Sponsored by

Protecting Yourself From Crime protection information from riding your bike to visiting the ATM machine

Public Safety and Health Links

Disaster Preparedness    Information on Fire, Tornado, Thunderstorm, Floods, etc.

Rural Crime

      Most rural dwellers normally gave little thought or attention to home security, but times have changed. In Phelps County, rural homes can be targeted for burglaries of the residence, farm equipment, vehicles and live stock being stolen. If you plan on being gone for any period of time and you live in Phelps County, call the Phelps County Sheriff Department; 364-1818 and give your address, an emergency contact number and the time you will be gone. This will be posted for deputies to see for CLOSE PATROL.

      Here are some extra precautions to take to help protect your home, vehicles, equipment and supplies:

• Lock all doors, windows, vehicles, etc.
• Lock double hung windows by sliding a bolt or nail through a hole drilled at a downward angle in each top corner of the inside sash and part way through the outside sash.
• Secure sliding glass doors with commercial locks or a wooden dowel in the track.
• Install good lights around your home, yard, barns, corrals, gas pumps, any kind of storage unit.
• Don't leave tools in the bed of a pickup, lock it up!
• Don't park farm equipment near a road where it is vulnerable to theft or vandalism.
• Identify all equipment. Mark all equipment that doesn't have any kind of serial number on it with a die stamp. Record all serial numbers of any kind of equipment and numbers that you have added. This assists law enforcement in recovering your property if it is taken.
• Mark your livestock; eartags are a simple way of marking, but can be removed if stolen. Tatooing is another form of marking livestock.

      The best protection you can have is good neighbors. Help each other out by keeping an eye on each others property, equipment. If you notice anything different, or a new vehicle, call them, make sure everything is okay.

      If you see a suspicious person or vehicle on your property or your neigbor's, report it immediately. Try to write down a description of the vehicle, color, size, license plate if possible.

The National Crime Prevention Council and The Missouri Department of Public Safety