford Police Department can be contacted at 442-9451.

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How to Safeguard Your Home While on Vacation

• Strive to make your home look as lived-in as possible while you're away.
• Don't broadcast your plans but do let your neighbors and local law enforcement know.
• Give a spare key to your neighbors and give them an emergency telephone number to reach you.
• Arrange to have your mail and newspapers either stopped or picked up daily.
• Have someone mow your yard or rake the leaves so your house looks lived-in.
• Use automatic timers to turn on a radio and lights at different intervals to hide the fact you aren't home.
• Turn down the ringer on the telephone. An unanswered telephone is a dead give-away.
• Be sure you don't announce your absence on your answering machine message.
• Leave your blinds like you normally would if you were home. Only close them all the way if that is what you would normally do.
• Be sure to close and lock the garage as well as any storage sheds, gates, etc.
• Engrave all your valuables with your driver's license number. If possible videotape the contents of your home. Be sure to keep the video and the list of valuables in a safety deposit box.
• Ask your neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. If you are leaving a vehicle parked outside, have the neighbor move it periodically so it looks as though you are home.
• Be sure someone knows your itinerary and your estimated time of arrival and return.
• If you get lost while traveling, ask directions of local law enforcement, not complete strangers.
• Be sure your vehicle is in good working condition and that you have taken enough money. Do not carry large amounts of cash, use credit cards and travelers' checks.

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How To Safeguard Your Children

• Teach them to never talk to strangers.
• Teach them never to ride their bikes alone; always ride with a buddy and always wear their helmet.
• Teach them to never play in the street.
• Teach them to always look both ways and watch for cars before entering or crossing the street.
• Establish neighborhood boundaries in which they may play.
• Teach them to never open the door to a stranger when home alone.
• Teach them that, when answering the telephone, never give out any personal information or let the person who calls know if they are alone.
• Teach them to be sure to let their parents know exactly where they will be and for how long, and to always call and let them know if they decide to go somewhere else.
• If they should see a gun, teach them to stop, don't touch, call an adult.
• Teach them to never get into a car with someone they don't know.
• If they feel threatened, teach them to run away as fast as they can.
• Develop a secret password that must be used if someone unfamiliar is to pick them up from school or play.
• If they come home and something about their house doesn't look right, teach them to go immediately to a neighbor's for help.

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Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts

A special kind of protection

Child safety seats are as important as your child's immunizations (baby shots) in protecting his or her life and health. Did you know that the greatest danger to children after they have reached two to three months of age is car accidents? Fortunately, serious injuries and deaths can be prevented simply by using a child safety seat or restraint that is appropriate for your child's age. After October 1, 2005, children must ride in a proper child restraint until they are over 6 years of age and 60 pounds! (Both the age and  weight requirements must be met) After children outgrow their car seat, they must ride in a booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt. The law also now requires that infants remain rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and 20 pounds.

Violators will be fined and required to attend a car seat education class.

What seat works best?

Here are some general guidelines to help you select a car seat that best fits your child. If you need additional assistance, more information can be obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics (see Resource section).

Infant-only car safety seats (from birth to 20 pounds)

Infant-only safety seats must face the rear of the car when installed. Usually the center of the back seat is the safest place for your child. If you use the front seat and your car has an airbag on the passenger side, a rear-facing infant needs to ride in the back. Seats made for infants only must face backward no matter what your child weighs.

Infant car safety beds are available for premature infants or infants who must lie flat for medical reasons. Your doctor needs to decide if your child should ride on his or her back or stomach The infant's head should face the center of the car when the seat is in place. Please check your car owner's manual for instructions on using the car bed in a car with airbags. (See the Resource section for more information on safely traveling with children who have special needs.)

Convertible safety seats (from birth to 60 pounds)

Convertible safety seats-those you can use for infants and toddlers-must face the rear of the car until the child weighs  20 pounds and is one year old. This position protects the child's back, neck and head, and is very important for young children. Make sure the seat belt is routed correctly. There is only one correct way if the seat faces the rear and one correct way if it faces forward, although the way the belt is routed varies depending on the brand of seat you buy.

Remember, the safest seat is one that your child will use every time he or she rides in the car. Make sure the seat you buy has easy-to-follow directions and can be taken in and out of the car easily. All safety seats should have a five-part harness--two shoulder straps, a lap belt and a crotch strap. Children weighing over 60 pounds are usually ready to be strapped into the car's lap and shoulder belts, with a booster seat. Help your children develop this habit by setting a good example-use seat belts every time you get in the car for short and long trips.

Making friends with your child safety seat

• Set a good example. If you buckle up, your child will want to be safe too.
• Praise your child often for riding in the safety seat or wearing a seat belt.
• For infants, comfort counts. Pad the sides of the seat with rolled towels or put a rolled towel between the crotch strap and the infant to prevent slouching.
• Restless toddlers may appreciate soft or chewy toys attached to the seat with very short strings. Unattached toys will fall out of your child's reach or go flying during sudden stops.
• Let your two- and three-year-olds put stickers, names or racing stripes on their seat. Make the seat their ";special seat"; Show your child how to buckle up their favorite stuffed animal or doll.
• Older children enjoy ";feeling like a grown-up"; by showing younger children how to use safety seats. Show them how they can set a good example.
• Children old enough to use seat belts should know what your rules are about using them. Try using reminder stickers for your children and their friends riding in your car.
• Never let a fussy child out of a safety seat or seat belt while the car is moving. Stop the car if he or she needs a break.

