NHW SA Watch on SA magazine Issue 15, 2019

Watch on SA Neighbourhood Watch SA Magazine Issue 15 Summer 2019

Keeping watch in Kingston

Neighbourhood Watch SA a safe and connected community

IN THIS ISSUE

From the State Coordinator

From the State Coordinator...................... 2

In this issue I want to explore the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) tag line ‘A Safe and Connected Community’.

perhaps others who are long-term unemployed, or experiencing mental health or have drug and alcohol issues?

Meet the new NHW Board Members........ 3

Taking a narrow viewpoint, we could argue that many of us are only concerned with being protected from becoming victims of those criminal behaviours which directly impact on our lives and livelihoods like house breakins, theft from vehicles and being physically harmed in public places. But there are other behaviours, including non-criminal ones, which make people feel unsafe. Take homelessness and the associated behaviour of sleeping in the open for example. Not only can a homeless person feel isolated, disconnected and unsafe, the mere presence of that person in a public place can make others feel unsafe.

I’m not talking about NHW volunteers walking the streets with clipboards wearing their NHW high visibility vests and approaching individuals directly. Rather NHW volunteers could connect with the many support services and agencies who provide direct support and assistance to these people. This indirect approach still accomplishes the critical first step of initiating a connection.

NHW is provided with crime statistics which are sometimes published in its newsletters but some other offences including domestic violence and child abuse are not provided by South Australia Police. These behaviours impact on the lives of thousands of South Australians every year, resulting in victims feeling vulnerable, unsafe and sometimes disconnected from the rest of society.

Should NHW be concerned with connecting with sectors of the community who are homeless, people who are victims of domestic violence, or

Some NHW groups may well say engaging in such activities is not and should not be part of their business. Some might say NHW is not there to become action groups and that there is already sufficient support and provision for these sectors of the community. But there is enough flexibility within the NHW program for individual areas, particularly those which clearly have such vulnerable people in their community, to reach out and proactively try to connect with them.

Naturally, each NHW area has different community problems, which in turn create feelings of being unsafe and disconnected, and those experiencing these feelings could be from all walks of life. But by regularly reviewing what it is a NHW wants its community to feel safe

President’s report..................................... 2 Priceless contributions pay off.................. 4 Keeping watch in Kingston....................... 5 A more inclusive approach....................... 6 Safer Internet Day.................................... 8 Scam alert.............................................. 10 Are you... covered?................................ 11 Home Assist Program............................. 12 and protected from, they will then have a better understanding of who they need to connect with to help achieve this goal.

Sergeant Phil Gurr Neighbourhood Watch SA State Coordinator South Australia Police

President’s report Over the last few issues I’ve been telling you about the structure of Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) SA, and in particular the Neighbourhood Watch Volunteers Association of South Australia Inc. (NHW VASA) and what part that plays in South Australia Police’s Neighbourhood Watch program.

In the last issue I mentioned the Board of Management (BoM) of the NHW VASA consisted of an Executive headed by the President (plus Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) and two other Board members, all NHW SA volunteers.

The Board also seeks to engage two external (to the NHW SA program) Board members for their expertise in various fields that may assist

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the Board, and we have been actively doing so over the last part of 2018.

Eleven prospective candidates answered our call for Board members, out of which a smaller shortlist was determined, interviews held, and two selected as the most suitable candidates to join the Board.

ensure they are happy to work in our Board’s environment and work together with existing members to enhance NHW.

It is with great pleasure that as from the first meeting of the Board for 2019, we introduce and welcome our two new members – James Slocombe and Robin Yang. You can read their bios on page three.

They have each agreed to a six-month trial period, as part of a two-year tenure, to

Phil Tavender President Neighbourhood Watch Volunteers Association of SA Inc.

Meet your new NHW Board Members

James Slocombe I am one of the two new incoming members on the Board of Management for the Neighbourhood Watch Volunteers Association of SA Inc. I am currently a lawyer working on behalf of the SA Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and have worked in the criminal justice system for more than a decade. I hold formal qualifications in law, criminal justice, public safety and public administration. I have worked closely with SAPOL in my current role as a solicitor and prosecutor for the DPP and as a legal officer for the Police Ombudsman. In this role, I have been involved in presenting higher court trials and appeals, as well as travelling to regional areas to interview and speak to victims of crime.

