Monday, November 28, 2011

Winter weather driving

Winter weather will be here before we know it. The first time that the roads get slick it seems that everyone is caught off guard. Make your preperations now and you will be one step ahead of everyone else. Make sure that you have an ice scraper in your vehicle. Check the weather before you go to bed at night, and if they are calling for bad weather make sure you get out of bed earlier to allow for cleaning off your vehicle and the additional time that it takes to make the drive to work. Let your vehicle run while you clean the windows, drive slower than normal to allow for slick roads, keep extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, allow extra time for stopping, and never use your cruise control on slick roads.

If you take a few precautions you can make it through the winter weather without having to visit the hospital or the body shop.

From all of us at the Warrick County Sheriff's Office, have a safe and happy holiday season!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Home burglaries and alarms

With the state of the economy being what it is, home burglaries are on the rise. This seems to occur every year prior to the holiday season. Burglers take things of value that they can turn into cash quickly. Small electronic devices, jewelry, handguns and other valuables that can be easily carried or put into a backpack. Several people have asked about the best types of alarm to put in at their residence. It is my opinion that an audible alarm that the neighbors can hear is the best type of alarm. Anything that draws attention to your home when it is being invaded will deter burglars. The alarm also needs to be tied to a telephone line, either with an alarm company or your personal cellphone to notify you of a problem.

Since it is the holiday season, a lot of people purchase gifts from internet sources. When you have them delivered to your home, make sure that they don't set on the porch any longer than necessary. Keep your mail and paper boxes cleaned out, and leave lights on inside the residence when you are gone. This gives the appearance that someone is home, even when you are not.

Find a neighbor that you can trust to keep an eye on your residence, moving a vehicle around in the driveway once in a while also gives the appearance that you are not away for an extended time period. Try to have your dwelling appear as normal as possible both when you are home and when you are away on vacation.