• Keep your garage door down when not in use or if you are away from the location.
• Lock the door from your house to the attached garage at night and when away from home.
• Cut the "red knob" from your garage door opener to prevent a thief from using it to open the garage door from the outside.
• Some people raise the garage door slightly in hot weather to keep the temperature down. Remember, if it is high enough for a small child to crawl under, so can a thief.
• Use your outside lights at night to make your house visible.
• Trim bushes around your doors and windows so your neighbors can see anyone hanging around your house. Don't give criminals a hiding place.
• Don't leave garage door openers in vehicles that are parked outside. These can be stolen and later used to enter your garage and home.
• Lock your vehicles. Don't leave valuables plainly visible in your vehicles.
• Get to know you neighbors on each side and across the street. Have contact information for your neighbors. If you go away, tell a trusted neighbor. Some people leave a baby monitor on when they are away from home for a few days. The other monitor can be left at a neighbor's house.
• If you see anything suspicious, call the police
• In emergencies, use 911. The non-emergency number is 207-7273.

Easy Tips to stay safe in your home

• Replace or re-key all locks when you move into a new home.
• Install 1-inch case hardened steel deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
• Keep windows and doors locked at all times
• Have curtains or blinds on all windows and keep them drawn.
• Install a 190-degree door viewer or door scope in your front door.
• Look before opening your door to anyone.
• Require identification from all repair persons or public service individuals BEFORE opening the door.
• Hang up on frightening or obscene phone calls. Invest in an answering machine to screen your calls.
• On your answering machine message, never say you are not home, just say you are not by the phone right now.
• If a stranger enters your home, GET OUT!! Go to a neighbor and call 911 for police to respond.
• If you come home and you think someone is in your home, DO NOT ENTER!! Go to a neighbor and call 911.
• File a police report for any incident you experience. Report suspicious persons or vehicles to 207-SAPD and to a VRRHOA Board member.
  

Consider putting a "NO SOLICITING" sign at your front door to make it illegal for advertisers to walk the area and put their solicitations on our homes. This may help reduce the number of strangers in our neighborhood. Fewer strangers will reduce crime.

Phone 207-7273 to contact an SAPD Crime Prevention Specialist (SAFFE officer) at your substation and schedule a free home security survey. See the San Antonio Police Department's website for more crime prevention programs and tips.