My interest in becoming involved in Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) SA is both personal and professional. My parents were active in a NHW program during my childhood. I also grew up with two brothers who later became police officers and with a third who now works in local government. I have developed a professional interest in community policing programs from seeing the impact of serious crimes on remote Indigenous communities such as in Fregon and Amata in the far north of the state and on small populations in towns such as Carpenter Rocks in the south-east.

I believe a true indicator of the health of a city, town or community is its level of community engagement. Effective community engagement requires residents to put their hands up to give community programs life to work. It also leads to better participation as well as higher levels of trust and satisfaction in public services. Effective community engagement reduces the level of crime in any given community. Trust in policing is essential to ensure the successful operation of a police service in any particular community.

Over the years I have engaged with my local community through personal involvement in volunteer organisations, including a number of animal rescue groups, Justice Net SA and the SA State Emergency Service. On many occasions I have witnessed fellow volunteers providing very high levels of service in very difficult conditions to assist their neighbours.

Dr Robin Yang Robin is an active academic and professional in marketing management. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business, a Master of Marketing, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.

His academic experiences include working with several Australian institutes designing, coordinating and lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Apart from course management and teaching, he has conducted several research projects, and communicated the research findings via international conferences (for example the 2017 Global Applied Business Research Conference, London), journals (like the International Journal of Consumer Studies), industry reports (such as The Australian Dairy Farmer), and public media (including ABC Radio).

As a Certified Practising Marketer in Australia, Robin provides consultancy services to local businesses for marketing management.

Recently, he has been helping several businesses in Adelaide to improve their marketing communications, customer experiences, and product design and development. He was a product marketing manager and corporate trainer with a Fortune 500 telecommunication company in China, before immigrating to Australia. He was also a team leader and committee member of several volunteer programs with local governments in China, and awarded Excellent Youth Leader in 2012.

Robin has fallen in love with Adelaide since moving here in 2013 and believes Neighbourhood Watch has played a significant role in Adelaide being such a liveable and peaceful city. He is also aware of the challenges facing the state including globalisation, terrorism and the changing demographic profile of residents.

Robin sees joining the Board as a valuable opportunity to give back to the community and hopes his participation will contribute to Neighbourhood Watch SA being an inclusive, intelligent, infusive and influential organisation for everyone in South Australia.

I come to the Board of Management keen to continue to encourage greater community involvement in volunteering, in particular in Neighbourhood Watch SA.

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Priceless contributions pay off

Trevor Purdie and Heather Courtney with Mayor Brenton Lewis, Rural City of Murray Bridge.

This year’s Australia Day honours saw three regional Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) group volunteers recognised for outstanding contributions to their respective communities.

four years as Treasurer and three years as Chairperson. In 2015 he received the prestigious President’s Award for conspicuous services to NHW.

Raelene Williams was awarded the 2019 Whyalla Australia Day Senior Citizen of the Year, while Heather Courtney and Trevor Purdie were joint recipients of the Rural City of Murray Bridge – 2019 Citizen of the Year.

Trevor has been heavily involved in South Australia Police’s Blue Light crime prevention program, volunteering at events including BBQ camps at Monarto Zoo and Blue Light Discos for youth. He also has a passion for assisting vulnerable people and for the past five years Trevor and his wife Doreen have prepared breakfasts for up to 30 people from the Kairos Prison Ministry.

Raelene Williams (pictured bottom right) has more than 30 years of volunteering experience, including with Neighbourhood Watch in which she is Secretary for the Whyalla Stuart Area 277, Secretary/Treasurer for the Whyalla combined Areas and State Councillor for the Eyre and Western Local Service Area.

Raelene has spent eight years as President of the ‘Whyalla Pink Spirits’ group which provides support to people with breast cancer. She is also the community liaison for the Breast Cancer Network Australia and a member of the Cancer Wellness Support Network. Her tireless efforts have seen her receive numerous awards acknowledging her commitment to the community, including the Premier’s Certificate for Outstanding Volunteering Service in 2016.

