We enjoy a safe and happy community in Westcreek Village and Copperfield. In order to assist Westcreek homeowners in avoiding crime in the greater Houston area, the Crime Watch Committee has assembled a number of crime awareness informational pamphlets developed by the Harris County Sheriff's Department. These pamphlets provide guidance to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. For your convenience, these pamphlets have a brief description, and have been divided into the following categories:
- Neighborhood and Personal Security
- Protecting Yourself from Assault
- Safety Issues for Children
- Safety Issues for People with Disabilities and the Elderly
- Home Security Recommendations
One proactive recommendation in many of the pamphlets is for people to work and participate with their Neighborhood Watch program. The Neighborhood Watch program is a proactive effort where homeowners work and communicate interactively with the Sheriff's Department with the clear goal of making our neighborhoods and property safer. By participating in the Neighborhood Watch program residents will be part of a formal communication network with the Sheriff's Department and Crime Watch committees.
Neighborhood and Personal Security
Neighborhood Watch is one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve.
Street Sense provides information about basic street sense while you are walking and driving. There are suggestions for what to do if you are on a bus or subway, or if someone tries to rob you. A test of your "Street Smarts" IQ is also provided.
Vehicle Theft is a Big Problem! provides information so that you "Don't make it easy for professional thieves or joyriders to take your wheels." There are also tips to protect special vehicles, citizen band radios, license plates, and tips to take action today.
Carjacking will tell you how you can make yourself less vulnerable to this new kind of car theft. There are suggestions for what to do before, and once you are in your car.
The Texas Department of Transportation has issued a small flyer about Driving While Intoxicated. Issues such as the legal limit and what happens if you are stopped are addressed. "Drink, Drive, and Go to Jail"
Use Common Sense to Spot a Con It's not always easy to spot a con artist. One easy rule to remember... if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This pamphlet will help you protect yourself, be a wise consumer, typical cons targeted at older people, and what to do if someone rips you off.
Voice over Internet Protocol telephone service (VoIP) may look and appear to work like a phone, but it connects to the internet, not a telephone line. This information flyer has several critical factors to consider regarding the impact of this technology on your emergency call to 9-1-1.
Protecting Yourself from Assault
Sexual Assault: Reducing the Risk and Coping with an Attack provides suggestions about reducing the risk of rape at home, while walking and while driving. There are also recommendations for what to do if you are attacked, and what to do after an assault.
Rape The opening statement of this pamphlet is "Think about the unthinkable. Don't mask the facts about rape with myths and stereotypes." This publication has guidance about how to use your head, common sense for indoors and outdoors, and how to handle a rape attempt. Additional sections cover surviving rape, what to do if someone you know has been raped, and how to take a stand.
Rape Aggression Defense or RAD is a program of realistic, self-defense tactics and techniques for women. This brochure has information about this free training class provided by the Harris County Sheriff's Department. The Westcreek and Copperfield Crimewatch Committees are working with Sgt. Ruggiero to set up classes for Copperfield residents. Contact the Westcreek Crime Watch Committee to sign up for this class. You will be notified via email when the next class is scheduled.
The Hidden Crime - Domestic Violence contains the following sections: Are you abused?, The high cost of domestic violence, and Take a stand!
At Home Alone contains safeguard information for young children who are at home alone. Sections include "What you can do", "Are they ready?", &quit;Teach your home alone children", and "Take a stand!".
Safety Skills for Children contains recommendations that parents can use to help their children protect themselves from crime. The topics include: "First, cover the basics", "At school and play", "At home alone", "What's a stranger", "Sexual abuse", "Choose day care centers wisely", "Exploring community resources", and "Take Action today!".
Rape Aggression Defense for Kids The objectives of this free class is to provide educational opportunities for children and parents, concerning awareness and self defense strategies, instilling confidence and reducing the possibility of adverse physical control and/or harm. The Westcreek and Copperfield Crimewatch Committees are working with Sgt. Ruggiero to set up classes for Copperfield residents and their children. Contact the Westcreek Crime Watch Committee to sign up for this class. You will be notified via email when the next class is scheduled.
The Harris County Sheriff's Department Crime Prevention Unit has published a brochure that contains a compilation of security information for children. The contents include "Would your child know what to do if", "Start with the basics", "At school and at play", "At home alone", "Child abuse", "Tips on choosing day care centers/babysitters", "Helpful community resources", and "What you can do to help".
Crime Prevention for People with Physical Disabilities A physical disability such as impaired vision, hearing, or mobility doesn't prevent you from being a victim of crime. Commonsense actions can reduce your risk. This pamphlet contains the following sections: "Look out for yourself", &auot;At home", "Before you go on vacation", "Out and about", "On public transportation", "Don't let a con artist rip you off", and "Take a stand".
Senior Citizens Against Crime contains crime avoidance recommendations for when seniors are out, at home, how to protect their money, and how to avoid being conned. Suggestions are also provided for if a senior is assaulted.
Safe Seniors has sections about being alert when seniors are out, how to make your home safe and secure, how to watch out for con artists, and how to get involved with your community.
Invest in Home Security covers checking your locks, doors and outside. There are also suggestions about home alarms, and what to do if you encounter a home break in.
Take Time Out. . . To Protect Your Home contains tips for prevention of burglary in your home. Homeowners insurance reduction requirements are provided in detail.
How to Secure Windows and Doors Security information is provided for for locks, sliding glass doors and windows, louvered windows, double hung windows, exterior doors and hinges.
Safety Issues for Children
Safety Issues for People with Disabilities and the Elderly
Home Security Recommendations