Safety Tips & Resources

Practical advice to help protect your home, family, and neighborhood.

Home Security

Lock Up Every Time

  • Lock all doors and windows when leaving
  • Don't forget garage doors and side gates
  • Use deadbolts on exterior doors
  • Secure sliding doors with a bar or pin

Lighting & Visibility

  • Install motion-sensor lights around entry points
  • Keep bushes trimmed below window level
  • Use timers on indoor lights when traveling
  • Illuminate house numbers for emergency responders

Packages & Mail

  • Track deliveries and bring them in promptly
  • Use a lockable mailbox or PO box
  • Ask a neighbor to collect packages if away
  • Consider a package lockbox or delivery locker

When You're Away

  • Hold mail and newspaper delivery
  • Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home
  • Don't announce vacations on social media
  • Keep a car in the driveway or arrange for one

Recognizing Suspicious Activity

What to Watch For

  • Unfamiliar vehicles driving slowly or repeatedly through the area
  • People looking into parked cars or peering into windows
  • Someone going door-to-door without clear purpose
  • Loud noises like breaking glass, screaming, or gunshots
  • Property being carried from homes at unusual hours

What to Do

  • Stay calm and observe from a safe distance
  • Note details: vehicle make/model/color, plate numbers
  • Note physical descriptions and direction of travel
  • Do not confront or follow suspicious individuals
  • Report to the non-emergency line when not urgent

Community Resources

Get Involved

  • Attend monthly neighborhood watch meetings
  • Sign up for community alert emails
  • Volunteer as a block captain
  • Participate in National Night Out events

Helpful Links

  • National Neighborhood Watch (nnw.org)
  • Local police department website
  • Crime mapping tools (CrimeMapping.com)
  • Home security assessment (contact local PD)

Emergency Preparedness

  • Know your neighbors and exchange contact info
  • Keep a first aid kit and flashlight accessible
  • Have an emergency communication plan
  • Sign up for local emergency alerts

Myth vs. Fact: Immigration & Community Safety

Misinformation about immigration drives unnecessary fear. Here are the facts.

❌ MYTH

"Immigrants increase crime in neighborhoods."

✓ FACT

Research consistently shows that immigrants — including undocumented immigrants — commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. A 2020 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that undocumented immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born citizens.

❌ MYTH

"People who don't speak English are probably here illegally."

✓ FACT

Over 67 million Americans speak a language other than English at home. The vast majority are U.S. citizens or legal residents. The U.S. has no official language. Speaking another language says nothing about someone's legal status.

❌ MYTH

"Immigrants take resources and don't contribute to the community."

✓ FACT

Immigrants contribute over $1.6 trillion annually to U.S. GDP. They start businesses at higher rates than native-born Americans, pay billions in taxes (including undocumented immigrants who pay an estimated $11.6B in state and local taxes), and fill essential roles in healthcare, agriculture, and construction.

❌ MYTH

"My neighborhood is less safe because new immigrants moved in."

✓ FACT

Studies show neighborhoods with higher immigration actually experience declining crime rates. The "immigration-crime" narrative is not supported by data. Your new neighbors are statistically more likely to make your neighborhood safer, not less.

❌ MYTH

"Reporting suspicious-looking people keeps the community safe."

✓ FACT

95% of "suspicious person" reports result in no crime found. These reports waste law enforcement resources, traumatize innocent people, and erode community trust. Real safety comes from knowing your neighbors, not fearing them.

Know the Facts

📊

By the Numbers

  • 45.3 million immigrants live in the U.S. — 13.7% of the population
  • 49% of immigrants are naturalized U.S. citizens
  • 23% of all U.S. business owners are immigrants
  • $11.6 billion in state/local taxes paid by undocumented immigrants annually
  • 70%+ of farm workers in the U.S. are immigrants
⚖️

Your Rights & Others' Rights

  • Everyone in the U.S. has constitutional protections regardless of status
  • It is not illegal to be present in a public space
  • Speaking a foreign language is a protected right
  • You cannot be required to show ID just for walking or existing
  • Filing false reports can result in criminal charges against the reporter
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Learn More