Tips for a Safe Holiday Season

As you would expect from a police department web site, we have some great "anti-crime" suggestions to assist in making your holidays as pleasant as possible. However, we also feel that we should use this as an opportunity to promote non-crime related safety as well. Thus, before leaving this page, please visit the web site of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, where you will find some excellent and useful information. We hope that you will take a few minutes to read that information as well.

When Parking

• Try to park in well-lit areas.
• Always close the windows and lock your car, even if coming back "in a minute."
• Hide small valuables in the glove box or under the seat. Lock larger items in the trunk or cover them up. Regardless of what may be in them, all shopping bags are a giveaway to a thief and even the smallest item is a temptation. In other words, do not make your vehicle an attractive target.

While Shopping

• Try to avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Stay alert and be aware of what's going on around you.
• If you carry a purse, keep it close to your body, preferably in front of you where you can see it, and cover the clasp or flap with your hand or forearm. Never carry open bags or purses without flaps or zippers (an easy mark for a pickpocket).
• Men should carry their wallets in an inside coat pocket or side pants pocket; not in the rear pants pocket.
• Never overburden yourself with packages. Being loaded down may make it difficult for you to keep track of your purse or wallet or to respond to a situation.
• When shopping with children, hold their hand as much as possible. Teach them that if they get separated from you in a shopping mall, they should go to a security guard or store clerk for assistance. Make sure they understand to never go into the parking lot to look for you or the car.

For The Home

• Take an extra minute to make certain that doors and windows are locked before going out. Don't forget about the overhead garage door.
• Leave lights and/or a radio on so that it looks like someone is home. The installation of inexpensive timers can help with this.
• If you are going out of town, there are several things you should do prior to leaving. Make sure to install at least one timer. Also, ask a friend or relative to watch your home and bring in the newspapers and mail (of course, having these deliveries stopped is good also).
• Ask the person to make the house look "lived in" by rearranging the curtains periodically and shoveling new fallen snow (an obvious sign to a burglar).

Finally, if you are going out of town, don't forget to contact the police department and request a vacation watch. You can arrange this by calling 815-675-2596. You can also access a Vacation House Watch form via this web site, print it out, and drop it off or fax it to the police station.