-
Please take account for all serial numbers on your
TVs, stereos, DVD players, VCR's, electronic games, etc.
-
Bicycles, tools, lawn equipment, etc. or any item
without serial numbers should be engraved with your driver's license
number. Do not engrave your social security number. This will only
make you a victim of identity theft. Call your local law enforcement
agency to find out if an engraver can be checked out.
Before leaving on vacation for the holidays, you need to do the
following:
-
Place an automatic light timer in the house so it
will look like someone is home at night.
-
Place a hold on the mail and/or newspaper or have
a trusted friend or neighbor pick them up for you daily.
-
Have a trusted friend or neighbor, check your home
periodically.
-
Do not leave keys to your car, house, office, etc.
around in case a burglary occurs.
-
Place a club or other type of device on all vehicles
left behind while you are away on vacation. A car alarm or a kill
switch is also a good idea.
-
Make sure that all window shades, blinds, or curtains
are closed so that people cannot see in your home or view any presents
under the Christmas tree. You may have a pretty tree but this may
also conclude to burglars that you have lots of nice presents.
When going Christmas shopping:
-
Beware of your surroundings at all times. Have your
keys ready before you walk out of the store and always look around.
If you see something suspicious, turn around and report it immediately.
Most stores have security or off duty police officers to insure
your safety
-
Avoid shopping at night and alone. Instead go in
pairs or groups.
-
Don't park in unlighted areas.
-
Don't carry a large amount of money or too many
credit cards.
-
Don't flash your cash or credit cards when paying
for your merchandise.
-
Avoid carrying a big purse. Most of your perpetrators
think "big purse, more cash!"
-
Don't leave your purse unattended in the shopping
cart or at least secure it to the shopping cart with the child safety
belt.
-
Try not to carry more bags than you can handle.
This will only make you an easy target for a purse-snatcher.
-
Keep all valuables and shopping bags left in your
vehicle out of sight by locking them in your trunk, console.
-
Never leave children unattended. If they happen
to get lost, teach them to contact a store clerk or security.
Charitable Giving Tips
Local citizens have reported being contacted by an organization
claiming to be soliciting funds for the Waco Fire Department. This
group is called "United Firefighters of America" and is in no way
affiliated with the City of Waco Fire Department or the Waco Firefighters
Association.
The City of Waco Police Department offers some advice
to citizens to consider before making a charitable gift:
- The Better Business Bureau provides standards for charity accountability.
You can find this report at: www.give.org.
The same web site offers a list of charities that meet their standards
of integrity and view their financial statements.
- If you cannot find a charity listed on that web site, you can
contact your local Better Business Bureau for a reliability report.
- To meet the Better Business Bureau's accountability standards,
a charity should spend at least 65 percent of their total expenses
on program activities and no more than 35 percent on fundraising.
- According the BBB's standards, a reputable charity should have
a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members that
provide financial oversight of the charity's operations and staff.
- Potential donors are in no way obligated to make a contribution
on the spot. The charity should be willing to provide potential
donors with a complete annual financial statement that includes
a breakdown of expenses including a percentage of expenses for
administration, fund raising and program activities. They should
also be willing to provide you with the names of the members of
the board of directors and a summary of accomplishments.
- Donors should inquire about privacy policies to insure that
their names will not be shared with other organizations.
- In the case of the sale of products or services benefiting a
charity, the donor should inquire about the actual or anticipated
portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity and
the duration of the campaign.
- Citizens should keep records of all previous donations, so they
can verify whether or not they have donated to the group in the
prior year.
- If a group claims to represent a local law enforcement agency
or fire department, feel free to contact the organization first
to determine if a fundraising effort is underway.
- If you feel that you have been a victim of fraud, call your
local police department.
- In the case of telephone solicitation, the potential donor can
ask the caller to identify him/herself and ask for their phone
number or a phone number to call to verify the cause. In the case
of high-pressure tactics, citizens can always choose to simply
hang up the phone.
- If citizens are not sure of the credibility of the soliciting
organization, they should not give out their credit card number
or other personal information, until they receive additional information
from the charity.
For more information, call the Crime Prevention Office
at 750-1761.
Medicare Discount Cards -
Don't Let the Crooks Cash in
Senior Alert from the
Office of the Attorney General
Recent changes in the Medicare system will provide substantial
benefits for seniors. However, the Attorney General cautions all seniors
to be careful as to where they obtain information about this new Medicare
discount card program.
