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Posts Tagged ‘safety’

Help clean the street for little feet!

Posted in Transportation, tagged , , , , on August 7, 2014 | Leave a Comment »

bad sidewalk

Sidewalks covered in leaves and debris like this one are not fun – or safe! – for students (and adults) to walk on.

It’s back to school time, which means you’ll be seeing more children and teens walking to and from school during the week. Decatur residents have invested millions of dollars in the installation and maintenance of sidewalks, but all too often pedestrians find themselves in unsafe situations where a sidewalk is overgrown with residential landscape plants or covered with slippery leaves or landscape debris.

Per city code, residents are responsible for the upkeep and de-littering of their property all the way to the curb. Please prune plants to behind the edge of the sidewalk and make sure there is at least seven feet of clearance overhead so that pedestrians don’t have to dodge low branches as they walk.

Keep the sidewalk in front of your home clear of debris and vegetation in every season. The children (and adults) depend on you to keep the neighborhood safe for walkers.

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Summer heat safety reminders

Posted in Community, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 8, 2014 | Leave a Comment »

From the Decatur Police Department’s Jennifer Ross: 

It is the time of year where I anxiously wait for October to arrive but we have many more weeks of “Hotlanta” temperatures ahead before my wish is granted so we wanted to send out a few hot weather reminders to help make sure those who are most vulnerable stay safe.

Hot Car 070814_blog

Never Leave Children, Seniors or Animals in Parked Vehicles. Nobody should be sitting in parked cars this time of year but children, seniors and animals are even more vulnerable. Just don’t do it.  Not even for a the few minutes it takes to run a quick errand. It does not take long for the temperature inside of a parked vehicle to become dangerous.  According to the National Weather Service, the inside of a vehicle can reach temperatures over 120 degrees in just 80 degree weather. I decided to check out the Decatur sun today and with the outside temperature at 87 degrees and a light rain shower, within just one hour the temperature inside of the car reached 106 degrees. While thankfully there has not been any incidents of children, seniors or pets left in vehicles with tragic outcomes in our community, we have responded to a few instances of children and pets in hot cars that were noticed and reported by concerned citizens before something tragic occurred.

Check On Your Senior Neighbors. This is a particularly dangerous time of year for seniors. Seniors worried about high electric bills too often forgo air conditioning which can lead to heat stroke or worse.  Please take a few minutes to check on senior neighbors and family members. Make sure they are drinking enough water and not staying in homes that are too hot for their health. Let them know about Georgia Power’s senior bill discount if they are at least 65 year of age and live on an income no more than $23,340.  They can also call 2-1-1 (United Way) to learn if there are any other financial aid programs that might help offset cooling costs.

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June is National Safety Month

Posted in Community, emergency management, tagged , on June 12, 2014 | Leave a Comment »

Safety Month_Flyer

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Fire & Security Alarm Registry

Posted in emergency management, tagged , , , , , , on April 3, 2014 | Leave a Comment »

Help your Decatur Fire and Police Department continue to provide efficient and effective services by registering your fire and security alarms. Alarm registration information in the Decatur database will be used only by public safety.

Please provide information about the owner, property, key holder, and alarm company. Public safety does not need passwords or codes. Sign up online here.

 

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YOUR Home for the Holidays

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 10, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

robber with santas bag

Sgt. Jennifer Ross with the Decatur Police Department sends along the following:

To burglars, the holiday season in particular, means that your home generally has more things to steal. Not a very joyful thought, but an unfortunate reality. You can choose to be paranoid and add to the stress of the holiday season or take the time to throw up a few more roadblocks to annoy or discourage potential burglars and then relax and enjoy yourself.

I found my dad to be the hardest person to buy for when I reached the age to actually go pick out gifts myself. I wish there had been home improvement store gift cards, light timers, motion sensor lights, higher end deadbolts, window pegs and recommendations to change out 6” screws for the standard 2” screws in lock strike plates and door hinges back in the day because it would have provided great gift options for my paranoid dad who also liked projects around the house. So maybe you can give the gift of safety to someone in your home or just take care of a few things yourself and celebrate the holidays with a little more peace of mind.

Here are a few tips to think about concerning YOUR home for the holidays. Remember to make safety a habit and not a headache!

