Crime Prevention – City of Hollister, California

Home Security

Always keep your doors and windows locked. Install dead bolt locks on all doors.
Keep your home well lit at night, inside and out, and keep curtains closed at night. Have good lighting at all entrances. Use automatic timers to turn on lights on and off.
Add locks to sliding glass doors and windows to prevent lifting or sliding.
Install a peephole viewer in your front door. Do not automatically open your door to strangers.
Insist on identification from repair people, sales people or other strangers. Don't let a stranger come into your house to make a phone call.
Stop mail, newspapers and other deliveries when you are going away. Don't leave notes on your door when you're gone. Make sure your home looks and sounds occupied.
Never give out information over the phone indicating you are alone or that you won't be home at a certain time.
Do not hide spare keys. Give keys to a trusted neighbor instead.
Identify your belongings.
Have your locks re-keyed every time you move into a new house or apartment.
If you live in an apartment, be attentive and careful if you are alone in the laundry room or garage, especially late at night.
If you come home and find a door or window open, or signs of forced entry, do not enter, instead call the police for assistance from outside the home.
Know your neighbors and work out a mutual watch and warning system to prevent burglaries or break-ins.

Child Safety

Children need to know how to stay safe and protect themselves from kidnapping. They need guidance on making safe choices and decisions. Give children examples that they will understand. Pose what if scenarios and guide your children through the scenario safely. Correct any un-safe choices and re-enforce safe choices.

Teach your children to:

Never take anything like candy, ice cream, or money from a stranger. Explain that a stranger may look, act, and dress nicely or even wear a uniform.
Never take a ride from a stranger; always check with parents before taking a ride even with someone they know.
Never give their name or address to a stranger.
Never say they are home alone when answering the phone.
Check with a parent or guardian when leaving the yard or play area. Always try to take a friend when playing outside.
If your child is lost in a store, instruct your child not to wander around but to go the checkout counter, security office or seek help from someone who works at the store.
Create a commotion by yelling or screaming if a stranger tries to take them by force. Try and get away and immediately tell a parent or trusted adult what happened.

Child Safety Tips (PDF File 12KB)
Child Safety Tips - Stranger Danger (PDF File 175KB)

Street Safety

Walk confidently. Be alert. Notice who passes you and who's behind you.
Walk in well-lighted areas. Don't walk close to bushes, alleys and so on. In deserted or dark neighborhoods, walk down the middle of the street.
If a car pulls up slowly, or the occupants bother you, cross the street and walk or run in the other direction
If you feel that someone is following you, turn around and check. Proceed to the nearest lighted house or place of business
Don't overburden yourself with bags or packages, which might impede running or taking care of yourself
Carry a whistle or personal safety device
Carry as little cash as possible
Don't hitchhike
Hold your purse tightly close to your body. Keep your wallet in a front or in a buttoned, hip pocket
Be careful when people stop and ask for directions or information. Always reply from a distance. Never get to close to the car.
Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement
If you feel you are in danger, don't be afraid to scream and run

Street Safety Tips (PDF File 12KB)

Bicycle Safety

Ride with traffic. Stop at stop signs, obey traffic lights and most other traffic laws and signs
Ride in a straight line except when turning, to avoid hitting someone or something, or drive over drains, railroad tracks, hole or hazards
Use hand signals just as drivers of automobiles before turning
Ride as near the curb or edge of the street as practicable
On one way streets with two or more lanes, ride near either left or right curb or edge of the street
When passing parked cars, look through the rear windows to see if there is someone in a car that may open a door in your path
Use bicycle lanes where marked on the street. When leaving the bicycle lane to avoid a hazard, do so only when it's safe
Get of the bicycle and “walk” it across using the crosswalks at busy intersections
Do not allow anyone to ride as a passenger unless there's a separate seat attached to the bike
Do not carry anything which prevents holding the handlebars with at least one hand. “No-hands” riding is dangerous
Do not hitch rides by holding on to or attaching the bike to any other vehicle
Do not ride on freeways which have signs prohibiting bicycles
Do not park a bicycle on its side, or so there is no room for persons walking on the sidewalks

Bicycle Safety Tips (PDF File 13KB)

Identity Theft

Know whom you're dealing with. In any electronic transaction, independently confirm the other party's name, street address, and telephone number.
Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries. These solicitations are phony and illegal
Delete requests that claim to be from foreign nationals asking you to help transfer their money through your bank account.
Ignore unsolicited emails that request your money, credit card or account numbers, or other personal information.
Ignore unsolicited emails that request your money, credit card or account numbers, or other personal information.
If you are selling something over the Internet, don't accept a potential buyer's offer to send you a check for more than the purchase price, no matter how tempting the plea or convincing the story.
Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only when you're buying from a company you know and trust.
Don't routinely carry your social security card or other cards/documents that display your SSN. Keep your passwords safe and secure. Use security software that updates automatically.

Identity Theft Tips (PDF File 11KB)
Hollister Police Department ID Theft Pamphlet (PDF File 259KB)

The California State Victim Notification service (VINE) helps victims of crime obtain information about the custody status of their offender and is provided to you by your local sheriff. VINE is a free service that is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. VINE is available in English and Spanish and all registrations are confidential. Anyone can call or visit online to obtain custody information and/or register with VINE to receive automatic notification of any change in custody status.