How to Prevent Vehicle Break-Ins and Other Crimes on the Main Line

Protect yourself from theft and being stalked on the Internet with these helpful tips from police departments.

On the heels of a string of vehicle break-ins in Wayne late last winter, police distributed cards reminding car owners of these common-sense steps:

• Keep doors locked.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle. If it’s necessary, place them out of plain sight.
• Don’t attach identifying information (a home address) to car keys or leave them in your vehicle. When handing off keys in a public parking garage, make sure you’re dealing with the attendant.

Among the pamphlets prominently displayed at the Tredyffrin Township Police Department is the National Crime Prevention Council’s “How to Avoid Being Stalked in Cyberspace.” Tips include:

- Advertisement -

• Never give out any personal information about yourself to strangers in e-mails, in chat rooms or on Internet bulletin boards.
• When you’re online, think about how what you say might be interpreted without the context of body language or voice.
• Never use your real name, nickname or a suggestive name when chatting and the like.
• Be cautious about meeting an online acquaintance in person. If you choose to do so, always take someone with you and meet in a public place.
• If you make contact online with someone who’s unpleasant or hostile, log off immediately and report the incident to your Internet service provider. Most chat/message boards also have a reporting system for unpleasant encounters.

» Crime on the Main Line: Local Police Reveal the Level of Danger

Our Best of the Main Line Elimination Ballot is open through February 22!