Crime Prevention

The following Crime Prevention and Safety tips have been prepared to enhance the safety and security of our citizens. Please take a moment to review these easy to remember tips, and be sure to share them with family, neighbors and friends.

• We can never be too careful!
• Protecting Your Home and Property
• Always lock your doors and windows. If you have an alarm system, use it!
• Remove packages and dry cleaning deliveries from your front porch in a timely manner.
• At night, turn on outside lights.
• Keep garage doors closed, unless you are in the immediate area.
• Never announce that you are, or will be away from home on social network sites or home/work voice messaging.
• If you travel and are away from home, set an automatic timer for your lights.
• When traveling, ask a trustworthy neighbor(s) to keep an eye on your home, remove newspapers from the driveway’s edge, and collect your mail.
• Make sure to hide your valuables. (Burglars ALWAYS visit the Master Bedroom)

If you are going away on vacation, the police department would like to know. With one simple call, we provide a free house check service to our residents while you are away. Please contact your Community Policing Officer for more information.

Protecting Your Vehicle and Its Contents

• Always lock your car doors.
• Never leave your keys in the vehicle.
• Never leave anything of value in plain sight.
• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended in your vehicle.
• Always park in a well-lit area at night.
• Place valuables in your locked trunk.

Fraud & Scam Information

Don’t Be a Victim… Please take a moment and follow these helpful tips to protect yourself from fraud.

• Don’t be fooled by the promise of a valuable prize in return for a low-cost purchase.
• Be extra cautious about calls, emails, or mailings offering international bonds or lottery tickets, a portion of a foreign dignitary’s bank account, free vacations, credit repair, or schemes with unlimited income potential.
• Don’t be afraid to hang up the phone, delete the email, or close your Internet connection.
• Don’t purchase a product or service without carefully checking out the product, service, and company.
• Don’t be afraid to request further documentation from the caller so you can verify the validity of the company.
• Don’t disclose personal information about your finances, bank accounts, credit cards, Social Security, or driver’s license numbers to any business that can’t prove it is legitimate.
• Shred unwanted personal information such as bank statements, credit card bills, unwanted receipts, checks, pre-approved credit applications, and old tax returns.
• Check your credit report every year and report problems immediately.
• If a scam artist contacts you, or if you’ve been defrauded: Report it! Your reports are vital to the anti-fraud efforts of law enforcement agencies.

Scams Commonly Reported to the Police Department

• IRS Scam: Impostors may pretend to represent government agencies such as the IRS. They contact victims by phone or email, claiming penalties or back taxes are owed. Victims who refuse to pay may be threatened with arrest or deportation. Others may be told they are owed a refund and must provide personal information, exposing them to identity theft.
• Utility Company: Impostors may send fake emails claiming to be from phone or utility companies. Victims are directed to fraudulent websites that collect financial information.
• Advance Fee Scams: Victims are told they have won a prize or are entitled to money, but must first send a payment to cover taxes or fees. Once paid, no prize or money is received.
• Phishing Scams: Fraudulent emails, texts, or social media messages appear to come from friends or trusted sources. Clicking links or attachments may install malware or ransomware, stealing personal information or locking the computer.
• Cashier’s Check Scams: Victims receive fake cashier’s checks that appear legitimate. They are asked to deposit the check and return part of the funds. The check later bounces, and victims lose the money they sent.
• Door-to-Door Solicitations: Some scammers target homeowners with fake repair offers. They may perform unnecessary work, no work at all, or demand advance payment. Remember, solicitors must have a permit from the Chatham Township Police Department.
• “Free Lunch” Seminars: Fraudulent investment advisers lure people to free meal events and then push unsuitable investments. Attendees should be cautious and not mistake sales pitches for genuine advice.
• Charity Scams: Some fraudulent charities mislead the public when soliciting donations. Always verify how much of your contribution goes toward actual charitable programs before donating.
• Granny Scam: Con artists target seniors by pretending to be grandchildren in trouble, requesting bail money or emergency funds, and urging victims not to tell family members. Victims are tricked into sending money via wire transfer or prepaid debit cards.

For more information, please visit the FBI Website on Scams & Safety.