Huntwick.org - Security Tips

Who to Call?
Important: Make sure you have law enforcement and security phone numbers readily available before a crisis occurs!

The 911 emergency number is most commonly known but the question is �What is an emergency?� It is considered an emergency when there is bodily injury or the threat of bodily injury, and/or property damage is believed to be impending or in progress.

The Harris County Sheriff�s Dispatcher, 713-221-6000, is the number to call to have a deputy dispatched in non-emergency situations. When calling, be sure to identify yourself as a Huntwick resident and mention that we have contract deputies assigned to our neighborhood.

The Huntwick Security Coordinator, 281-444-3536, is provided for Huntwick residents who wish to share any security problems/information or to seek advice.

If you need a deputy to come to your home or to check on suspicious people/cars, etc in the neighborhood, call the sheriff�s dispatcher number immediately instead of trying to contact the Security Coordinator first. If the Security Coordinator is not available when you call, essential response time will lapse before help arrives. It is helpful to call the Security Coordinator after you have contacted the Sheriff�s Department to inform him of occurrences in our neighborhood.

Huntwick residents are kept informed of any criminal activity occurring in Huntwick by calling The Huntwick Information Line, 281-583-4636, when the blue lights are flashing at the Clubhouse and Donut Lake Park. You will receive information, via a recording, which will explain why the blue lights have been activated. This number is the least known, and probably the most important, in regards to alerting the neighborhood of a threatening problem.

Mail and Personal Account Safety

·	Never leave outgoing mail in your box with personal or banking information, but drop it in secure post

office boxes.

·	Theives will take whatever is in your box. If you must mail other items from your home, don't leave

outgoing mail in your mailbox overnight and leave the flag down when you put outgoing mail in the box.

·	Make sure your mailbox is secure and promptly remove mail.
·	Be watchful and report suspicious activity.
·	Pay bills online when possible.
·	Use the new unalterable pens for writing checks. many office supplies stores carry these. Thieves use

nail polish remover to erase who the check is made out to, change it, and then cash it.

·	Notify the post office immediately if you change your address.
·	When on vacation have a neighbor check your mail, even if you have it stopped.

There are several secure mail drop locations near Huntwick, including:

·	The Hallmark store branch post office in Champions Village Shopping Center
·	Standalone blue mailboxes at the 4-story white professional building on Champion Forest just North of

FM1960 (just this side of Leslie's Pool Supply)

·	Several commercial mailboxes in Champions Village which have outgoing slots
·	The post office on Louetta at Squires (drive through)

Vacation Planning
Vacation planning may require preparation for traveling at the airport, on the road, and hotels. Least of importance may be securing the home before leaving. Recommendations will be short, but important.

·	Turn in a vacation watch alert seven (7) days prior to leaving.
·	Stop the mail and newspaper.
·	Ask neighbors to check your property and pick up any circulars.
·	Have the yard cut and trimmed.
·	Activate the house alarm and, most important, list on the vacation watch form who to contact if the

alarm sounds.

�BURGLARS USUALLY WANT TO AVOID CONFRONTATIONS, SO MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED!�

If you go out for the day or evening, leave the lights on and the radio playing, preferably on a talk show. Keep your garage doors closed and locked. If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, use inexpensive timing devises to turn inside lights, radios, or televisions on and off at different times. Arrange to have someone pick up your mail and newspapers. Have your deliveries stopped or delivered elsewhere.

Huntwick residents can submit a Vacation Alert form two weeks in advance of leaving to the Sheriff�s Department Cypresswood Substation, 6831 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379.

Tips for Bicycle Safety
Riding a bicycle is more than basic transportation � it can be a fun and exciting hobby. When you ride you�re not alone. You share the road with cars, trucks, pedestrians, and other cyclists. Since accidents can turn a bicycling adventure into a bicycling tragedy, here are some tips to help make your ride a safe one.

	Protect your head:
	Wear a helmet. Studies have shown that using a bicycle helmet can reduce head injuries by up to
	85%.

	See and Be Seen:
	Wear proper clothes. Wear clothes that make you more visible. Clothing should be light in color
	and close fitting to avoid being caught in the bicycle�s moving parts.

	Go With the flow of Traffic:
	The safe way is the right way. You must obey the rules of the road. These include all traffic signs
	(including stop signs), signals, and road markings. Ride on the right side of the street in single file.
	Use proper hand signals.

	Look Both Ways:
	Be aware of traffic around you. Seven out of ten car-bicycle crashes occur at driveways or other
	intersections. Walk your bicycle across busy streets at corners or crosswalks.

	Beware of the Dark Side:
	Be cautious when biking at night. If you have to ride at night, display front and rear reflectors on
	your bicycle. Wear reflective clothing or materials, especially on your ankles, wrists, back, and
	helmet.

	Teach Safety Through a Bicycle Safety Program:
	This event can help to teach children the rules of the road.

Call the Sheriff�s Department Parks Division @ 713-741-8243 for more details.