Trevor Purdie was recognised for his lengthy commitment to a wide variety of community based initiatives including a significant contribution to the local NHW where with Area 288, he has served for 15 years, including

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Heather Courtney was recognised for her diverse range of volunteering roles, including many years with Murray Bridge NHW, where she held the position of Treasurer. As part of NHW Heather has led and actively participated in many local community events designed to help reduce crime in the Murray Bridge area including hosting several Plate Safe days where vehicle owners are able to have their vehicle’s registration plates re-affixed using tamper-proof screws.

Heather has coordinated NHW graffiti removal teams and been instrumental in obtaining grants for the purchase and placement of CCTV cameras at Sturt Reserve and other crime hotspot locations in the Murray Bridge CBD. She has also played a vital role in promoting initiatives such as International

Women’s Day, International Day for People with Disabilities, the Biggest Morning Tea (World Cancer Day) and White Ribbon events, which raise awareness of domestic violence against women.

NHW congratulates Raelene, Trevor and Heather on their tireless efforts and fine achievements over many years culminating in their well-deserved Australia Day awards.

We hope their examples will inspire future community leaders.

Keeping watch in Kingston The group played a key role in the installation of a CCTV camera at the intersection of Charles and Agnes streets to reduce crime and behavioural issues and is currently developing a CCTV plan and sponsorship requests for establishing additional cameras at the town’s entrances. They have also supplied high visibility vests to elderly residents using gophers (pictured left), assisted with ‘The Ice Update’ drug forum at Kingston and participated in community events including the Annual Lobster Trail and the Kingston Show.

Kingston SE is located on the state’s Limestone Coast, around 300 kilometres from Adelaide and is the first of the coast’s Southern Ports.

The town is a service centre and tourist destination that sprawls along some eight kilometres of coastline and is located close to the Mount Benson/Cape Jaffa wine region. With a population of around 1,500 people Kingston SE is fast evolving from a rural service centre to a bustling tourism destination.

Community safety is a vital element of this transformation, with the Kingston Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) SA 624 group playing an influential role in reducing crime and making local residents feel safe and connected.

Established on 27 September 2012, the group has developed a broad membership and an innovative mindset. It is constantly seeking ways to serve and improve the coastal community and currently has various programs underway to ensure the continuity and relevance of NHW. The group is determined to attract younger community members and embrace new approaches to crime prevention initiatives.

Under the guidance of Area Coordinator Gail Hetherington, Secretary Pauline Williams, Treasurer John Hall and Police Coordinator Senior Constable Michael Ringshaw, the group has achieved some outstanding outcomes for their community. The group’s ability to proactively identify and address issues of concern was recently recognised with a Certificate of Appreciation at the annual Neighbourhood Watch Awards Ceremony.

The Kingston NHW group has been working on several programs including a kerbside number marking project to assist with house identification for emergency services and placing NHW SA stickers on all bins in the township.

Pauline Williams and Gail Hetherington with their Local Service Area Certificate of Appreciation.

Their efforts to improve the local community have also been heralded

by Kingston Mayor Kay Rasheed.

“I’m extremely proud of their community service. I commend the group’s tireless work and acknowledge their role as valued community members,” she said.

Spreading the Neighbourhood Watch Word Kingston NHW is also looking to spread the community safety message to their neighbours by pledging support for a new start-up group incorporating both Bray and Robe following a community meeting last month where nearly the entire population of Bray turned out.

Sergeant Andy Stott, Crime Prevention Section Manager of Limestone Coast Local Service Area and local resident Linda Kennett originally coordinated the meeting to progress the idea of initiating a new NHW group in Robe.

“About 50 Bray residents attended and overwhelmingly expressed a desire to start a group in Bray, not Robe,” Sergeant Stott said.

“Whilst the intention of the meeting was not necessarily to discuss a NHW group for Bray, the interest level was extremely encouraging and we agreed it needs to be explored further.”

A meeting is also being planned to progress the original idea for a Robe NHW group.

If you are interested in setting up a new NHW SA group, phone 7322 3298 for more information.