  • Burglars do not want to spend more than a few minutes breaking into your home so lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed.  Even if it is for a short period of time, secure your home. USE THE DEADBOLT LOCKS, NOT JUST THE DOORKNOB LOCKS. Doorknob locks are easy to bypass.
  • Fortify your home by installing heavy duty locks, longer screws in the lock strike plates and door hinges, and install secondary security devices on all accessible sliding windows. This makes it harder to force in a door and requires a burglar spend more time making noise or looking for an alternate way in.
  • Trim back bushes and trees that provide burglars with concealment and keep police and neighbors from seeing someone lurking on your property.
  • If you have a burglar alarm, use it every time you leave your home, even if just for a few minutes.
  • Make your home look occupied when you are not there. Burglars do not like light.  Use motion sensor lights on the exterior and light timers on the interior.  If you are headed out of town, ask a neighbor to park one of their cars in your driveway.  Submit an “Out of Town House Check” and officers will check on your home while you are away.

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Package theft info

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 6, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

An important message from Sgt. Jennifer S. Ross, Community Information & Education Officer for the City of Decatur Police Department: 

packageWe have received several reports of package thefts from doorsteps in the past few days.

On Tuesday, 12-3rd packages were stolen from the doorsteps of two units at Talley Street Lofts. At one of the units, two packages were stolen and six were left behind with one of the six having been opened. (Delivered at approximately 2:30pm and discovered missing at 6pm)

On Thursday, 12-5th packages were stolen from the doorstep of a residence in the 200 block of Lansdowne Avenue. (Delivered at approximately 1:50pm and discovered missing at 4pm)

On Thursday, 12-5th a package was stolen from the doorstep of a unit at Talley Street Lofts, and two other packages were left behind. (Delivered at approximately 12pm and discovered missing at 7:30pm)

The stolen packages contained electronics, clothing, accessories and household items.  All of the stolen packages were delivered by UPS.

I know one of the biggest reasons many of us shop online is the convenience of having what we ordered shipped directly to us but unfortunately thieves use our timesaving efforts as a way to do a little “shopping” of their own, especially during the holiday season.  I have yet to recover the case of “Kind Bars” I ordered a few months back, in an effort to save a little money with a bulk sale price and free shipping, that sprouted feet and sent me on a personal investigation that lasted weeks and ended in me having $50.00 less than when I started and no Kind Bars.  Since parcel bandits are trying to intervene in our holiday fun, here are some tips to help prevent package thefts.

  • If possible, ship your packages to your work location or a location where you know someone will be there to receive the package such as the home of a friend or loved one who you know is home during the day.
  • Request that a signature be required to deliver the package.
  • Track your packages and ask a family member, friend or neighbor to look out and take the packages in when they arrive.
  • If you live at a location that requires passcode or keycard entry, do not let people you do not know tag-a-long behind you and enter the property.  If they are aggressive, do not confront them, call police immediately and provide a detailed description of the person, what they are wearing and where they were last seen.
  • If you observe people you do not recognize on a neighbor’s property, pay attention and if it appears they are removing packages, call police immediately and provide the same descriptive information and also watch to see if the person goes back to a vehicle and provide a description of the vehicle and their direction of travel.
  • Keep an eye out in your neighborhood for vehicles that appear to be following delivery trucks and stopping at locations where the delivery trucks just made a delivery.

Also, UPS offers an option to schedule your deliveries and receive an alert by voice, email or text message notifying you the day before your package will be delivered.  You can then reroute or reschedule the delivery if you need to do so.  Go to http://www.ups.com/mychoice/ to check out this option.

Another option is to have the package rerouted to a UPS Store. The store will hold the package until the consumer can go and pick it up.  Consumers can always change the delivery address on UPS.com or by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS.  Consumers can also request “signature required service” and UPS drivers will not deliver the package until they receive an adult signature.

If you are using a different shipping company, find out what options are available for a more secure delivery.  Monitor and inventory your deliveries and don’t assume your packages were sent in separate shipments.  In two of the three recent cases, some packages were stolen while some were left behind.

The non-emergency number for the Decatur Police Department is 404-373-6551.

(If you see my runaway case of Kind Bars cruising the city, let me know.)

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Fraud is NOT Festive

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 4, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

More holiday safety tips from Sgt. Ross:

fraud is not festive

The next topic in our Holiday Safety Series covers tips for online shopping.  Most of us are already busier than we should be without adding holiday shopping to the endless list of things we need “to-do”.  I don’t like considering holiday shopping a chore because that diminishes the very purpose of why I am shopping in the first place.  I try to make most of my holiday shopping a chance to spend time with friends, grab a bite, catch up and take care of our shopping lists.  However, I usually end up online trying to find a certain item, like the Spiderman shoes with illuminated eyes that arrived today for my 4-year-old Godson, and I know the risks.  I have been the victim of identity fraud twice in six years but the convenience of online shopping outweighs any paranoia I may have.  It is simply a way of life for many of us so just follow a few tips to try to reduce your risk.

  • Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone’s computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed.
  • Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.
  • Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company.
  • Do not click on pop-up ads for surveys, prize offers or anti-virus alerts. This is a common way for your personal information to be grabbed or your computer to be infected.
  • After you have made your purchase, check your billing statements to monitor transactions: Immediately report any discrepancy to your bank

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Dashing through the snow…safely

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Sgt. Jennifer Ross with the Decatur Police Department shares the latest in a series of safety tips:

Snowy view on East Lake Drive, Winter 2011

Dashing through the snow…safely

 The next topic in our Holiday Safety Series addresses driving to your destination whether it be across town for a dinner party or a much longer journey to spend time with your loved ones.  My childhood holiday travel memories are of 2-5 hours (depending on which set of grandparents we were going to see) in the back of a car, that I swear had no seatbelts, while engaged in sibling warfare over the true center line of the backseat and who was in violation.  Looking back, I do not know how my parents safely made it anywhere with my brother and I in tow.  I recall thinking my father’s preparation ritual for holiday road trips was overly dramatic as it seemed like we were mobilizing for a road trip to Alaska instead of south Georgia or North Carolina.  I now understand that this was his way to keep his family safe and reduce the stress that comes with holiday travel so we could all enjoy ourselves.  Always following some basic safety tips whether driving short or long distances, investing a little bit of time to prepare for an emergency and being patient will get you where you are going safely and in better spirits.  Remember to make safety a habit and not a headache!

–          Before you start your trip, make sure your vehicle is tuned up and in good shape for travel, especially your tires (don’t forget the spare).  This is even more important for winter driving conditions.  If you are weary of your vehicle’s current condition and think it needs some work, rent a vehicle for a road trip.  You will be safer, less stressed and it can be a treat to have a newer, different or larger vehicle for travel.

–          Wear your seatbelt and make sure all of your passengers are wearing their seatbelt or secured in a car seat or booster seat appropriate for their size.  Unrestrained passengers are more likely to be injured and become a projectile to other passengers in a crash.

–          Keep your speed down. Give yourself plenty of time and distance to react to the traffic around you. Let impatient and aggressive drivers pass you or go ahead of you so that you control the situation.

–          If there will be drinking at your holiday get-together, choose a designated driver who will remain alcohol free, grab a cab or stay where you are.

–          Make sure you have a roadside emergency kit, you can buy a fancy one already put together or create your own.  Basic items for your kit: jumper cables, flares, extra fuses, flashlight w/extra batteries, first aid kit, tire inflator (such as a Fix-A-Flat), tire pressure gauge, basic tools (flat & Phillips head screwdriver, pliers, adjustable wrench), duct tape, blanket, bottled water and energy bars.  Make sure your cell phone is charged and that you bring your charger for the trip.

–          Be patient and stay fresh & alert when driving.  Your trip will be safer and more enjoyable if you are not in a rush and not exhausted before you even get started.  Whomever you are going to visit would rather you arrive a little later than for you to be in a crash.

 

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Taking Your “Sleigh” Shopping

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on November 21, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

More holiday safety tips from Sgt. Jennifer Ross of the Decatur Police Department

Whether you have driven to the mall or the Decatur Square, having goods in the car can make you an attractive target because as you drive around seeking to buy what you are looking for, criminals drive around looking to take what you have already purchased. Don’t let a would-be thief ruin your holiday cheer so easily. Thieves are looking for quick and easy, so throw up a few more roadblocks. Remember to make safety a habit and not a headache!

  • Park your car in a well-lit area and keep track of where it’s parked. This will get you in your car and on your way faster.
  • Park in well-trafficked areas and avoid secluded and dark areas, as confrontations won’t be seen and yells for help won’t be heard.
  • Hide packages from view to prevent a break-in.  Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home or ask for them to be delivered.
  • If you return to your vehicle to unload shopping bags, move your vehicle to another space.
  • When placing electronic items in your car out of view such as iPods, cell phones and GPS systems, remember to also put chargers, cords and cradles out of view since would-be thieves look for these items as signs that what they are looking for may be in your car.

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Personal Safety While Shopping

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on November 19, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Here are a few holiday shopping safety tips from Sgt. Jennifer Ross of the Decatur Police Department:

  • Be alert and aware! It’s easy to be distracted by the crowds, selecting the right gift, being preoccupied with holiday activities.
  • Keep shopping bags, valuables, purses, and wallets close to you. Keep purses or bags closed.
  • Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion.
  • Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason and watch out for friendly strangers. They may ask a question or offer to assist you with your bags to distract you or put you in a compromising situation.  At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
  • Stay alert while you are walking to your car. Talking or texting on your phone or digging in your purse for your keys while walking is a distraction and makes you an easy target.
Police officers on the Decatur Square.Photo credit: Cheryl Burnette

Police officers on the Decatur Square.
Photo credit: Cheryl Burnette

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