Your Safety and Security

ASK FOR "DALLAS 9-1-1" WHEN YOU CALL 9-1-1!

Preston Highlands’ location so near other cities can cause some confusion when calling
9-1-1. To save time in your emergency call, ask for “Dallas 9-1-1.” When do you call 9-1-1? Call in an emergency or if you notice suspicious activity or person(s) in the area. The Dallas Police Department receives the information reported and transmits your information to surrounding patrol cars.

Not receiving Preston Highlands' e-news and Crime Watch alerts? Click here to register!

Volunteers in Patrol is a group of Preston Highlands’ residents, trained and authorized by the City of Dallas Police Department to patrol PH streets and alleys. They are directed to telephone residents about open garage doors and other suspicious and/or dangerous activity. Please be courteous to these volunteers who are performing a service for you at their own expense. Abusive responses have been reported and are not appreciated.

Close your garage door! The Dallas Police Department warns residents over and over—close your garage doors even if you are away for a few seconds. What can happen?

You have invited thieves to steal your tools or golf clubs.
You have just allowed strangers to have access to the back door of your home.
You have invited the wrong person into your backyard.
You have given a perfect visual to a potential thief.
A stranger can slide under a door left open for a pet.
You are endangering yourself and loved ones.

When Volunteers in Patrol call you about your open garage door, please don’t ignore the message; they are performing a service for your safety.

Our neighborhood's Safety and Security message is: “LIGHT UP PRESTON HIGHLANDS!” As our VIP volunteers drive alleys at night, it is apparent that Preston Highlands is very dark. The Dallas Police Department says a major deterrent against crime is perimeter lights and make them motion-activated to startle potential criminals away. They are reasonably priced and easy to install. If you already have alley, perimeter and front porch lights, TURN THEM ON at night. We also are increasing the number of posted Crime Watch and Volunteers in Patrol signs. In addition, we need more of you to become Volunteers in Patrol!

Remain vigilant and secure your property! Call 9-1-1 about suspicious activity or other concerns and notify us via email at VIP@phhaonline.org, so we can send e-mail notification to your neighbors and post them on www.phhaonline.org. You also may volunteer suggestions or your time to Crime Watch in Preston Highlands by emailing us, as well.

Security Checklist

Take charge to protect your property with this Security Checklist:

Register on www.phhaonline.org with your contact information, including an alternate cellphone number! Volunteers in Patrol cannot call you otherwise.
Register on the PHHA website also ensures you get messages and alerts
Lock all doors at all times!
Activate alarm system when leaving!
Use front porch light from dark to dawn!
Trim landscaping to allow visual surveillance!
Light the perimeter of your home!
Clean out garage to park cars!
Install approved alley sign ID for emergency response!
Keep garage door and fence gates closed!
Install motion-sensor light on driveway!
Hide valuables in vehicles parked outside!
Call 9-1-1 to report any suspicious activity!

Crime Watch Messages

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft: Attorney's Advice, No Charge

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
Put your work phone on your checks! Instead of your home phone. If youhave a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS! # printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number,credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensivemonthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you knowwhom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation of stolen identity (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchase, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., that has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271