Safety First for Forest Hills

Police, fire and medical emergency - Up-to-date contact information as of September 2011
Notice: There is a county-wide effort being made to stop the rash of burglaries that Forest Hills and other neighborhoods have experienced.

Autobreaking Safety Tips

Chief Scott encourages motorists to never leave their vehicles running while unattended and to always secure your vehicle.    Below are some autobreaking safety tips, for these and more crime prevention tips visit the Columbia Police Department website at www.columbiapd.net.
  • Do not leave valuables or packages on the seats or in plain view.  Place all  packages in the trunk if they must be left in vehicle
  • Park in well lit areas, never park in isolated or dark areas of any parking lot
  • Always make sure your vehicle is secured (windows up, doors locked, and if applicable, alarm engaged)
  • Never leave vehicle running while unattended, even if your doors are locked
  • Do not leave vehicle keys in the trunk of vehicle while loading or unloading
  • Place cellular telephones, GPS units, and other electronics out of sight

Home Safety Tips

Good locks, simple precautions, neighborhood alertness and common sense can help prevent most property crimes.

Locks, Doors, and Windows

  • Install good deadbolt locks in your doors, and use them. (About half of burglars enter through unlocked doors and windows)
  • Use double-key deadbolts, and remove the key from the lock
  • Make sure outside doors, including the one between your house and garage, are solid, 1 3/4 inch metal or wood and fit tightly in their frames. Hinges should be inside
  • Secure sliding glass doors with locks
  • Lock double-hung windows by sliding a bolt or nail into a hold drilled at a downward angle through the top of each sash

Outside

  • Trim back shrubbery that hides doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that could help a thief climb to second story windows
  • Make sure all porches, entrances and yards are well lighted
  • Keep the neighborhood up. Dark alleys, litter and rundown areas attract crime

Key Sense

  • Do not hide house keys in mail boxes, planters or under doormats
  • Do not put personal identification on key rings
  • Leave only your ignition key with mechanics or parking attendants
  • If you lose the keys to your home or move, change the locks immediately

Going Away?

  • Make your home appear occupied when you go out-leave lights on and the radio playing
  • Keep your garage door closed and locked
  • Use timing devices to turn inside lights on and off
  • If you will be gone several days, arrange to have the mail and papers stopped or picked up. Half of all home burglaries occur during the day when alert neighbors could spot and report the thieves

Autobreaking Safety

  • Do not leave valuables or packages on the seats or in plain view. Place all packages in the trunk if they must be left in vehicle.
  • Park in well lit areas, never park in isolated or dark areas of any parking lot.
  • Always make sure your vehicle is secured (windows up, doors locked, and, if applicable, alarm engaged).
  • Never leave vehicle running while unattended, even if your doors are locked.
  • Do not leave vehicle keys in the trunk of vehicle while loading or unloading.
  • Place cellular telephones, GPS units, and other electronics out of sight.

Secure homes, vehicles and outbuildings; report all thefts

While 2010 Property Crime is down in City and Our South Region, Forest Hills Experienced Some Incidents in Last Few Months.

Columbia Police report that property crime is down 1% in the city this year and 10% in the South Region that includes Forest Hills. But recently property crime is a problem throughout the city. In an effort to keep from being victimized police remind citizens to make sure all property, homes, vehicles, and other buildings are secure when unoccupied or not in use.

In homes, windows and doors should be made secure. Vehicles should be locked when not in use. Don't allow valuable items, especially electronics, to be seen from outside your home. Secure anything easily stolen if seen, such as bicycles. Never leave electronic items in plain view in your vehicle; i.e., GPS, cameras, laptop computers or cell phones.

In Forest Hills in the last few weeks we have had one home break in, thefts of children's bicycles and several thefts from vehicles. In some cases the vehicles were unlocked.  

It is most important that every incident of crime be reported to police. Here's a good reason why: Several responded to the recent call for reports on crime in Forest Hills. There was the one home break-in and a number of thefts (bicycles and car break-ins). Several came from the same street which showed a pattern, but most were not reported. So the police did not know a pattern had developed. Police will concentrate on an area when there is a pattern. Every incident should be reported.

In CPD South Region that has been an over all year to date total crime rate decrease of 8%. For the city t he over all year to date total crime rate reduction is 3%. The police department says that these numbers in human terms means there are -144 less crime victims this year to date compared to 2009.

Summer Crime Prevention Tips (PDF)
Halloween Safety Tips (PDF)

Fire Safety Tips - click here

Forest Hills Feedback Form for communicating issues to the Association.