Recommendations by Lower Pottsgrove PA Police Chief Michael Foltz
You know to lock your doors even when you live in a 55+ community, but what else can you do to stay safe? Lower Pottsgrove, PA Police Chief Michael Foltz regularly attends Sanatoga Ridge 55+ Community breakfast meetings to share safety tips. Following are some of his tips for keeping your home and your person safe.
Home safety tips:
- Always keep your doors locked – whether your home or not. This includes garages and unattended vehicles – lock your car doors!
- Know who is at the door before opening it. Insist on seeing an ID from anyone you don’t know. In Lower Pottsgrove anyone soliciting is required to have a permit and in most (private communities, including Sanatoga Ridge and Buchert Ridge) soliciting isn’t allowed. So, if someone comes soliciting without a permit call 911.
- If someone comes to your door and asks to use your phone to call for help, offer to make the call instead.
- When you go on vacation consider getting a house sitter to live in your house while you’re away. If this is not possible put timers on your lights and television, put a temporary hold on your mail and newspapers, and ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking space.
Personal safety tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Familiarize yourself with the Run-Hide-Fight philosophy in the event of an active shooter situation. Here is a one-page sheet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on what to do to prepare, to survive and to be safe after an incident.
- Use a buddy system when walking in remote locations. Make use of lighted areas when walking or running.
- Walkers, joggers, etc. should wear bright-colored, reflective clothing. Use pavements where possible.
- Always cross streets at designated crosswalks. And take the same advice you give to your children and grandchildren: look both ways before crossing.
Chief Foltz invites all residents at the Sanatoga Ridge 55+ community to sign-up for alerts on the Pottsgrove Lower Pottsgrove Police Portal. Most local police have websites and give residents the ability to sign-up for notifications. As a senior citizen, you’ll want to take advantage of all the help you can get to keep yourself safe.
