Take A Bite Out Of Crime

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — October has become the official month for recognizing and celebrating the practice of crime prevention, while promoting awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism, and creating safer, more caring communities. The month-long celebration, Crime Prevention Month, spotlights successful crime prevention efforts on the local, state, and national level.

Each week has a theme. See themes below.

Week 1 – Identity Theft – Highlight the threats involved in identity theft and how to protect your identity from being high-jacked by criminals.

Week 2 – Safe Firearm Storage – Feature the benefits of safe storage of firearms and encourage people to keep firearms away from children, thieves, and anyone with an intent to harm themselves or others.

Week 3 – Smarter: Living Safer, Being Smarter  – Focus on all the aspects 18-to-24 year olds will encounter for the first time (financial, work, apartment or campus living, etc.) and the principles they should keep in mind to keep them safe as they enter young adulthood.

Week 4 – Gang Prevention –Emphasize on keeping kids out of gangs, how to protect the neighborhood from gang infiltration, and ideas to work with neighbors and law enforcement to solve community gang problems.

Here are some ways that you can promote and get involved crime prevention this October.

• Include crime prevention tips on your website and in newsletters, or at the bottom of your written or email correspondence during the month. For tips, check out Crime Prevention Month and Halloween.
• Ask your local police department to cohost a community crime prevention event with McGruff and cover the story. Or organize a Town Hall meeting.
• Print crime prevention tips and feature crime prevention stories throughout the month of October.
• Sponsor a Crime Prevention Month poster or essay contest in your community.
• Write an op-ed article highlighting Crime Prevention Month.

Visit our website, www.ncpc.org, to find out more information about Crime Prevention Month and What You Can Do to get involved and as you’re planning your October Crime Prevention Month activities, don’t forget to order McGruff products.  These giveaways help you spread crime prevention messages, as well as add fun to your events.  NCPC’s licensees carry a full line of products. Order your McGruff costume from Robotronics, set up a McGruff and Scruff cutout at your booth, reach out to parents with McGruff Safe Kids Kits, remember McGruff Halloween bags for trick-or-treaters, and light up the kids’ eyes with colorful balloons.

About the National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council is the nonprofit leader in crime prevention. For more than 35 years, our symbol of safety, McGruff the Crime Dog®, has delivered easy-to-use crime prevention tips that protect what matters most—you, your family, and your community. Since 1982, NCPC has continuously provided the American public with comprehensive educational materials, training programs, and effective crime prevention messaging, delivered in large part through its vast network of more than 10,000 state and local law enforcement agencies, crime prevention associations, community groups, foundations, and corporate partners.  For more information on how NCPC can be a public safety expert for you or how to “Take A Bite Out of Crime®,” visit www.ncpc.org.

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SOURCE National Crime Prevention Council