Increased crime in Southdowns
neighborhood and surrounding areas prompted city council leaders and area law enforcement officials to hold a community meeting last fall to discuss the problem and proposed solutions. The outcome of the meeting resulted in the addition of patrols in the area, mounted police and undercover agents in unmarked vehicles.
While the rash of crime has seemed to subside a bit,
area residents must be vigilant and take personal measures to secure their own homes and property.
Southside Civic Association is also collecting annual dues for 2014.
This is a voluntary association fee but part of the fee does pay to increase off duty patrols of the area. Annual membership dues are only $25 for an entire household. You can’t beat that. Membership offers you an opportunity to participate in association activities and helps keep you plugged into issues and concerns of our neighborhood. So join now and get involved! Encourage your neighbors to do the same. To learn more please visit…. SOUTHSIDE CIVIC ASSOCATION
Additionally, here are some personal home safety tips offers by
Reader’s Digest Magazine…..
1. Store valuables in your child’s sock drawer rather than in your nightstand.
Thieves often scour the master bedroom but tend to leave children’s rooms untouched.
2. If your front entrance contains decorative glass, install your security keypad in a spot that is not visible from the doorstep.
That way, burglars won’t be able to peer in and see if the alarm is set.
3. A mail slot goes against the wood grain, weakening the horizontal integrity of a door and making it easier to kick in.
Opt for a mailbox, or install your slot near the bottom of the front door, no higher than a quarter of the way up.
4. Keep car keys next to your bed while you sleep.
If you hear a suspicious noise and suspect that someone is trying to break in, press the Panic button on your key ring. The car alarm will sound, and the burglar will have no choice but to flee the scene.
5. Plant thorny shrubs, such as rosebushes, beneath ground-floor windows.
They’ll add beauty to your garden and deter burglars.
6. If you’re going away on vacation, ask a neighbor to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door.
Crafty criminals have been known to leave pizza ads in doors to see how long it takes for residents to remove them.
7. Rather than loading up the car the night before a weekend getaway, quickly do it in the morning right before you leave.
Left in front of the house, a fully packed car can serve as a green light for those looking for one.
8. Lower the volume of your telephone ringer.
This way a passerby won’t be able to hear it go to voice mail, which is an indication that no one is home.
9. Don’t store wood near the side of the house, as it can easily be used by intruders as a stepladder up to a window.
Keep logs in the garage or in a pile at the edge of the yard.
10. If a yard worker or unknown visitor uses the bathroom, he may unlatch the window so he can gain entry later.
Be sure to double-check the lock.
11. Choose your locksmith wisely.
Some are unlicensed or dishonest so always look for a well-established locksmith business that is bonded and insured.
12. If you don’t have a security system, at least purchase a decal.
If you cannot afford a security system, buy an alarm or patrol service decal to place on your front door. While an accomplished thief is not fooled, decals may deter a less-experienced thief from entering.
13. Join a community-wide crime-prevention program.
Operation Identification is a nationwide project that encourages people to mark their property to combat burglary and theft. In some cities, burglary rates for Operation Identification households were significantly lower than those of non-participants. Also look into groups like Neighbhorhood Watch to see how you can get involved.
If you are looking to purchase or sell in the Southdowns area, please feel free to give me call at 225.938.8229 or visit
DWELLBATONROUGE
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
livesouthdowns 
Posted on February 19, 2014
0