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A more inclusive approach The Neighbourhood Watch Board of Management (the Board) has recently been exploring how it can make their program more inclusive for people with disabilities, while also seeking an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how perceptions of community safety may differ for people with disabilities compared to able-bodied people.

Following an initial meeting with Michelle Carney of Disability SA, the Board was introduced to Nick Schumi (pictured below), a young Adelaide resident who is a passionate and competent advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Nick speaks with Sergeant Phil Gurr, Neighbourhood Watch State Coordinator.

The best information about how to relate to someone is always better coming straight from the source. I suppose that’s the same for everyone, really.

In your everyday life, what issues in the community make you feel unsafe, and how might these be different for able-bodied people?

A behaviour I don’t like is dismissiveness – saying ‘at least we have this or that for you’, or ‘no, we don’t have a ramp at the front of the building but at least we have one at the back door for you’.

As someone who lives alone, I think it’s important to know who is around you and who your neighbours are – something that seems less common these days. The idea of a home invasion makes me feel very unsafe, particularly if it were to happen at night. My physical difference means I could be more of a target than an able-bodied person.

I also don’t appreciate assumptions made about a person’s capabilities (or lack thereof) – sometimes called ‘the burden of low expectations’ – or their ability to make choices and find solutions regarding their participation in society, particularly about roles in the workplace.

Thanks for joining us, Nick. What is it like living with a disability and what are some of the barriers to inclusion?

How do you think NHW can better connect with people with disabilities?

I think the biggest barrier is the attitude that we are a minority (one of many) and the attitude that solving the issues of inclusion means that we need ‘special treatment’ rather than inclusive practices and attitudes. For instance, wheelchair ramps mean that both able-bodied and people with disabilities have access to the same areas. Or, for people with vision impairment, tactile indicators can help them to navigate the built environment but they don’t disrupt use by other people.

Living with disability can be frustrating, and many people with disabilities are aware of what they can and can’t do, but they can become numb and accepting that society may not include them.

What everyday behaviours from people who are not disabled impact the most on people with disabilities?

I really like when you come across a person who is quick to grasp and understand the practical and physical implications in a given situation involving people with disabilities. My personal view, which some may disagree with, is that, if people are unsure about something to do with a person with disabilities, it is a good idea to ask that person directly.

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Having said that, people can be very resourceful, so often people with disabilities have learned to adapt and think about their home environment and how they could safeguard against situations like that. But we cannot ignore that we are seemingly more vulnerable and therefore could be easier targets.

Consumer consultation is a very important part of engaging different sectors of the community and understanding their needs. No single approach suits every kind of person, however an example could be making NHW information available in simple English, braille or digital formats.

Would a person with disabilities feel sufficiently empowered to get in touch with their nearest Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) group and seek out volunteering opportunities with them?

Each person is an individual. Some people with disabilities would feel confident, whereas others may feel isolated and unsure of how to ask for help. Some would need more help to understand the steps involved and others may need to access different types of communication in order to engage. Some may also need assistance in physically getting to and from a community event or NHW meeting.

There are many organisations that are very good at providing services to people with disabilities, so perhaps a NHW representative could speak with them to see how they do it.

I am personally involved with quite a few of these organisations so I may be able to assist in initiating these connections.

Do you think people with disabilities would like to participate more in NHW? Again, I cannot speak for the wider disability community, but I genuinely believe that if people with disabilities were given the opportunity, there are definitely members in the community that would be keen to have greater participation.

Why should NHW be looking to reach out to people with disabilities and encouraging them (and where necessary supporting them) to participate in the NHW program?

That’s a good question, Phil. I would say, apart from it simply being the right thing to do in supporting access and inclusion for people with disabilities, it is also important for NHW groups to try to accurately reflect the diversity of the community. It is worth noting that people with disabilities make up 18 per cent of the broader community.

Of course there will always be greater barriers for some members of the public to participate in community-based initiatives like NHW, but I think by having more people with disabilities participating in NHW, it would enable NHW to hear and understand their perspectives on community issues.

Footnote: Nick has kindly agreed to participate in some NHW District meetings during 2019.

The Board hopes this will be the start of an ongoing and developing relationship with Nick and the wider disability community.

