April 2019: Theft Prevention & Storm Season Preparation
As we slide into the Spring season and get out to enjoy the Florida weather, the Winter Springs Police Department wants you to keep yourself and your valuables safe and prepare appropriately for the storm season.
Theft Prevention
Keeping your Home Safe:
- Lock your doors and windows
- Activate or install an alarm system
- Keep your valuables out of sight
- Keep the entryways to your house should be well lit
- Be sure your walkways and landscape direct visitors to the front door
- Do not leave empty boxes from big purchases (TV, computer, etc.) on the curb for garbage pickup. It’s a way to see what you have inside your house!
Leaving Town for Vacation:
- Fill out the House Check Request form to have an officer conduct house checks during your vacation
- Put your lights on timers to give the appearance someone is home
- Keep your plans off social media!
Keeping your Vehicle and Valuables Safe:
- Remove the keys from your vehicle
- Lock the doors
- Close all windows
- Park in well-lit areas
- Do not leave valuables in plain sight
- Install an alarm on the vehicle
- Take out removable radios and radio faceplates
Bicycle Safety
Keep Safe and Obey the Laws While Riding your Bicycle:
- Be visible!
- Don’t assume “the other person” knows what you are going to do
- Ride with the flow of traffic
- If you are riding slower than traffic keep to the right
- Riders may ride two abreast only within a single lane and when not impeding traffic
- Headsets or earbuds are not allowed by law
- When riding between sunset and sunrise, your bicycle must be equipped with a white lamp in front visible from 500’ and both a red reflector and red lamp on the rear exhibiting a visible red light from 600’
Storm Season Preparation
April is a good month to begin preparations for the coming storm season. If you get started early, your plan and preparations will be much stronger and more reliable.
You can begin by checking your inventory of non-perishable foods. You may have foods and supplies from last season so now is a good time to either dispose of or consume them. Also, begin thinking about a water plan, should your area experience an outage. Remember, medications and first-aid items can also expire so check them for a date as well.
Home repairs taken on during the dry season will go faster and be more secure. Trying to finish a home project during frequent rain is tedious and can often do more damage than good. Exterior house paint, window seals and caulking, door weather-stripping, and roof serviceability are all areas that should be reviewed.
A useful checklist might contain the basics:
- The ability to boil or filter water
- Non-perishable food stocks
- Tarps for impromptu temporary weatherproofing
- A Family plan- where to meet, where to evacuate
- Items such as batteries, flashlights, personal hygiene items, and first-aid kits
- If you own a generator, check it for functionality and familiarize yourself with its safe usage. Never use a generator in a closed space or indoors.
A good preparedness plan can help alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with the Florida storm season. An early start gives you plenty of time to formulate solid ideas and durable alternatives. For additional information and resources, see the following links:
- Winter Springs Police Department - Emergency Alerts
- Seminole County - Prepare Seminole
- Florida Disaster - Plan & Prepare
- National Hurricane Center - Hurricane Preparedness
Only a community and its police department can form the 360 shield of protection.
