FYI,
     I posted this on the HooverPD Facebook page today:
 
     During the Month of June there were eighteen residential burglaries reported to the Hoover Police Department.  To keep you informed we have included a link to a summary report below that shows the date, street name, use of forcible entry, and what items were stolen during the burglary.  These offenses bring up three important points for you to consider and share with your family and friends:  Home Security, Neighborhood Watch, and Operation Identification.  
 
     Home security is your first concern when it comes to burglary prevention.  Locking your doors and windows is a simple precaution but it is something we must do habitually.  In six of the eighteen burglaries reported the criminals didn’t have to use force to get inside the residence due to an unlocked door or window.  Alarm systems can help but they must be activated to be effective.  Get in the habit of always activating your alarm system anytime you will be away from home.  There are several other factors to home security that we want you to consider.  To help you with this we have a Hoover Police Home Security Inspection Checklist you can download, print, and use to evaluate your home.  If your answers are in the shaded column you should consider making improvements.  Click this link for the Checklist:  http://www.hooverpd.com/ftpupload/upload/homesecuritychecklist.pdf  
 
     Neighborhood Watch is proven to be the most cost effective way to reduce crime in any residential area.  It is effective because your neighbors are much more likely to recognize suspicious persons, vehicles, or situations and can call the Hoover Police Dispatch so we can come out and investigate.  Improving lines of communication and cooperation between the neighborhood and the police department is another positive aspect of a neighborhood watch and it allows a Hoover Police officer to come to your area and give you detailed crime prevention handouts and recommendations.  EVERY RESIDENTAL AREA SHOULD HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.  Please contact Officer Brian Foreman at (205) 739-6870 or e mail him at foremanr@ci.hoover.al.us to learn more and start your own watch group.  
    
     Operation Identification is a crime prevention program where identifying numbers are placed on selected valuables for identification purposes in case the property is stolen or lost.  By recording information such as make, model, and serial number you will have a much better chance of recovering stolen items since the information can be entered into a nationwide database available to law enforcement.  Items that you do not want to mark, such as jewelry, should be photographed in detail.  Keep a copy of this list, photographs, and appraisals in a safety deposit box, safe, or in a plastic bag in your freezer (it acts as a fire-resistant container).  Here is a link for a printable Operation Identification form:       http://www.hooverpd.com/ftpupload/upload/operationid.pdf  
 
     If you need help or have questions about any of these topics, or others, please contact our Crime Prevention Specialist, Officer Brian Foreman at (205) 739-6870.  Here is the link to the June residential burglaries:  http://www.hooverpd.com/ftpupload/upload/june12burglaries.pdf   Thank you and be careful.