These may vary widely from the perspectives of the rest of the group, but such diversity of opinion, experiences and suggestions would likely assist NHW in making sound and wellinformed decisions. Not to mention that it could bring people with disabilities a larger sense of empowerment from being a part of these discussions, and strengthen the work that NHW does.

Sergeant Phil Gurr and Nick Schumi.

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Safer Internet Day

South Australia Police (SAPOL) highlighted its strong commitment to cyber safety by supporting Safer Internet Day on 5 February 2019. The annual event raises awareness about internet safety and the positive role of digital technology and explores ways we can all contribute to creating a better, safer internet.

Coordinated by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in Australia and celebrated in more than 130 countries, Safer Internet Day empowers individuals and communities with tools for more positive online experiences.

This year’s theme – ‘Together for a better internet’ – encouraged individuals to navigate the online world safely by developing four critical skills called the ‘4Rs’: Respect, Responsibility, Reasoning and Resilience.

Respect:

I treat myself and others the way I like to be treated.

Responsibility: I am accountable for my actions and I take a stand when I feel something is wrong.

Reasoning: I question what is real.

Resilience: I get back up from tough situations.

Phil Tavender, President of Neighbourhood Watch SA, welcomed this initiative.

“With the large number of people now using the internet to do business and to regularly communicate with others, internet safety has become a vital concept to promote within the broader community,” he said.

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“Information about Safer Internet Day and SAPOL’s tips about keeping safe online should be included in all Neighbourhood Watch newsletters to ensure the community is well-informed about emerging electronic crime issues and the importance of safe online practices.”

SAPOL is committed to creating a safer internet through initiatives such as the ThinkUKnow cyber safety program. In the past financial year SAPOL delivered more than 500 presentations in South Australian schools to educate young people about cyber safety. In late February, officers from the Limestone Coast Local Service Area ran an adult community ThinkUKnow cyber safety information forum in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police ThinkUKnow team. Officers from SAPOL’s Northern District also spread the cyber safety message at a community Q & A event run by Anglicare on Safer Internet Day. SAPOL has a strong focus on disrupting and disabling serious and organised online crime and preventing victimisation through building community resilience against cybercrime. This involves SAPOL proactively engaging with the community to provide awareness about online safety, information about emerging trends and cyber bullying.

Internet safety has also been enhanced by various policing operations run by SAPOL’s Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch, such as Operation Disrepair. This proactive, intelligence-led policing initiative concentrated on intervention, prevention and reducing victimisation from online fraud and scam activity impacting on the South Australian community, resulting in a reduction in both the number of online scam victims and amount of money being sent overseas.

But SAPOL cannot do it alone. Everyone in our community has a part to play in creating a safer, better internet for all.

BE IN THE KNOW – INFORM YOURSELF •

Adults: Find helpful resources on scams and cybercrime at www.police.sa.gov.au/safety-and-security-tips Here you can find cyber safety information and tips that you can download, print or share online including information on protecting your privacy, identity theft, scams, tap and go and shopping online.

•

Youth: Find the ‘Think about it’ section on SAPOL’s safety and security page at www.police.sa.gov.au/safety-and-security-tips to find information and tips that you can download, print or share online including cyber safety tips, how to avoid ‘online sharks’ and ‘sexting – think before you send’.

•

Get information from these other useful websites to help protect yourself online: - Office of eSafety Commissioner - www.esafety.gov.au - Australian Cyber Security Centre - www.cyber.gov.au - Scam Watch - www.scamwatch.gov.au - Think You Know - www.thinkuknow.org.au

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Sign-up to SA Police News at www.police.sa.gov.au/register-fornews or Scamwatch at www.scamwatch.gov.au/news/subscribe-toscam-alert-emails to get alerts of current scams and help protect yourself.

Phil Tavender with Sergeant Phil Gurr holding pledge boards.

TAKE ACTION – REPORT CYBERCRIME

OTHER ONLINE SAFETY TIPS

• • •

•

If someone is in immediate danger ring Triple Zero (000).

For police assistance ring 131 444.

