Crime Prevention Tips

Children

Stay Together – children should travel in groups of two or more

Use Your Voice – children should say, “NO” when they feel uncomfortable or scared. Children should be taught to yell or scream when they are in danger

Be Aware – children should be able to identify if a situation is dangerous

Check In – children should call their parents to let them know they are on their way home or if their plan has changed

Map It Out – children should have a clearly defined route home from school and should be able to identify landmarks and safe places that they can go for help

Know Your Info – children should know their full name, address, home and parent’s work and cell phone numbers

Physical Disabilities

A physical disability – impaired vision, hearing, mobility etc. – doesn’t prevent you from being a victim of crime. Follow these tips from the Orlando Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Unit to ensure your safety:

On Public Transportation

• Use well-lighted, busy stops. Stay near other passengers.
• Stay alert. Don’t doze or daydream.
• If someone harasses you, make a loud noise or say “Leave me alone.” If that doesn’t work, hit the emergency signal on the bus or train.

• Put good locks on all your doors. Police recommend double-cylinder, deadbolt locks, but make sure you can easily use the locks you install.
• Install peepholes on front and back doors at your eye level.
• Get to know your neighbors. Watchful neighbors who look out for you as well as themselves are a frontline defense against crime.
• If you have difficulty speaking, have a friend record a message—giving your name, address, and type of disability to use in emergencies.
• Ask your police department to conduct a free home security survey to help identify your individual needs.
• Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings, whether on the street, in an office building or shopping mall, driving, or waiting for the bus or subway.
• Send a message that you’re calm, confident, and know where you’re going.
• Be realistic about your limitations. Avoid places or situations that put you at risk.
• Know the neighborhood where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, restaurants, or stores that are open and accessible.
• Avoid establishing predictable activity patterns. Most of us have daily routines, but never varying them may increase your vulnerability to crime.

• Schedule a free home-security assessment to help identify your individual needs. For more information, call 407.246.2369 or email at OPDNeighborhoodWatch@orlando.gov.

• Join, or help organize, a Neighborhood Watch group. Make sure their meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. For example, do they need a sign language interpreter? Can individuals who use walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs enter the meeting place?
• Work with local law enforcement to improve responses to all victims or witnesses of crime. Role-play how people with disabilities can handle threatening situations.
• Work with a rehabilitation center or advocacy groups to offer a presentation to schools and other community organizations on the needs and concerns of individuals with disabilities.

Keeping Your Community Safe

The Orlando Police Department works hard everyday to keep city residents and their property safe, but there are steps you can take to prevent your community from being burglarized. Follow the tips below to help guard your neighborhoods:

Know your Neighbors

Knowing the people in your neighborhood will help you pinpoint suspicious people and vehicles more quickly.

Keep Empty/Foreclosed/Unoccupied Property Tidy

Burglars look for abandoned houses they can use to observe the neighborhood and hide in after committing the crime. Be sure to remove advertisements, newspapers and other trash so it doesn’t accumulate and tip off criminals that the house is unoccupied.

Have a Trusted Housesitter 

If you are going to be away for a long period of time, ask a trusted neighbor to:

• Park their car in your driveway periodically.
• Gather your mail and newspaper.
• Turn different lights on and off so the same lights are not coming on at the same time every night.

Giving the appearance of an occupied home will help ward off burglars.

Call 9-1-1 if you See:

• People trying vehicle door handles or looking into cars or houses.
• Any unknown person in your neighbor’s house, yard or garage.
• An unfamiliar vehicle driving slowly through your area repeatedly.

5 Ways To Protect Against Catalytic Converter Theft

1. Know if your car is a likely target: hybrids, SUVs and trucks have valuable or easily removable catalytic converters. Etch your license plate number or VIN onto your catalytic converter—this may help alert a scrap dealer that it was stolen and make it easier to identify the owner.
2. Park in well-lit areas close to public entrances, regularly move your car's spot or use a closed garage.
3. Install an anti-theft device
4. Install motion-sensitive lights and cameras in your parking area
5. Paint your catalytic converter to deter buyers—some local police departments even offer free programs for painting

Understanding when your car might be a target for catalytic converter theft is the first key to preventing it. By following these protective measures, you may help deter thieves from targeting your car.

Insure Your Vehicle Against Catalytic Converter Theft

The cost to replace and install a new catalytic converter can be as much as $3,000. Insurance claims for a stolen catalytic converter in 2020 ranged from $500 to $3,000, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute. Most comprehensive vehicle insurance can help cover a stolen catalytic converter. Check with your insurer to see how your policy can minimize the impact of a stolen catalytic converter.

It's important to have full coverage to keep you on the road even when opportunistic thieves strike.