Criminal activity can occur anywhere in a major metroplex neighborhood. You can protect your yourself, your loved ones, and your property more effectively by planning ahead.

Crime Prevention Tips

1. Car Break-Ins
If possible, park cars in your garage. If that is not possible, never leave anything of value (or that looks of value, e.g. bags) in your car and keep doors locked. Be sure to tell the same to visiting friends and family. And, do not leave your garage door opener in your car that is parked outside.

2. Stolen Packages
If possible, have packages delivered to your workplace. When ordering from Amazon, have your packages delivered to the Amazon Locker at the 7-11 on the corner of Easton and Garland Rd. Or, get a P.O. Box at the UPS Store in Casa Linda. Use a large plant or install a small barrier/container and instruct the deliverer to leave packages out of view. If leaving town, place all package deliveries on hold.

3. Garage and/or Shed Items Stolen
Even when you are home, make an effort to keep your garage door closed and valuables (bikes, power tools, etc.) out of view. When not in use, your shed should remain locked. Mark/engrave your items (Operation I.D.) and keep a record of each item’s serial number. Make sure your garage or shed has motion lights, and if possible, security cameras.

4. Home Break-Ins
There are practical things that can be done to reduce the possibility of your home being broken into. Alternatively, leave various interior lights on in your home when you leave the house, visible from the outside. Leave a radio on loud enough to be heard by someone standing at your front door. Do not have valuable items visible from your windows. Install a monitored alarm system with cameras and register your system with the Dallas Police Department.

5. Add a dog to the family: Dogs can deter home break-ins, according to research by the US Department of Justice and other sources. Dogs can be a physical threat, especially large dogs, and they can also be noisy, attracting attention from neighbors. Dogs' senses of hearing and smell can also alert you to intruders on your property.

6. When Traveling: Please call our ENP (Expanded Neighborhood Patrol ) Police Officers to check on your house. Leave your name, address, a phone number they can reach you, and date of departure and return. If someone is house sitting or pet sitting, please include their name and car info (make and color). Lochwood ENP: 214-478-3678. Please create a contact for this number in your phone.

Safety & Security Tips

1. See or Hear Something, Say Something
Is there someone or something that just looks a bit out of place or out of the ordinary? Home burglars will often scope a neighborhood and they rely on no one seeing or acknowledging them. Please sign up to post and receive real-time Lochwood Crime Watch Alerts via the useful Telegram app. Call 911 and report suspicious vehicles, people, and activities. You can also call our Lochwood ENP Officers: 214-478-3678.

2. Get To Know Your Neighbors
Knowing and sharing contact information with your neighbors can play a vital role in neighborhood safety by simply being alert to unusual or out-of-place cars and people and immediately reporting anything or anyone suspicious to the police. Retirees, stay-at-home moms/dads, and home office neighbors can help keep a lookout during the day.

3. Light Up Lochwood!
There are many dark spots in our neighborhood that create easy targets for criminals. Please invest in exterior lighting (motion lights, etc.) to avoid any dark hiding places. Soft, overall landscape lighting eliminates dark areas that might hide an intruder, exposing any movement on your property.

4. Mark Your Address Number
Let first responders and VIPs (Volunteers In Patrol) easily identity your home by having curbside, front exterior and alleyway address numbers. House number signs can help law enforcement officers, firefighters, and medical personnel to find you when you need help. In an emergency, seconds can sometimes make a life-saving difference.

5. If Feasible, Install Motion Cameras
High resolution / night vision cameras not only come in handy for you to identify a criminal, but also a neighbor who may have been victimized. Please share any potential images that could help an active investigation.