Safety tips from the Allentown Association

Every summer in Buffalo I see the tell-tale signs of opportunistic criminals, shattered vehicle glass on the side of road. Not only is it incredibly frustrating, time consuming and costly, the victim is left with a bitter feeling about life in the city. Wouldn’t it be great to live in a place without crime, no worries, doors unlocked, windows open? Well, clearly that’s not realistic and, truth be told, crime happens everywhere and can happen to anyone at any time.

Here in Allentown, we are fortunate enough to not see a lot of serious felonious crime, the lion’s share are crimes of opportunity. Mainly larcenies but we do see some burglaries, robberies and assaults occasionally as well. Though we aren’t able to predict or control becoming a victim, we certainly can take steps to reduce our chances of falling prey.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while living in or visiting Allentown or anywhere else.

At home: is your home an easy target? Evaluate your home’s exterior looking at it like a burglar. Remove any items propped against the house that can be used as a means to enter through a window. Ladder lying around? Lock it up! Keep windows and doors locked. Look for and replace non working lights and install motion sensors on existing lights.

Communicate with neighbors: Let them know if you are leaving for an extended period of time. Ask them to keep an eye on your home and give them your contact info.

While away have mail and deliveries held at parcel service.

Around town., put all valuables in the trunk, once parked, even if you’re just running in somewhere quickly. Locked doors are not a deterrent to a determined thief. Stay alert: Be cognizant of your surroundings anywhere you go. If something is going to happen to you, it's going to happen to you when you're not alert.

In your car, keep your doors locked. If possible, get a car with remote access so you can get in without fumbling with keys in locks.In parking structures: Park where there is traffic, not in the back where it's quiet and dark.

When you see suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to report it right away! Call 911- emergency situations when response time is crucial. The more calls logged, patrols will be increased. Call 311—the City call-resolution center—to make complaints of all sorts as well as in relation to crime and safety. Report unsafe lighting, overgrown bushes, loitering, public drunkenness, aggressive panhandling etc. The more calls that are logged, patrols will be increased. Call police at 853-2222-for non-emergencies.