Public Safety Encourages Montgomery Residents To Dial 3-1-1 to Schedule Holiday Home Checks | News

MONTGOMERY — The Montgomery Department of Public Safety is teaming up with the city’s non-emergency 311 Call Center to provide holiday home checks for Montgomery residents. Home checks are an additional service of the Montgomery Police Department to help protect homes and property when residents are away, said Police Chief Kevin Murphy.

With the help of Volunteers in Police Service, MPD provides home checks for residents, examining doors, windows and other areas of the property to identify any threat or suspicious activity in the owner’s absence. Residents may schedule checks by calling 3-1-1 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Murphy said the police department conducts thousands of home checks each year. “We want to work with Montgomery’s residents to help ensure their safety. If your plans will take you away from home during the holiday season, dial 3-1-1 to arrange for safety checks while you’re away,” said Murphy.

MPD also offers these tips to help protect your home and property while you’re away:

• Use timers on lights, radios, TVs, etc. to make them go on and off during the day and night to make your home appear occupied.
• Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or have a neighbor pick up anything left at your home.
• Keep landscaping neat and trimmed.
• Ask neighbors to watch your home and report any suspicious activities.
• Leave your itinerary with a neighbor so you can be contacted in an emergency.
• Disconnect your electric garage door opener and padlock the door, preferably on the inside.
• Ask a neighbor or friend to park their vehicle in your driveway.
• Set your burglar alarm and notify your alarm company that you will be away. Then, if an alarm occurs when you are away, the company will not call your home first to verify the alarm; it will notify police directly.
• Also provide the alarm company with an up-to-date list of persons to contact about the alarm and the need to secure your home after a burglary.

Murphy said VIPS citizen volunteers partner with police officers to assist with patrol and support duties. He encouraged anyone interested in joining VIPS to contact Sgt. George Brooks at 334-240-4800.

Information Source: Montgomery Department of Public Safety