Relaunching the Auburn, Maine 9PM Community Safety Check

The City of Auburn has recently experienced an increase in thefts from vehicles, and now is the perfect time for residents to adopt simple habits that make a real difference.

Theft is often a crime of opportunity. When opportunities are removed, crime is far less likely to occur. To support this effort, the Auburn Police Department is relaunching the 9 PM Routine and encouraging everyone in the community to participate.

The 9 PM Routine

Every night at 9 PM, take a short moment to complete this nightly safety checklist. These actions are quick, easy, and proven to help reduce preventable crime.

•  Remove keys, wallets, cash, garage door openers, electronics, and all other valuables from your vehicle.
•  Lock every vehicle in your driveway or garage.
• Close overhead garage doors and secure both exterior and interior garage entry doors.
• Check your mailbox and bring all mail inside.
• Turn on porch or exterior lights.
• Close and lock all windows and exterior doors in your home.
• Activate exterior lighting, security cameras, and alarm systems.
  During This Shopping Season
• Package deliveries increase during the holidays, and so does package theft. Take these steps to protect your purchases.
• Track packages and bring them inside as soon as they arrive.
• Add delivery instructions that keep packages out of view.
• Consider using secure drop boxes, Amazon lockers, or sending orders to a trusted neighbor or your workplace.
• If you will be away, arrange for someone to pick up your deliveries.
  These small actions only take a few minutes, but they can prevent major losses and help create a safer neighborhood for everyone.

If you see suspicious activity or believe a crime may be occurring, contact the Auburn Police Department right away. Together, we can keep Auburn safe by making the 9 PM Routine a nightly habit.

For more information, check out this post on the Auburn, Maine Police Department's Facebook page.