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Crime prevention initiatives reduce or eliminate the risk of crime. Each and every resident is responsible for preventing crimes. Crime prevention takes on many forms including: police officers patroling your neighborhood, closing your garage door, and contacting the Police Department if you observe suspicious behavior. To be successful, crime prevention must be a partnership between the Police Department and the community.
How to Avoid ATM Skimming
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Inspect the ATM, gas pump, or credit card reader before using it. Be suspicious if you see anything loose, crooked, or damaged, or if you notice scratches or adhesive/tape residue.
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When entering your PIN, block the keypad with your other hand to prevent possible hidden cameras from recording your number.
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If possible, use an ATM at an inside location (less access for criminals to install skimmers).
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Be careful of ATMs in tourist areas…they are a popular target of skimmers.
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If your card isn't returned after the transaction or after hitting "cancel," immediately contact the financial institution that issued the card.
Watch Crime Prevention Tips
Neighborhood Watch is a good example of a crime prevention initiative that helps foster awareness and citizen involvement. In Oak Forest, Neighborhood Watch is coordinated by the police department and the Crime Prevention Commission.
Crime Prevention Triangle
The Police Department uses the Crime Prevention Triangle, a concept that states that in order for a crime to occur, all three of the triangle's elements - desire, ability and opportunity - must exist. If we can eliminate any one of these elements, a crime has not occured. Let's take a quick look at each of these elements.
The desire of a criminal to commit a crime. We, as citizens, cannot effect or remove a criminals desire to commit a crime. If someone really wants to commit a crime he or she will.
The criminal's ability to commit a crime. We cannot effect the ability of a criminal to commit a crime. He or she will find a way. He or she can be thousands of miles away, use telephones, or the Internet. Not even physical impairment will stop some individuals from committing crimes.
The criminal's opportunity to commit crimes. This is where we can take action to prevent crime. By removing the opportunity for crime to occur, we have broken the Crime Prevention Triangle. How do we do this? By practicing the techniques learned at Neighborhood Watch meetings.
Crime Prevention Contacts
Citywide Neighborhood Watch Meeting - November 2011
National Night Out
2010 Photos
Oak Forest Crime Prevention Statistics
January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 2011
October 2011
November 2011
December 2011
2010 Crime Statistics
Links of Interest
McGruff SafeGuard: Take a Bite out of Internet Danger
Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids about Being Online
Smishing and Vishing: Another scam to look out for this holiday
For more information, contact the Crime Prevention Commission
708-687-4050, ext. 1603
crimeprevention@oak-forest.org
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