Many people spend a good portion of their time at work. This means it’s just as important to use crime prevention skills in the workplace as it is at home and in the neighborhood. Whether the place of business is corporate headquarters, a restaurant, a store, an auto repair shop, or a person’s home, common-sense prevention skills can make the workday safer for everyone.

Tips

Keep your purse, wallet, keys, or other valuables with you at all times or locked in a drawer or closet.

· Check the identity of any strangers who are in your office. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, inform security or management immediately.

· Don’t stay late if you’ll be alone in the office. Create a buddy system for walking to parking lots or public transportation after hours, or ask a security guard to escort you.

· Report any broken or flickering lights, dimly lit corridors, broken windows, and doors that don’t lock properly.

· If you notice signs of potential violence in a fellow employee, report this to the appropriate person. Immediately report any incidents of sexual harassment.

· If you work at home, in addition to making your home safe and secure, you should hang window treatments that obstruct the view into your office. You don’t want to advertise your expensive office equipment.

· Follow the same caution with deliveries and pickups that businesses do. Anyone making a delivery to your home office should be properly identified before you open the door. Do not let the person enter your home. 

Almost all children today have access to the Internet through schools, libraries, community centers, or their home. Not only do more children have access to the Internet than ever before, but they are using it more, too. Many schools incorporate the Internet into their curricula and encourage online research for projects. But that’s not all kids are doing online. They also email, chat with friends through instant messenger and in chat rooms, play games, create websites and web blogs, and just surf the ‘net.

Even as kids grow savvier in their use of the Internet, it can still be a dangerous place. The good news is that most dangers can be avoided if children and their parents learn about smart Internet use. 

What Parents Can Do 

· Talk with children about the benefits and risks of the Internet. Ask them what they do online, what websites they visit, who they chat with, and what games they play.

· When possible, go online with your children. Have them show you their favorite websites, online games, and chat rooms.

· Keep the computer in a busy area of the house.

· With your children, agree on rules of what they can and cannot do online, when they can go on the Internet, and how long they can stay.

· Have your children sign McGruff’s Internet pledge and post it by the computer so they remember how to stay safe online. See enclosed sheet.

· If your children tell you that they saw something inappropriate online, don't blame or punish them. Remember that how you react will affect what your children share with you in the future.

· Ask who your children talk to online and how they communicate (i.e. email, instant messenger, chat rooms, blogs, etc.). Tell them that you expect them to be as nice online as they are offline. Make sure they know the dangers of meeting new friends online.

· Talk with children about downloading music and movies online. If you decide to let your children download files onto your computer, show them legal ways to do so, such as using pay per download or pay per month services like iTunes and Napster.

· Consider using a filter, blocking, or ratings system for your computer.