Scam artists are already trying to rob seniors by playing
upon and adding to the confusion. The Attorney General tells seniors:
if someone calls you and starts talking about how to get your benefits
under the new Medicare laws, JUST HANG UP.
The real Medicare discount cards will not be available
before May, 2004. Anyone who says you can obtain one prior to then
is trying to scam you.
No one should be calling you trying to get your bank
or credit card account numbers or any other personal (SSAN or DOB)
or financial information in connection with the new federal laws pertaining
to this program.
Reliable information can be obtained from your health
care provider, senior center, or from the Medicare web site - www.Medicare.gov.
Lets make certain the real benefits of this program go to our seniors.
Don't let a con artist cash in on this program.
Riding In Cargo Beds
(From the National Safe Kids Campaign Web site
and Texas Transportation Code )
Why Kids are at Risk
The popularity of trucks is growing every year, and
more parents are using trucks to transport their families. Children
are 10 times more likely to die when riding in a cargo bed than while
riding in the passenger area.
Each year, children account for more than half of the
200 deaths resulting from riding in cargo beds. Ejection during a
crash is the most common cause of death and injury.
However, even if there is no crash and you are driving
at a low speed, sudden swerving, stopping or bumpy roads can cause
injury to children in the cargo bed or who fall out of the vehicle.
Cargo covers do not provide protection. In fact, they can potentially
lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
State Law - Transportation Code
Section 545.414. Riding in open beds; offense.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person operates
an open-bed pickup truck or an open flatbed truck or draws an open
flatbed trailer when a child younger than 18 years of age is occupying
the bed of the truck or trailer.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor
punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $200.
(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section
that the person was:
(1) operating or towing the vehicle in a parade
or in an emergency;
(2) operating the vehicle to transport farm-workers
from one field to another field on a farm-to-market road, ranch-to-market
road, or county road outside a municipality;
(3) operating the vehicle on a beach;
(4) operating a vehicle that is the only vehicle
owned or operated by the members of a household; or
(5) operating the vehicle in a hayride permitted
by the governing body of or a law enforcement agency of each county
or municipality in which the hayride will occur.
Protecting Your Family
(a) Never allow anyone to ride in the bed of a pickup
truck.
(b) Always use child safety seats and/or safety belts
correctly.
For additional safety tips see: www.safekids.org
web site.
SAFETY
BELTS/CHILD SAFETY SEATS AND AIR BAGS
(HOW TO SAVE
A LIFE)
Here's The Law
Texas law requires everyone sitting in the front seat of a vehicle
to be secured by a safety belt. The law also requires all children less
than 17 years of age, whether they are sitting in the front or back
seat, to be secured with a safety belt. Children under 4 years of age
or less than 36 inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat.
SAFETY BELTS AND AIR BAGS
Lap and shoulder safety belts offer the best protection (combined with
air bags) for reducing fatalities and serious injuries in traffic collisions.
But only if they are used each and every time you get into a vehicle!
WEAR:
- Lap belts should fit snugly across the hips, not over the stomach
- Shoulder belts go over the shoulder and across the center of the
chest
- Never tuck a shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back
- Air bags inflate at rates up to 200 mph! Place yourself, adjust
seat, ten inches from the bag (measure from steering wheel/airbag
location to your breastbone).
- "Children 12 and under are safest when secured in the back seat"
- NEVER, EVER PUT AN INFANT IN A REAR-FACING SAFETY SEAT IN FRONT
OF AN AIR BAG!!!!!
CHILDREN
AND CHILD SAFETY SEATS
REMEMBER
"Children 12 and under are safest when secured in the back seat"
THE LAW:
- Children under 5 years old and under 36 inches tall must be secured
in a child safety seat.
- All children under 17 years old are required to be secured by
a safety belt (preferably a lap/shoulder system) regardless of where
they sit in the vehicle.
- Everyone in the front seat of a vehicle is required to be secured
by a safety belt.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT SELECTION:
- Select a seat appropriate for your child's height and weight
- Select a child safety seat that can be installed in your vehicle
(Consider the size of your rear seat, space between the front and
rear seats and type of safety belts in your vehicle)
- Select a seat you will use correctly every time
Note: if a child safety seat is more than 5 years old,
has been involved in a crash, is damaged, or a hand me down you do not
know the history of or have the instructions manual for it should be
replaced.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT POSITIONING:
Under 1 year and less than 20 pounds: Rear-facing seat
(recommend center rear seat position)
At least 1 year old and 20 to 40 pounds: Forward-facing
seat with internal harness system. (Note: it is recommended the child
remain rear facing as long as they are within the weight limits of the
rear-facing seat and the top of their head is not within 1 inch of the
top of the plastic shell of the child safety seat). Remember both of
these seats also need to be attached to the car using the vehicles safety
belts.
