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Crime & Safety

Dunwoody PD Course: Citizens Are the Eyes and Ears of the Police

Dunwoody Police Department's Situational Awareness course teaches residents to be alert at all times

The biggest key to fighting crime is being mindful and watchful in your surroundings.

Thursday night, at a Situational Awareness class with the Dunwoody Police Department, Lt. Oliver Fladrich told residents, "The likelihood is very low that you will be a victim, but everyone needs to be aware." 

Held every few months, Dunwoody's Police Department's class aims to empower citizens with tips to residents on how to keep themselves and their community as safe and secure as possible.  Fladrich says the key is to "prepare not to be a victim."

Simple things can help keep the community safe, he said, such as closing garage doors.

But he also said just keep in tune with what is normal. "Trust your gut," he said. If something does not feel right, call the police.

According to Fladrich, too often if a resident's home is burglarized, a neighbor will hear glass break but won't't call the police because, "they only heard the glass break once." 

Burglaries are not limited to the night.  Most home burglaries in Dunwoody happen between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  "When you go to work, they go to work," Fladrich said.

The Dunwoody Police Department says, 34 percent of residential burglars enter the home through the front door, so buying a solid lock for exterior doors can go a long way towards deterring a burglar.

Dunwoody residents need to be aware of more than just theft, he said.  They should also be aware of domestic violence.

"It happens here too," Fladrich said. "Don't sit by. If you hear excessive fighting from a neighbor, call the police."

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For residents that don't feel comfortable getting involved, make an anonymous phone call to the police department.

"These things have a way of escalating," Fladrich said.

He says the police department is there to protect, respond to residents and enforce the law.

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"It starts in the home," he said. "You are the extra eyes and ears of the police."

Here are a few extra tips from the Dunwoody Police Department:

  • Put a sturdy, secure lock on your doors. For most people, their home is their most valuable asset, but all too often people have a simple $10 lock protecting it.
  • Never put dates you will be out of town on social networking sites like Facebook or My Space.
  • Robbers rarely go into kids rooms, a heavy safe in a child's closet may never be discovered if your home is burglarized.  The police department stresses to never keep guns, prescriptions or other potentially dangerous items in a child's room.
  • Keep an eye (and ear) out in your neighborhood. "Burglars come in all genders, ages and races. If something seems off, call the police," Fladrich said.
  • If you're going to be out of town, the Dunwoody Police Department offers a "Home Watch" service. While you are out of town, a police officer will go by your house and then send you an email or text message to let you know that everything is OK. You can sign up for this by visiting the Dunwoody Police Department's website 
  • Create "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) contacts in your cell phone.  First responders are trained to look for these.
  • Leave car keys that can set off your car alarm next to your bed at night.  If you hear or see something that doesn't seem right, set off your car alarm. Even if your car is in the garage this will often spook any trouble away.
  • Teach children how to use 911 as early as possible. This can save lives.
  • Have a laminated copy of important phone numbers on the refrigerator. Include 911 and The Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222.

If you are interested in attending a Situational Awareness class you can find out more information at the Dunwoody Police Department's website.

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