1. Use longer screws in doors and door frames making them more difficult to kick in.
2. Use locks on doors requiring a key to get in and out.
3. Any doors with hinges to the outside should not have pins that can be removed.
4. Increase outdoor lighting as much as possible; at least turn on the porch light.
5. Check your fence and shrubbery to see if it provides cover for a burglar.
6. If you buy a new plasma TV, do not leave the empty box on the curb.
7. When on vacation, let management know and they'll advise the officers on duty to check your property occasionally.
8. Also, when on vacation, stop your newspaper and mail delivery.
9. Don't open the door to strangers, but talk to someone ringing the doorbell through the door so they know someone is home.
10. Have a peephole in your front door.
11. Get to know your neighbors and watch out for one another.
12. Keep a record of valuables in the home, identify them with an engraver, and take photographs of them. Pawn shops must report to law enforcement all property pawned, and law enforcement checks these reports daily against property reported stolen in burglaries and thefts.
14. A majority of burglaries are committed by just a few burglars, so helping the police capture suspects can stop a rash of burglaries.
15. French doors are very difficult to secure, although sliding glass doors are the worst. Ensure you have a bar along the bottom rail of the sliding door to prevent it from being jarred open.
16. Burglar alarms are not a great deterrent because burglars intend to spend less than five minutes inside (they assume you have one).
17. A loud Chihuahua is a better deterrent than a quiet Doberman.
18. There is no city ordinance to protect against door-to-door solicitors, even in the face of posted signs against soliciting. The best deterrent is to not purchase from solicitors you do not know and to contact law enforcement about any suspicious activity.

On 11/11/09 about 10:30pm, a vehicle waiting at a red light @ Schroeder & 249 was approached by 2 young black men wearing hoodies who attempted to break a car window. The driver immediately hit the gas and crossed the intersection. No car damage was sustained and no police report was filed.

With the increased foot traffic at this intersection, be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Call 911/Precinct 4 (281-376-3472) immediately in any situation if you are being threatened.

Thank you for your help in protecting our neighborhood.
Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Board of Directors

Be on the lookout for this suspicious vehicle:

White Suburban (License JBG***) occupied by white male & heavy set Hispanic male.

Call Precinct 4 @ 281-376-3472 immediately if you see this vehicle in the neighborhood.

Thank you for your help in protecting our neighborhood.
Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Board of Directors

A Prestonwood resident was followed home this week by a Blue pickup truck - older model possibly Chevy or Ford. The truck has a square nose on the front and was occupied by an unknown male. It is very possible it may have been following her from the Kroger store parking lot.

Be alert. Be aware of your surroundings. Report all suspicious vehicles and activity to Precint 4 @ 281-376-3472.

Thank you for your help in protecting our neighborhood.
Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Board of Directors

Since Sunday September 13th there have been two burglaries and one motor vehicle break-in.

Suspects are 2 Hispanic Males and 1 Hispanic female.

Driving a 2000 Tan Honda Accord or A late model Dodge Van.

If you see these vehicles or other suspicious activities, please call the Constable at (281) 376-3472.

You or Your neighbor are one of the best deterrents and assets in catching criminals who are targeting our community.


Thank you for your help in protecting our neighborhood.
Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Board of Directors.

Did You Know?

Burglary is a crime of opportunity. Areas of heavy darkness and shadow provide a welcome mat to thieves and vandals. A recent security drive-through of the neighborhood revealed areas of heavy darkness and shadow especially near some entry and exit points in our community. Street lighting throughout the neighborhood and especially on dark corners and zones of “getaway” make it easier for alert citizens to report suspicious activity they see. Lighting at entry points and

A Prestonwood resident on Hargrave was robbed in her driveway on Tuesday evening, 7/28/09 about 9:45pm while trying to exit her vehicle. The assailant escaped on foot and was picked up by a waiting, slow-moving truck heading east on Hargrave.

Let this be a warning and reminder to each of us to be aware of our surroundings as we exit our vehicles in the driveway or garage. Call Precint 4 to report any suspicious person(s) or vehicle(s) in our neighborhood. If you haven't already done so, program 281-376-3472 into your home and cell phones now.

Dottie Reading, Security
Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Association

Did You Know?

For criminals, identity theft is a relatively low-risk, high-reward endeavor.

Identity thieves are hard to recognize because they do not necessarily fit a specific profile. An offender could be a complete stranger, a criminally minded cashier or service provider, a neighbor or even a family member.

For victims, however, it can take months or years and thousands of dollars to clear their good name and credit record. In the meantime, they may be refused loans, lose job opportunities and even be arrested for crimes they did not commit. If you are a victim, your best defense is to recognize it quickly and take immediate action to mitigate its effects.

Did You Know?

The residential mailbox belongs to and is controlled by the USPS (United States Postal Service) even though you, the homeowner, have purchased and maintain the mailbox. This means that any tampering of the mailbox is a federal offense.

Every day, the U.S. Postal Service delivers millions of checks, money orders, credit cards and other valuable items. Unfortunately, such items of value are also attractive to thieves.

That’s why Postal Inspectors across the country are at work to protect your mail. But with deliveries to more than 100 million addresses, the Postal Inspection Service can’t do the job alone.

Here’s what you can do to protect your mail from thieves:

September 7, 2008: Our welcoming neighborhood has recently been host to a number of night time visitors (and not the 9-banded armadillo that we have come to expect). There has been a recent increase in car break-ins. This crime is one in which persons break into a car to steal its contents instead of the entire car. Items stolen include purses, briefcases, CD changers, loose change, GPS units, packages from stores, etc.

Please call Precint 4 (24 Hour Dispatch) 281-376-3472 if you go out one morning and find that your car has been broken into. Please do this even if you feel nothing significant has been stolen. It might help the police determine patterns. All crimes, no matter how minor, should be reported to the police.

The best way to deter this type of crime is to take preventative measures. We hope some pairs of sharp eyes or ears, and quick, timely reporting will help Constable Roberts to locate these individuals and recover lost and stolen property. Our responsibility is to observe and report in a timely manner, never to apprehend.