40 to 80 pounds and at least 4 years old: Booster seat
utilizing the vehicle's safety belts (lap and shoulder) to secure the
child and seat to the car.
Over 80 pounds (between the ages of 8 and 12): Use the
cars lap/shoulder safety belts, remembering the safest position is in
the rear seat.
CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATION:
- Read and follow the instructions for the child safety seat and
your vehicle owners manual.
- If at all possible install the seat in a rear seat position (center
rear is the preferred position for seats with internal harness systems).
- The vehicle's safety belt for the location you select to install
the child safety seat must be made to lock in order to hold the
safety seat firmly in place, read and follow the safety belt locking
instructions in your vehicle's owners manual.
- When securing the seat with the vehicles safety belt system make
certain you route the safety belt through the correct belt pathway
on the child safety seat (see instructions).
- Make certain the seat is tightly secured with the safety belt
by leaning into the child safety seat while tightening the safety
belt (a common mistake is not getting the seat secured tightly enough).
Check for tightness by grabbing the seat at the belt path you used.
Try sliding the seat side-to-side and then forward and backward
along the seat. If it moves more than 1 inch either way it is too
loose!
- Infant and rear-facing child safety seats should be reclined at
a 45-degree angle. Note: if you have a child safety seat that can
be installed either rear or forward facing (called a convertible
seat) make certain the angle adjustment device is in the correct
position for either rear or forward facing. (Follow label instructions)
- Forward-facing seats should be installed upright. (Check angle
adjustment device if it is a convertible child safety seat and make
certain the harness system is routed through the "reinforced" harness
slots).
- If using a combination safety seat (forward facing and /or booster
seat) remove the internal harness system before using it as a booster
seat. Booster seats need to be used with a lap/shoulder safety belt
system. When using a booster seat make certain the shoulder belt
is properly positioned on the child by using either the booster
seat or vehicle's belt positioning system (refer to owner manuals).
SECURING THE CHILD IN THE SAFETY SEAT:
- Make sure the child is all the way back against the seat.
- Place the harness around the child per the manuals instructions:
Generally the harness system fits over the shoulders and across
the hips.
- Snap the latch(s) into the buckle located at crotch level. (This
buckle should be as close to the child's crotch as possible but
not underneath the child).
- Secure the harness straps with the harness retainer clip (the
plastic clip) and position at armpit level.
- Tighten the harness straps using the harness adjustment mechanism
such that the harness straps are snug (but not to tight) against
the child - you should not be able to pinch the fabric of the harness
strap together. NOTE: If you are using an o-ring type harness adjuster
(usually located at the back of the seat) make sure you double the
harness strap back through the ring or it will not be secure!
- Do not place blankets under child or have bulky clothes/jackets
on child while in the child safety seat as this prevents the harness
straps from being properly tightened. (Place blanket over or slide
coat on arms after child in secured in the seat). Also avoid toys
and like items attached to the seat or near the child that could
become a projectile in a crash causing death or injury to the child.
Such items could also interfere with the correct function of the
child safety seat.
- After you have the child safety seat correctly installed, check
it at least once a week to ensure it is still tightly secured to
the car seat.
- Make sure you mail in the registration form to the manufacturer
so you can be notified of any product defects or recalls.
LATCH SYSTEM:
LATCH stands for: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
Newer child safety seats and vehicles have Latch systems.
Vehicle: LATCH equipment is being phased in starting with
20 percent of vehicles in model year 2001 and increasing to 100 percent
by September 1, 2003.
Child Restraints: All child safety restraint systems
since September 1, 2002 are required to have LATCH. TETHERS have been
required since September 1, 1999.
The vehicle should have tether attachments (to secure
the tether strap generally located at the top back of the child safety
seat) and at least 2 anchor locations (generally in the bite area of
the seats) for securing the child safety seats anchor straps. Refer
to the vehicle and child safety seat manuals for properly securing the
child safety seat using the LATCH system.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
It is very important to read and follow the installation
instructions included in the vehicle owner's manual and that of the
child safety seat as not all child safety seats and safety belt systems,
their installation, use and compatibility are discussed above. FOR INFORMATION
OR ASSISTANCE CALL THE WACO POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME PREVENTION UNIT
AT: 750-1761
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