Security Tips at Home: What TMCC Home Owners Can Do to Secure Our Neighborhood

Submitted by Larry Scruggs, Security Chair

The Timbergrove Manor Civic Club Security Team is working for you to provide more tips on how to reduce your chances of being a victim.

In the Month of May, there were no reported crimes. Then on June 1st we were hit with a theft. There was an incident in our community where a thief driving a U-Haul truck broke into a detached garage. The thieves got away with a couple bikes and a drill. The neighbor wasn’t moving, so there shouldn’t have been a truck at that house. Also, the detached garage was not on the security alarm.

This month we will focus on security at home. Things each neighbor can do to help deter crime in our neighborhood.

1. Turn on your exterior lights—front porch, back patio, and sides of the house.

Keep your porch light on at night. Lights are a great deterrent to thieves.  They look for the dark spaces and hide in the shadows. Turning on your lights helps to keep them away.  Lights on timers and motion sensors help ensure the lights come on when needed.  

2. Get to know your neighbors—  front, back and side.

Neighbors watching out for neighbors is another good deterrent to thieves. Let your neighbors know when you are leaving town and they can help watch out for strangers while you are away. They can pick up your mail and papers, park in your drive way and many other ways to help it look like you are home.

If it looks suspicious, check with your neighbor, then report it. Knowing your neighbors can help. A watchful neighborhood is harder to steal from and it is one of the best deterrents available to us. If you see something, say something.  Good neighbors can make all the difference.

3. Home alarms and cameras

Lock your doors and windows when you aren’t using them. Thieves avoid houses with alarms and cameras. Cameras catch them in the act and help the authorities with convictions. Don’t forget to add any unattached buildings to your alarm system. There are many companies today offering alarms with free cameras. 

4. Park your cars in the garage and driveway whenever possible.  

Thieves are looking for easy things. Cars in the street are easier than those near the house. Truck catalytic converters are easy to cut off with a saw, but it’s loud. It’s too loud to saw near the house as it could wake up the owners.

5. Car Alarms 

Car alarms help deter the theft of the car. Alarms with vibration and tilt sensors also deter cars being jacked up (to steal the rims) and things being cut off.

6. Support the Timbergrove Citizens Patrol Team  

The team is driving around at different times of the day and sometimes at night helping to keep the neighborhood safe. You can support them by waving as they drive by and reporting things you think are suspicious. If something looks suspicious, report it by calling the Houston Police Department Non-Emergency number (713) 884-3131. If you have questions or concerns, send an email to the TMCC Security Committee at security@timbergrove.org.

If something does happen to you:

Call 9-1-1 - if you are catching them in the act. 

Call Non-Emergency HPD number - 713-884-3131 - if waking up or coming home to a previously occurring home burglary or finding a burglary/theft of a motor vehicle incident.

Call the Houston 311 support line and they will even transfer you to the non-emergency number. 

Houston Park Rangers are available 24x7 by calling 832-395-7100.

Online – As an alternative to the non-emergency number, use the online crime report for a theft or property damage if the crime has previously occurred and is under $5,000. https://www.houstontx.gov/police/online_report.htm.