Officer offers safety tips

Going out? Don't forget your cell phone and a flashlight.
AUSTINTOWN -- How do you keep your home from being broken into, and how do you keep yourself safe when you're out and about?
Lt. Mark Durkin, the Austintown Police Department's community liaison, shared some tips.
At home
Keep your windows locked, Durkin said.
Don't hide your house key in obvious places, like under the doormat, in the mailbox, or on door ledges. Those are the first places burglars look, he said. It's best not to hide your key outside at all. Give it to a trusted friend or neighbor.
Double-key deadbolts are important, he said. That's because even if burglars break in through a window, they will still have a tough time getting out the door with your television.
A rod in the track of your sliding glass door will help keep it more secure.
Consider a grille over your basement windows, or get glass block windows.
Durkin said most burglars spend only about 60 seconds trying to break into a house. "Good locks and good neighbors can be a big deterrent."
When you're out
Remember that criminals will look for who's likely to be a passive victim, Durkin said, so be aware of your surroundings. "Always keep your head in motion."
Carry a flashlight with you, because it draws attention to yourself.
If someone pulls a gun, don't resist. It's too dangerous to fight an attacker with a gun if you have no training and if you haven't mapped out a plan ahead of time on how you would disarm someone, he said.
Durkin acknowledged that if an armed attacker wants your purse or wallet, it's an easier choice not to resist than if it becomes clear that what the attacker wants is you. It may be tempting to try to get away if you're about to be abducted. Durkin said that's a hard choice people might have to make, but police still recommend not trying to take a gun away from someone.
That's where carrying a cell phone comes in. Durkin said that as soon as you can do so without your abductor noticing, dial 911 into your phone and just leave the line open.
People can also carry pepper spray, he said, which is legal. But don't think it's a foolproof way to get you out of trouble. If you have no practice using it, shock and shaking hands can render it ineffective, he pointed out.