The Allegheny County Housing Authority has five easy ways to improve your children's safety in and around everyone's home.  Be familiar with your neighborhood and its surroundings.

1. If You're Alone at Home:

- Do not permit anyone except relatives into your house.
- Do not let a phone caller know you are alone.
- Do not let anyone who comes to your door know that you are alone.
- Do not talk at length with anyone who comes to your door, nor with an unknown phone caller.
- Keep the shades or drapes closed at night.
- Keep all doors and windows locked.
- Write down the phone number of the State and Local Police.
- Write down the phone number where your parents can be reached in an emergency.

2. Before You Leave Home:

- Tell your parents where you are going and when you expect to return home.
- If you change your plans while out, call your parents and tell them.
- If you are going to visit a friend, call and tell the friend what time you expect to arrive.
- Plan the safest route (well lighted).
- Carry charge for emergency phone call.

3. When You Are Out Playing:

- Do not play around water holes or deep wells.
- Do not play around electric transformers or touch power lines.
- Do not walk, play upon, or cross railroad tracks.
- Do not hitch rides on railroad cars.
- Do not play in abandoned buildings or climb on structures like powerline towers or water towers.
- Do not play near ponds or rivers.
- Do not get into abandoned storage tanks, refrigerators or iceboxes.

4. When You Are Out Walking:

- Avoid overgrown or wooded areas.
- Avoid dark streets, alleys, and parking lots.
- Do not accept rides with strangers (Do not hitchhike).
- Do not talk with strangers.
- Do not go into buildings with strangers.
- Do not permit strangers to touch or handle you.
- Do not go with a stranger to help him locate a person, pet, or address.
- Do not "Hire-Out" to work, sell, or distribute things for strangers.
- Get away from strangers who get too friendly in parks, movies, pools, etc.
- Do not accept candy or money from strangers.
- Do not accept pictures or printed material from strangers.
- Stay away from parked vehicles containing strangers.

5. If someone grabs you:

- SCREAM!!!
- Break free and run.
- Run to the nearest house or business place.
- Call your parents or Police.
- Remain there until your parents or Police arrive.
- Try to remember the description of the person who bothered you.

A MESSAGE TO PARENTS AND KIDS:

Crime prevention is not solely a police responsibility. We are especially concerned with protection of youngsters because you are so often the victim of accidents and criminal attacks. In order to protect you, law enforcement officers need your help and cooperation. You, the potential victim, play the most crucial role in crime prevention. By following a few simple rules, you can avoid most injuries and dangers. The suggestions contained herein are based upon experiences of victims in cases investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police. If practiced, they will greatly reduce the chances of your becoming the victim of an accident or attack.

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