Public Safety: Stop Making it Easy for Criminals

By Jim Cheatham

Nobody wants to be the victim of a crime. Sometimes, we make it easy by leaving valuables in plain sight and leaving our doors unlocked.

The act of locking your doors seems pretty straight forward. However, time after time, citizens call about valuables stolen out of vehicles that were parked in their driveway overnight with the doors unlocked. Computers, purses, brief cases, guns, and jewelry left on the front seat. This is not an isolated problem, and we want to encourage better habits for our community.

We utilize social media as a way to engage in a community conversation. Our Facebook page is @AlpharettaPublicSafety, our Twitter account is @AlpharettaDPS, and our Instagram is @AlpharettaDPS. We have a YouTube channel, and we also participate in NextDoor. Social media is a changing landscape, and our eyes are on the horizon, looking for the conversations of tomorrow.

We end many of our social media posts with #BeSafeAlpharetta. Safe is a state of mind that makes one less likely to be harmed. We say this as a salutation, so our community will be aware and conscientious of the actions they can control to prevent themselves or others from being harmed or victimized. This hashtag would include trying to prevent your valuables from being stolen, but it may not be as easy to see the connection, so we are adding #9PMRoutine.

The #9PMRoutine was started by the Pasco Sheriffs Office in Florida. It was started to engage the community in crime prevention. It has become popular all across the country, and if you are an avid social media user, you have probably seen #9PMRoutine numerous times. Some agencies have included the question, Do you know where your children are? This is a throwback to public service announcements from decades ago, which were broadcast to address rising crime rates.

We want you to join us in the #9PMRoutine. We will send out messages regularly on our social media channels reminding the community to secure their surroundings. Lock your doors; put away your valuables; know where your family members are (especially your children); and ensure that they are safe.

Its time to wrap up our day, and sleep easily knowing our community does not make it easy for criminals. When you complete your #9PMRoutine, tell your community by posting it on your social media outlets with the #9PMRoutine hashtag, and feel free to tag the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

Of course, for those criminals who persist, call 911, and we will be glad to help arrange accommodations for them for the night.

#BeSafeAlpharetta #9PMRoutine