City of McHenry :: Crime Prevention

Don't Keep The Police In The Dark

Each shift of the Police Department encounters situations particular to the time of day in which they work. Officers working on the midnight shift report several areas of concern, which if corrected, could potentially reduce or eliminate future problems. The following suggestions may seem obvious, but are noted on a regular basis:

Leave an exterior light on all night. Lights are a deterrent to potential criminals. a. To configure energy usage for lighting, use the table below.
Make sure that your house number is displayed prominently on the front of your home. In an emergency, every second counts.
Keep garage doors closed and locked overnight. An open door is an open invitation.
Lock the doors on vehicles left outside over night. The Police Department encounters very few forced entries into vehicles.
If you plan to be away from home for a period of time, ask a neighbor to clear snow off your drive and walk. If nothing else, have them drive in and out of your driveway a few times to give the appearance of activity at your home.

Multiply this number by your local utility's rate per kWh consumed (In Illinois the cost, on January 1st, 2005, is 8.275 cents/kWh) to calculate annual cost.

EXAMPLE:

Multiply this number by your local utility's rate per kWh consumed (In Illinois the cost, on January 1st, 2005, is 8.275 cents/kWh) to calculate annual cost.

If John uses a window fan (200 watts) 4 hours a day for 120 days per year, how much does it cost him to run his fan per year?

200 X 4 X 120/1000 = 96 kWh = $7.94

BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS WHILE ON VACATION

While burglary is not a big problem in our community, it is a fact of life in today's society. The City of McHenry Police Department recommends the following simple, low cost or no-cost steps that can be taken to reduce your home's chance of being targeted while you are away:

If you have a garage door opener, unplug it so it cannot be activated.
Install timers on a few lights throughout your home to give the appearance that someone is home.
Leave a radio on a timer to give the appearance someone is at home.
Leave some drapes and other window coverings open.
If possible, leave a car in the driveway or have a friend or neighbor park their car there at different times of the day.
Double check to ensure that all doors and windows are securely locked prior to departing your home.
Have a friend or trusted neighbor periodically check your home and pick up all deliveries, mail, and newspapers, If possible, supply them with a phone number where you can be contacted in an emergency.
Call the Crime Prevention Section of the Police Department for a security survey. A specially trained officer can assess your home and advise you of any potential problems.

Auto Theft Prevention

Tips on Preventing Your Vehicle from Becoming an Auto Theft Statistic

The McHenry Police Department wants only YOU behind the wheel of your vehicle. Many car owners, because of carelessness and unconcerned behavior, invite thieves to steal their car. The chances of having YOUR car stolen are greatly minimized by simply removing the opportunity through a few precautionary measures.

If your car is too much trouble to steal, a thief will look for another car. Here are some simple steps to take that will make your car harder to steal.

Parking Your Vehicle

ALWAYS take the key out of the ignition, roll the windows up tight and lock the doors whenever you park your vehicle, even if only for a minute.
NEVER leave your motor running without you in it. It's unsafe, and it is also illegal.
Park in a well-lighted, busy spot if possible. A car thief would rather work where he is not seen. Check your car from time to time.
If you have a garage, use it. Lock both your car and the garage. If you don't have a garage, park in a driveway instead of the street, if possible.
When you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition key. Do not give the attendant a full set of keys or any key on which a key code appears. Either invites the person to copy the keys. If you leave your house key, your home may become a target of a future burglary. Be sure to take the claim check with you to prevent a thief from using it to drive your car out of the lot.
Never hide spare keys in a secret place or in a magnetic key box under the hood or other accessible places. Car thieves routinely check the visors and ash tray and look under the floor mats. If you feel better with spare keys close at hand, then carry them with you.
After parking your car, set the emergency brake and put the car in "park," or in gear if it has a manual transmission. To make it difficult for a thief to illegally tow your car, turn the steering wheel sharply to the left or right and remove the key to lock the steering column.
Alarms and Auto Theft Deterrence Systems
Install locks that deter thefts, such as:
Tapered door lock buttons, to keep thieves from using coat hangers to open your car doors from the inside.
High-security ignition locks, which normally go around the steering column housing (sometimes these are known as "cuff locks").
A "cane" or "J-bend" lock, which normally hooks up the steering wheel and the brake pedal.
External and internal hood locks. These protect the battery from being stolen too.

Install other forms of disablers, such as

An ignition kill device, which interferes with the ignition system even if the car is "hot-wired."
A fuel cutoff device, which shuts off the fuel after running for a few seconds. All of these devices can be hidden.
Install the best type of alarm that you can afford (silent alarms, sound discriminators, motion detectors, and computerized tracking transmitters are among the high-end devices now available). Be sure to advise potential thieves that you have an alarm by placing warning stickers on your windows or windshields.

