CHECKING DOORS • Nephi City
Police Chief Chad Bowles checks door of business as
part of the home and business security checks. You can
call the police department to request an officer to
check yours while your away,
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi City Police Officers will make security checks
at homes where the residents are away, if the resident calls
the department and makes the request.
Homes of those who are away visiting will be added to
the other security checks the police make each day.
Each day, after businesses close, the police
department also checks at the premises to prevent business
break-ins.
Police Chief Chad Bowles told Nephi City Council
members that both the business and home the checks are
highly effective.
"Since we have initiated the home security program, we
have never had a burglary on one of these homes," said
Bowles. "All it takes for any resident to get on the list is
a phone call to our office to set up the security check
program."
He said the office has request forms for those who
will be out of town. In addition, the police department has
prepared a check list to follow for those who will be
away.
The check list, he said, has helps of things residents
can do to discourage burglaries.
"We have had really good success with these home
security checks," said Bowles.
At businesses, said Bowles, the police make both
visual and physical checks each night. A list is complied
and changed every so often in order to keep the updated. The
list is totally redone every six months.
"We constantly update our list," said Bowles. "Some
business, which are new, are added each time we update.
Other businesses, which are no longer in business, are
removed from the mandatory check list. We still check the
empty buildings to make certain they are secure."
He said some business owners requested more frequent
checks and their requests were honored.
"Those businesses on the list which are printed in
bold and have a check mark are mandatory checks which
require more surveillance."
Those businesses are those considered to be prime
targets or those which have been burglarized over and
over.
"Every night we do visual and physical checks, such as
getting out of the squad car and shaking doors and checking
to make certain windows are not broken."
"Our officers now make a mandatory check of the Old
Gym every night," said Bowles.
Curfew for young people up to age 18 is at 10 p.m.
each night. All minors should be home by that time. The time
is extended one hour on weekends and there is a more lenient
curfew for those in the 18 to 21 age category.
"We do encourage those home owners who expect to be
out of town to call our office and get their names and
addresses added to the security check list," said
Bowles.
He said home owners who will be away should also
notify a neighbor and have them check the home. It is also
good to give a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member a
key to the door and have them enter to water plants.
Mail should be stopped at the post office and
newspaper delivery either stopped or the paper should be
collected daily by a neighbor. In addition, a couple of
inexpensive timer-switches should be added to lights inside
the home so that they come on and go off as though someone
were at home.
The neighborhood watch program, where neighbors watch
out for others properties, is also an effective method for
deterring burglaries.
There are usually not many burglaries during the times
of the year when there is snow on the ground because the
thief doesn't want police following footprints.
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