Report online at www.acorn.gov.au

The Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) empowers members of the public to securely report instances of

cybercrime online and enables better and more targeted responses to cybercrime which includes online scams and fraud, identity theft, attacks on computer systems and illegal or prohibited online content. Not all ACORN reports will be referred to police or result

in a police investigation. However, all reports will help to prevent and disrupt future criminal activity and in all cases, the individual reporting an incident will be provided with appropriate advice and resources.

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Report offensive and illegal content, image abuse and online bullying via the Office of eSafety Commissioner website at www.esafety.gov.au

• • • • •

Never give your personal details, passwords, credit card or online account details to a person you cannot identify in an official capacity.

Always know who you are communicating with and where your information is going. If you are uncertain, confirm the contact is legitimate through methods other than what they have provided.

People may pretend to be someone they are not online. It is important you know and trust the people you chat to and accept as ‘friends’.

Limit the amount of personal information you publish on social media and online.

Ensure your computer and mobile phone are protected with regularly updated anti-virus software. Avoid using public computers for personal activities.

Use secure online payment services – look for a URL starting with ‘https’ and a closed padlock symbol.

See page 10 for our article on the latest scam alert.

Find more online safety, personal safety, home security and business security tips at www.police.sa.gov.au/safety-and-security-tips

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SCAM ALERT South Australia Police (SAPOL) is receiving an alarming rate of reports from people being scammed out of thousands of dollars.

Some of these scams start by the victim simply answering the phone to a number they do not recognise. By answering the phone, they have confirmed for the caller that the random number they have called is an active number and it progresses from there.

Once a phone number is confirmed, the scammer will call again and convince the victim that they must purchase iTunes cards, Google Play cards, pre-paid credit cards or other gift cards, even going as far as creating Bitcoin accounts to deposit cash.

The scammers are very convincing and will claim to be from agencies such as Telstra, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), Centrelink and SAPOL. Some callers try to engage with a potential victim by claiming they are from the Motor Accident Commission and are calling about an accident that occurred in the last two years.

These scammers demand customers buy gift cards or deposit funds by attending a Bitcoin ATM to pay fake debts or fines, otherwise face having a warrant in their name, deportation or cancelled government grants. They may even go as far as to give exact store addresses where they want you to attend and have the cards put on hold for you to collect under your name.

Government agencies such as SAPOL, ATO, Centrelink and other legitimate businesses will never demand payment with gift cards. These agencies and businesses will never accept these forms of payment for any business they may have with you.

If you do receive a phone call from a number you do not recognise, especially one that appears from a state or country where you do not know anyone, DO NOT ANSWER THE CALL. Should they leave a message, DO NOT CALL BACK. You may get charged for an international call.

Should you receive a call from a number you do not know, and they do not leave a message, DO NOT CALL IT BACK. If you think you are being scammed whilst in a store, please ask staff for assistance or contact Scamwatch on 1300 795 995.

If you do receive a call similar to what has been described, but believe you need to go ahead with the purchase, hang up the phone and call police on 131 444 or look at www.scamwatch.gov.au where there are numerous reports of these scams occurring all over Australia.

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Are you... you... covered? covered?

Are

Are you planning on heading out to enjoy the Mad March festivities, going away for the weekend or doing jobs around the home? No matter your plans, SAPOL has a few simple tips to help ensure you are covered and your house is secure.

You don’t have to go to the extremes of wrapping up your home to make it secure.

Simply locking doors and windows is a great place to start.

There are some other practical steps you can take to help avoid becoming a victim of a house break, but there are also a number of less obvious tips police recommend you consider.

So...

Have you considered the less obvious hazards hiding in your landscaping?

Overgrown trees, large bushes and other plants that may provide your home with shade can double as a hiding place for an offender.

Prune bushes so they do not become a hiding place. This will also give you peace of mind that no-one is lurking in your yard.

Here’s a bright idea – sufficient sensor lighting around your home is a great deterrent for would-be thieves targeting your property and doubles as safety for you as you come home or move around your yard at night.

Place a lock on your electricity meter box so that it cannot be accessed to switch off your power (talk to your electricity provider for more information).

Store away all tools, ladders and other items so they are not used to break into your home.

Lock garages, sheds and garden sheds – even when at home.

While we are at it, consider updating security doors to triple-locking and think about installing an alarm.

