Duties of Members

Engrave your possessions with your North Carolina driver's license number and make a written inventory. Take photographs of jewelry, silver, antiques, art, and any additional items you do not engrave. Keep a copy of your inventory and photographs in a deposit box or somewhere away from your home. Update your inventory regularly.

Watch out for all vehicles, not just vans and trucks. Passenger cars, expensive and inexpensive, are also used by thieves. Be prepared to obtain the license number of a suspicious vehicle. Keep a pencil and paper in the car. If you see a prowling car in your neighborhood, take down the license number. If necessary, follow the car and write down a general description of the vehicle and its occupants. Mark the location, time and date for general reference should this information be need again. Ask your children to be alert for suspicious vehicles while they are out and around the neighborhood. Patrol the area whenever you leave and return home. Street activity is a very good deterrent to crime.

Tell your Block Captains when you are having work done or when you are going to be away from home, even for a short trip, so they can keep an eye on your home while you are away. Become familiar with your neighbors' cars. Any car that does not belong in your neighborhood should be considered a possible suspect.

Report suspicious vehicles to your Block Captains. Do not call law enforcement unless you are reporting an actual crime, suspected crime, or threatening situation.

Do not give out any information about your home or family over the phone. Do not tell strangers when you will be away. Be suspicious of anyone you do not know. Do not display your name on a mailbox or plaque. Burglars can phone ahead to make sure your house is empty by simply looking up your name in the phone book. However, do put large house numbers on the mailbox. This helps in locating your home in an emergency situation.

Do not advertise that you are living alone. Single women should list their names in the phone directory with the first and middle initial.

Never open your doors to strangers. Install a peephole so you can properly identify visitors before opening your door. Do not be afraid to demand proper identification. Put a peephole in your door for your small children.

Do not put a name tag on your house keys. Do not give keys to repairmen. Separate auto keys and house keys to avoid duplications. Never leave a key under a doormat, in the mailbox or hanging from a nail. Burglars know all the secret hiding places.

Install double cylinder deadbolt locks on all exterior doors six inches above or below the present locks. If you use deadbolt locks when you are home, leave the key in the lock to prevent your house from becoming a firetrap. Sliding glass doors should be secured with a pin-type locking device or "charlie bar". Window gates and special window locks that can be opened only with a key are effective; however, if you install these locks, leave the key in them when you are at home.

Keep garage doors closed and locked. An empty garage is a reasonably good sign the homeowner is away. Lock up any tools that may be used for prying or breaking.

While away, make your home look and sound occupied. To create the appearance that someone is home, use a timer to turn lights on an off at normal times. A radio playing adds to the illusion that the home is occupied. Your home's exterior should be well lit. Do not leave blind spots where burglars can hide. When in doubt, a thief usually looks for an easier target.

Keep a dog if you can. A barking dog is still one of the most effective burglar alarms. Burglars would rather find another house than hassle with a angry dog.

Community Watch is a family program. Young people can be very helpful in making your Watch work effectively. Involve them in all phases of your program. Also, encourage them to take part in crime prevention activities like those sponsored by 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, D.E.C.A., or other youth groups.

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