Taking a Vacation This Summer?
�BURGLARS USUALLY WANT TO AVOID CONFRONTATIONS, SO MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED!�

If you go out for the day or evening, leave the lights on and the radio playing, preferably on a talk show. Keep your garage doors closed and locked. If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, use inexpensive timing devises to turn inside lights, radios, or televisions on and off at different times. Arrange to have someone pick up your mail and newspapers. Have your deliveries stopped or delivered elsewhere.

Huntwick residents can submit a Vacation Alert form two weeks in advance of leaving to the Sheriff�s Department Cypresswood Substation, 6831 Cypresswood Dr., Spring, TX 77379.

What Can You Do To Help Prevent Neighborhood Burglaries?
Good locks, simple precautions, neighborly alertness, and common sense can prevent most property crimes.

Alertness - Did You Know?
Half of all home burglaries occur during the day when alert neighbors could spot the thieves and call the police. Phone 713-221-6000 or 911 (in case of an emergency). So get together with your neighbors and help each other by keeping an eye on each other�s homes.

Locks, Doors and Windows
Install good deadbolt locks in your door. Use a double cylinder lock with a one-inch throw. Avoid door locks that can be manipulated by breaking the panels on the door or the glass. Make sure that your outside door, including the one between your house and garage, are solid 1-3/4 inch metal or wood and fit tightly in their frames. Make sure that the hinges are on the inside.

Secure sliding glass doors with commercially available locks or with a rigid wooden dowel in the track. You could also use a nail through a hole drilled in the sliding door or your fixed window frame.

For double hung windows, slide a bolt or nail through a hole drilled at a downward angle in each top corner of the inside sash.

Outside Your Home
Trim shrubbery that hides doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that could help a thief climb into second story windows. Make sure all porches, entrances to your home, and yards are well lit. Motion detector lighting is something to consider.

Keys
Do not hide house keys in your mailbox, planters, under doormats, or on top of your doorframe. Provide a duplicate key to a trusted friend or neighbor in the event that you may find yourself locked out of your home.

Answering The Door
Install a peephole in your doors. A wide-angle viewer in all entry doors will enable you to see who is outside without opening the door.

Cell Phone "Do Not Call List"
With regard to the information circulating regarding a cell phone �do not call list�:
The government officials and the telemarketing industry are assuring the public that there will be no list of cell phone numbers turned over to the telemarketers, and that the telemarketers are barred from calling cell phone numbers. However, Lois Greisman, the Federal Trade Commission official who oversees the anti-telemarketing registry, states that if consumers are concerned, they may register their cell phone numbers, either by signing up on the Internet, at www.donotcall.gov, or by calling 888-382-1222. Consumers signing up by phone need to call from the phone they want to add to the list.

Place a Security Watch on a Vacant House
Houses displaying For Sale or For Lease signs are obviously trying to reach as many interested prospects as possible. These signs not only extend a welcome mat to potential buyers or renters but also to some of those who have other ideas.

Owners of vacant houses are encouraged to submit a Security Watch request to the Sheriff�s Cypresswood Substation. The Vacation/Security Watch form can be found in the Huntwick Herald. The Huntwick Contract Deputy will receive a copy of the form and will place the address on his daily watch schedule. Additionally, neighbors should be kept informed when the house will be unoccupied and asked to call (713) 221-6000 to report any unusual or suspicious occurrences.

When the residence is occupied, the homeowner should find an unpredictable place to hide valuable items. A safe-deposit box is a good idea for small items.

Today�s lifestyles sometimes makes it difficult to be as neighborly as we would like to be, but being a good neighbor is one of the best ways to prevent crime.

Lock it or You May Lose It
Take the time to lock the car, the garage door or the doors to the house. If you don't, you may regret it. While we live in a safe and secure community, let's not invite trouble. Lock you car when you leave it. The same goes for your garage and home doors. Especially during the Holidays, thieves will be on the lookout for the careless act that helps them do their holiday shopping. Remember to exercise caution while out shopping. Be alert to your surroundings in the parking lot, keep your car locked and if possible, do not leave packages in clear sight.

Security Precautions for Christmas
A Merry Christmas wish followed by words of caution dampens the holiday spirit, but adhering to
the recommended practices may keep you from becoming a crime victim.

Things to remember when shopping

·	Carry only (1) one credit card. File the card number in a secured place at home.
·	Take only the cash you will need.
·	Do not wear expensive jewelry.
·	Ladies: Close your purse and carry it in such a way that you will be aware of someone attempting to

open the zipper/snap or snatch your purse altogether.

·	Use the buddy system (2 or more), if possible, when shopping.
·	Do not leave visible packages in an unattended vehicle � put them in the trunk or bring them inside.

Things to remember when approaching your parked vehicle and when driving

·	The criminal will usually select his victim in a public place. Therefore, be ALERT to things/people around

you.

·	When you are leaving a business, notice who leaves with you.
·	When approaching your car, be alert and visually scan the parking lot.
·	If you are in your vehicle and think you are being followed, remain calm but do not drive home. Instead,

drive to the nearest police, fire station, or public place where there are other people present. Get someone�s attention.

·	If you have a car/cell phone with you call 911 while you are driving. Give your location first, then a

description of the car that is following you.