And when inside and locking up, remove the key and store in a safe location out of view.

Speaking of keys, where do you store your spare keys? A key safe or leaving keys with a trusted friend, family or neighbour may be a better option than under that pot.

Did you know emergency services appreciate a clearly visible street number seen from the street – even at night? This will help whomever you called in your crises to find youWhen faster. you think of your home’s security, cast your mind And finally now that you’re secure, what about to the inside as well.

When going away you should cancel any taking photos or filming each room and items that room (inside cupboards as well)? It may regular deliveries or alternatively Police arrange for in the encourage community to: someone to collect your delivery (and mail) help the police with descriptions and could assist locating property you less are broken • Place all items of in value somewhere safeif and and put out and bring in your rubbish bins or have stolen. tables, thieves willsomething target bedside on collection day. You can even let a obvious trusted – into neighbour know how long you’re away dressers so they and cupboards for jewellery. can keep an eye on your home for•you.Consider storing all your keys and garage door

don’t forget inside

A handy hint here is to keep records to one folder/movie clip per room so it is not too long (or large in memory). Save the folder/video as the room description and date (i.e. Study 2019 or Jack’s bedroom 2019) then you have a good record of what you own. Update this each year and don’t forget the shed.

You can even record an audio description at the time if it is a unique item. Store on your phone or save to a USB or disc and give a copy to a friend or relative (this also may be useful if you find yourself making an insurance claim).

Fun fact: SA Power Networks have also helped SAPOL by displaying a similar message on their signboard atop their building at 1 Anzac Highway, Keswick. It was up just prior to the Christmas Pageant and displayed over the Christmas/New Year period.

‘Are you… covered?’ posters and flyers are available from SAPOL’s Neighbourhood Watch on 7322 3298.

For a Home Security Booklet or more safety and security information, visit the SAPOL website at: www.police.sa.gov.au/safety-and-security-tips

home security starts at home

remotes somewhere safe and out of sight when home.

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Events calendar NHW Volunteers Association of SA State Council Meeting: For all State Councillors and Executive Committee members.

Saturday, 18 May 2019, 12.30 pm for 1.00 pm start.

Education Development Centre, Milner Rd, Hindmarsh.

Watch on SA Neighbourhood Watch SA Magazine

Next issue: Autumn 2019

Band of the South Australia Police - Matinee Movies Barossa Arts and Convention Centre, Magnolia Road, Tanunda.

Thursday, 14 March 2019 at 11.00 am.

Tickets from www.barossaconvention.org Band of the South Australia Police - Afternoon in the Park Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens.

Sunday, 14 April 2019, 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm FREE entry.

SAPOL Home Assist Program Neighbourhood Watch SA is about helping people feel safe in their homes. Another SAPOL program with a similar ethos which could benefit people in your community is the Home Assist Program which aims to improve home security and personal safety of eligible service users to allow them to remain safely in their homes.

The Home Assist Program is a Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) that is funded by the Australian Government.

SAPOL works together with local councils, health services and other agencies to support CHSP service users. The South Australian Government also supports SAPOL to deliver services to people living with a disability and their carers.

The program is available to eligible people including: • people 65 years of age and over • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years of age and over • people under 65 years living with a disability

To make enquiries and bookings please contact SAPOL on 7322 3211.

• carers of people who meet the above criteria.

SAPOL provides the following services: • FREE security audits at your home address •

FREE group presentations for groups of 15 and more on:  home security and personal safety  safety for residents in an aged care facility  safety in the client’s home.

Got an event coming up?

Editorial content

If your Neighbourhood Watch Area is planning a large event and want it promoted in this magazine, on the Facebook page or the NHW SA website, just email or call the State Community Engagement Section.

Watch on SA magazine will accept editorial from Neighbourhood Watch volunteers. Contact the State Community Engagement Section to learn more.

State Community Engagement Section SA Police Headquarters 100 Angas Street Adelaide SA 5000 GPO Box 1539 Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: 7322 3298 Email: SAPOLNeighbourhoodWatch@ police.sa.gov.au Facebook: NeighbourhoodWatchSA Website: www.police.sa.gov.au/nhw