Other Tips

DO NOT keep the car's title in the glove compartment; keep it at home. This will prevent a thief from using the title to "prove" he owns the car.
Do not keep anything of value in your glove compartment
Check periodically to be sure that your vehicle identification number (VIN) is intact. This is the small metal plate, usually on the driver's side where the dashboard and windshield meet.
Put packages and valuables out of sight, in the trunk. These include such items as cellular phones, calculators, CB radios, tape decks, expensive sports equipment and clothing. Put these items away before parking your car. If your car has a button release, keep the trunk button locked.
When selling a car, DO NOT let a stranger take it for a test drive alone. A car thief will not be back to pay you for your car. If a prospective buyer wants to take the car to a mechanic for an appraisal, volunteer to deliver and pick up the car.

What to Do if Your Car Is Stolen

If you discover that your vehicle has been stolen, call the police immediately. Speed is essential in recovering stolen cars; any delay in reporting only helps the thieves. Many times the report can be taken over the telephone. The quicker the police get information about your vehicle, the quicker the Police Department and other Sheriff Departments across the country can locate your vehicle, before it is stripped.
Here are a few other things you can do to help us recover your car:
"Marking" your car can make it easier for the police to identify your vehicle. One way is to drop a business card in the window slot. Another is to carefully engrave your initials inside the trunk, the hood, or even on the dashboard near the VIN number.
Carry a photocopy of your vehicle's current license plate registration and insurance card. This will enable you to relay numbers to the police/sheriff quickly if your car is stolen.
Use discretion if you see someone tampering with your car. Call 911as quickly as possible. Don't begin a fight with anyone, especially in a secluded area.
Protect yourself when buying a used car. Verify the seller's name and address, and be sure that the VIN on the registration card is the same as the VIN on the car itself. Thousands of stolen cars are seized from innocent buyers every year.

CARJACKING PREVENTION

Carjacking has become one of the most popular crimes committed in the country. Even though this crime is not new, the idea is becoming more popular among criminals. It happens very quickly, usually taking only 20 to 30 seconds to complete.
Carjacking is often a violent crime where the carjacker, who is usually armed with a gun, approaches the victim when he is in (or just about to enter or exit) his vehicle, and forces him to turn over his automobile. Sometimes the victims are robbed of their other valuables, abducted, or even sexually assaulted. Victims have been beaten and even murdered while being pulled from their cars.
Carjacking is a crime that is not limited to the big cities. It can happen anywhere, on any given day of the week, and any time of the day. You may think that just because you drive an old, inexpensive car that it will not happen to you, but the truth of the matter is, thieves take those cars too!
The McHenry Police Department offers you these tips in keeping SAFE!
Lock your doors and windows. Offenders often enter your vehicle through open doors and windows. Avoid driving alone if possible.
Leave room between you and the car in front of you when stopped at a red light. This will make it possible for you to drive off should someone attempt a carjacking.
Stay alert at red lights. Look around you, especially to the sides and the rear through your mirrors. It is very important to look alert. Carjackers look for victims that give the appearance of not paying attention. Do not give them the edge.
Be suspicious. Trust no one standing in the roadway - newspaper sellers, windshield washing people, persons collecting for charities, or beggars. It is for your own safety.
Keep your car and house keys separate. You do not want to give the carjacker your house keys if possible.
Park your car in a well-lit area. Avoid parking next to large vans. Look for anyone hanging around, or someone who seems to pace their walk to arrive at your parking space just as you are exiting your vehicle. If you become suspicious, move on to another parking space or just leave the area and call the sheriff/police as soon as possible.
Keep your car keys out when walking to your car. If you have the feeling that something is wrong, do not hesitate to run back to where you came from to get help or have someone walk you back to your car. If you are in a shopping mall, contact the security office and ask them to escort you to your vehicle.
Keep your packages and your purse on the floor of your car rather than on the seat where they are more visible.
If you are involved in a minor fender bender in a secluded location, instead of getting out right of way, motion to the other driver to follow you to the Police Department, Fire Station, an open business or any other location that you feel secure. Be sure you get the other persons license plate number and make the police report.
If you have car trouble in a secluded area, stay in your car and lock the doors and windows. If someone offers to help, ask them to call the police or ask them to call a service station that you know is open 24 hours.
Consider investing in a cellular phone. You can call for help anytime you need it.
There are no absolute rules for what to do in a carjacking. The only rule you should have is to make it through the ordeal safely and without injury. That means give up the car and get to safety.