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How To Protect Yourself While Using An Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

• Try to avoid using an ATM by yourself. Either take someone with you or only use an ATM when others are around.
• If possible, avoid using an ATM after dark. If you must, choose one that is well lighted and does not have tall bushes nearby.
• When you arrive at an ATM, look around. If you see anything that makes you uncomfortable or anyone who looks suspicious, do not stop. Either use an ATM at a different location or come back later. Notify the authorities.
• Have your access card and any other documents you need ready when you approach an ATM. While you are fumbling with a wallet or purse, you are easy game for a thief.
• If someone else is using the ATM when you arrive, avoid standing right behind them. Give them enough space to conduct their transaction in privacy.
• Even while using the ATM, stay alert to your surroundings. Look up and around every few seconds while transacting your business.
• Protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Do not enter your PIN if anyone else can see the screen. Shield your PIN from onlookers by using your body.
• When your transaction is finished, be sure you have your card and your receipt, then leave immediately. Avoid counting or otherwise displaying large amounts of cash.
• As you leave, keep a look out. Be alert for anything or anyone who appears suspicious. If you think you are being followed, go to an area with a lot of people and call the police.

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Why House Numbers?

Please take this simple preventive measure that could mean "saving the life" of a household member.

When you need to call either us, the fire department or ambulance services in an emergency situation we do our best to get there as quickly as possible. Often the number to a resident's home is not posted, not visible (due to deterioration or similar color to house exterior) or not easily visible at night-time. This can mean the difference between life and death to you or the person in need of help.

We all respond to life-threatening calls often! Take for instance someone is choking in your household, you have called for emergency response and are making an effort to save your loved one's life (either through CPR, first aid, or being "talked through" over the phone). The ambulance, fire or police department arrives within 5 minutes and is now driving up and down your street looking for the number they were dispatched to. They take valuable seconds (or longer) determining your number by the surrounding house numbers (if any displayed) and then hopefully get to your loved one in time to save them.

This type of scenario is not made up, it is unfortunately common. Please do not let yourself or any member of your household suffer through a sustained injury or worse because of something as simple as your house/residence number not being posted clearly. If you live in a multi-family dwelling, be sure your unit number is also clearly displayed.

Also,if you notice that your street sign is missing, please call the Waterford Police Department at 442-9451or the Waterford Public Works Department at 444-5864.

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FIREARM FACTS

Everyday 10 American Children ages 18 and under are killed nationwide in gun accidents, suicides and homicides. Many more are severely wounded or maimed. Gunshot wounds to children ages 16 and under have increased 300% in major urban areas since 1986. 60% of teen deaths by suicide involve the use of a gun, nearly 3000 teens use handguns to commit suicide every year. Nationwide an estimated 400,00 youngsters carried handguns to school in 1987, in Baltimore half the males reported having taken a gun to school. We cannot gun proof our children and teenagers, children are playful and active, teenagers are curious and impulsive. Such healthy traits when mixed with firearms can be deadly.

BASIC FIREARM RULES

• Store all firearms unloaded in a securely locked container, only adults should know where the container is located.
• Store guns and ammunition in separate locked containers.
• For a revolver place a padlock around the top strap of the weapon to prevent the cylinder from closing or use a trigger lock. For an automatic handgun use a trigger lock.
• When handling or cleaning a gun, never leave it unattended, even for a moment. It should be in your view at all times.
• Even if you don't own a gun you should check with other parents where your children frequent, who might own a gun, to be sure safety precautions are followed.
• Parents should discuss firearms safety with their children and tell them what to do if they encounter a firearm.

FIREARM EDUCATION

Safety in general is largely a matter of education and home firearms safety is certainly no exception. The head of the house must teach safe gun handling to all family members. Without proper education, preventive measures are nearly useless.

Children are never too young to begin the lessons of safety. Teaching can begin long before the child is old enough to understand detailed instruction. Start by setting a proper and consistent example. If parents treat guns with care and respect, children will likely follow their lead.

The second stage is more difficult, but well worth the effort. It involves convincing the child that firearms are not toys. Having noticed adult interest in guns, children will naturally develop a healthy curiosity about their use and operation. In addition, children tend to have an entirely unrealistic idea of what guns are all about because of exposure to modern realistic toys and to the fantasies of television. The quickest and surest way to show youngsters the power of firearms is by demonstration. Take them to the local range, fire a few rounds of high velocity ammunition at closed gallon cans of water, and show them the results.

It is a serious mistake to assume that keeping children ignorant will prevent accidents. Nothing could be further from the truth. Where firearms are concerned, there is no such thing as blissful ignorance. Keeping youngsters in the dark only insures that they will not understand the potential danger and increases the likelihood that they will seek to satisfy their curiosity without proper supervision. Also, the hazards that the parent wishes to eliminate are greatly increased if the child does not know how firearms function.

A good rule for children is: "Hands Off" until they are old enough to be taught safe gun handling, and then only in the presence of an adult -- NEVER while playing with other children.

As soon as a child is old enough, he or she should be enrolled in one of the many firearms safety classes sponsored by sportsmen's groups across the country. These courses provide excellent training and serve to reinforce the lessons learned at home.

If you have any questions about safety or firearms you may have at your home, contact the Waterford Police Department for assistance. Consider registering the firearms in your home with the department or Connecticut State Police Firearms Division. Permits to carry firearms are a requirement in the State of Connecticut and the Town of Waterford. You can apply for your local town permit by coming to the Waterford Police Department.

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