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Advice & More April 2015

Staying Safer

By Teresa Ambord

Even a cell phone that is no longer activated can dial 911. The phone does not need to be activated or have a contract or assigned phone number. It just has to be charged and have a working signal. This is why many not-for-profits collect used cell phones, to refurbish and distribute to people who cannot afford a phone but need a connection to emergency services.

Two Big Red Flags that Thieves Look for When Choosing a House to Rob

  1. A very successful silver thief who was apprehended and interviewed by police was asked what made a house a good target. One surprising thing he said was that he targeted houses with evidence of animals in the house. Sounds counter-intuitive, right? We’ve often been told a dog is a good way to deter thieves. But he explained, a house where there are animals running around inside is unlikely to have an alarm set while the occupants are gone. He may also be operating under the assumption that animals which are kept inside when the home is unoccupied are likely to be smaller and less threatening, while a German shepherd or Rottweiler will be outside and an obvious red flag for would-be burglars.

  2. Thieves can be very patient. They prowl neighborhoods, doing their homework. If you purchase something new and expensive, like a nice sound system or a giant TV, don’t advertise your purchase by putting the empty box at the curb for trash collection. Passing thieves will take note. This is especially true at Christmas, but also when there is a significant TV event coming up like the Super Bowl. Better to cut or fold the box and dispose of it some other way.

 

Why is Your “No Soliciting” Sign Ignored?   

If you’ve diligently given salespeople notice by putting a no-soliciting sign on your door you may be wondering why people still knock, trying to sell you stuff or invite you to their churches. One salesman admits they are trained to believe no soliciting actually means, “we buy everything!” So rather than discouraging people from knocking, your sign may encourage them.

When my son – who was a light sleeper –  was small, I’d put a sign on the door at nap time, asking people not to knock. Sometimes it worked, other times it was like putting out a big neon “welcome” sign. Once when a lady knocked loudly, waking my sleeping child, I opened the door, looked at her then looked directly at the sign and back at her. She blushed, but said “oh your neighbor said to ignore the sign.” I’m usually pretty nice, but that day, without saying a word I took the sign down, handed it to the intruder, and shut the door. I dealt with the neighbor later.

Do you have any recourse when people ignore your sign? Not really. That is, not anything legal. About the only thing you can do is to speak to the solicitors, assuming you can do so safely. Hold your temper, and explain politely that you never buy anything sold door-to-door, you do not want your rain gutters cleaned, and you already have a church. If you talk to the solicitor ask for a card, then use it to call the company or group he or she represents and complain. If you live in an apartment complex or senior community which prohibits solicitors, let someone in the office know solicitors have been bothering you. The property manager might be able to complain on your behalf and get results.

 

Even an Inactive Cell Phone Can Save Your Life

Even a cell phone that is no longer activated can dial 911. The phone does not need to be activated or have a contract or assigned phone number. It just has to be charged and have a working signal. This is why many not-for-profits collect used cell phones, to refurbish and distribute to people who cannot afford a phone but need a connection to emergency services.

Newer phones come equipped with a built-in global positioning system (GPS), which allows the emergency dispatcher to track where the call is coming from. An older cell phone may not have a GPS, but it can still call 911. If you use such a phone, you will have to be sure to tell the dispatcher the address where help is needed.

If you can convince your elderly parents or friends to keep a phone –  activated or not – by the bedside, in a pocket, in the car, in a purse, it might well save their lives. Think of the storms like those that pounded Kansas and Oklahoma and the deep now that has recently buried the northeast. Many people lost power for days and were unable to reach out for help. A charged cell phone would have made help accessible.

If you have a phone to donate or if you are looking for a phone, go online to a browser and type in “911 phone” or “free 911 phone.”

 

Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Now she writes full time from her home, mostly for business, and about family when the inspiration strikes.

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