Safety Tips

🚔 General Personal Safety

Stay aware of your surroundings

  • Avoid distractions such as excessive phone use when in public
  • Be alert in parking lots, stores, and walking areas
  • Trust your instincts—if something feels off, leave the area

Travel safely

  • Walk in well-lit areas at night
  • Avoid walking alone whenever possible
  • Share your location with a trusted person when traveling

Emergency readiness

  • Know your address and be able to provide it quickly to dispatch
  • Keep your phone charged at all times
  • Call 911 immediately in emergencies

🏡 Home Safety & Security

Lock and secure your home

  • Lock all doors and windows, even when you are home
  • Use deadbolts and reinforce entry points
  • Install motion lights around your property

Alarm & camera systems

  • Consider installing a home security system or doorbell camera
  • Ensure cameras are positioned to capture entry points
  • Display alarm signage to deter criminals

While away

  • Use timers on lights to give the appearance someone is home
  • Ask a neighbor to watch your property
  • Hold mail or have someone collect it

Deliveries

  • Track packages and retrieve them promptly
  • Use secure delivery locations when possible

🚗 Vehicle Safety

Prevent vehicle break-ins

  • Lock your vehicle at all times
  • Never leave valuables in plain view
  • Remove firearms, wallets, and electronics when not in use

Parking tips

  • Park in well-lit areas
  • At home, park in driveways or garages when possible

Vehicle theft prevention

  • Do not leave keys or key fobs inside vehicles
  • Do not leave vehicles running unattended
  • Consider anti-theft devices or tracking systems

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Child Safety

Child supervision

  • Always know where your children are and who they are with
  • Establish clear check-in rules and curfews

Internet safety

  • Monitor online activity and social media use
  • Teach children not to share personal information
  • Be aware of online predators and scams

Stranger awareness

  • Teach children how to recognize unsafe situations
  • Encourage them to seek help from trusted adults or officers

🚶‍♂️ Pedestrian & Walking Safety

  • Always use sidewalks when available
  • Cross streets at designated crosswalks
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
  • Wear reflective clothing when walking at night

🚲 Bicycle Safety

  • Always wear a helmet
  • Follow traffic laws
  • Ride with traffic, not against it
  • Use lights and reflectors at night

🔒 Crime Prevention Tips

Report suspicious activity

  • If you see something unusual, report it
  • Provide detailed descriptions (vehicles, people, direction of travel)

Know your neighbors

  • Build relationships within your neighborhood
  • Participate in community watch efforts

Lighting

  • Keep your property well-lit
  • Trim bushes and trees that could provide hiding spots

💻 Fraud & Scam Awareness

Common scams

  • Phone scams pretending to be law enforcement or government
  • Email or text phishing attempts
  • Requests for gift cards or unusual payment methods

How to protect yourself

  • Never give personal or financial information to unknown callers
  • Verify requests through official sources
  • Do not click suspicious links

🔫 Firearm Safety

  • Always store firearms securely (locked safe or lock device)
  • Keep firearms unloaded when not in use
  • Store ammunition separately when possible
  • Never leave firearms unattended in vehicles
  • Educate family members on firearm safety

🚨 Emergency Preparedness

Prepare for emergencies

  • Have an emergency kit (water, food, flashlight, batteries)
  • Create a family emergency plan
  • Know evacuation routes and shelter locations

📞 When to Call Police

Call 911 for:

  • Emergencies
  • Crimes in progress
  • Immediate threats to life or safety

Call non-emergency for:

  • Past incidents
  • Minor property crimes
  • General concerns

🤝 Community Partnership

The Coats Police Department believes that strong community relationships are key to public safety. We encourage residents to:

  • Attend community events
  • Engage with officers
  • Share concerns and ideas

📝 Final Reminder

Crime prevention is a shared responsibility. By staying alert, taking simple precautions, and working together, we can keep Coats a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.