Full Notification

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year and with all the excitement of the holiday, the anticipation of food and travel can push safety out of mind. The Sheriff’s Office would like to offer some simple safety tips in the hopes that everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Travel Safety
~Keep a well-stocked emergency travel kit in each vehicle. A kit should contain water, non-perishable food, a flashlight with extra batteries, a blanket or heavy coat, flares or safety warnings, and other similar items.
~Make sure your car is road ready for winter travel.
~Keep distractions to a minimum. Texting while driving is illegal in Indiana but also think about distractions such as talking on the phone, dealing with other passengers, looking at a GPS, and more.
~Obey posted speed limits whether you agree with the limit or not. Leave early and take your time for a less stressful trip. Allow plenty of room between cars for unexpected moves and stopping.
~Make sure everyone stays buckled up. Seat belts are proven to save lives and prevent injuries.
~Drive sober. Buzzed driving is drunk driving.
~Indiana law requires motorists to change lanes and/or slow down when passing a stopped emergency vehicles with lights activated. This includes passing tow trucks.
~Devote your full attention to driving.
~The Hamilton County Traffic Safety Partnership will have extra patrols out during the holiday travel season. Every effort will be made to remove aggressive and impaired drivers from the roads.

Home Safety
~If you are away for the holiday, make your home looks lived in. Leave lights on or put a light or TV on a timer, make sure to hold mail, close drapes and curtains, and don’t advertise your holiday plans on social media sites.
~Get to know your neighbors and watch out for each other.
~Lock your doors even when you are home.
~Park vehicles in the garage or in the driveway and lock the doors. Keep outside lights on or install motion detector lights around the house and driveway.
~Never leave a hidden key outside. Burglars know all the good hiding places.
~Home alarm systems are great but they only work if they are armed and activated.
~Thanksgiving is the leading day for home cooking fires. Make sure to have a working smoke detector and a charged fire extinguisher.
~Don’t leave gifts and other valuable items out when away from home.
~Record make, model, and serial numbers of electronics, firearms, and other items. Photos and appraisals should be kept of jewelry, artwork, and such. Having these records on hand in the case of a theft can make the difference in recovering your stolen items.
~If you arrive home and your home has been burglarized, stay outside until law enforcement arrives. You don’t want to walk in with a burglar still in your home.

As always, if you see something suspicious, please report it to Hamilton County Public Safety Communications at 317-773-1282 or 911 for an emergency. Don’t hesitate to call as we would rather come out and find nothing than to wait and find a crime. Dispatchers and deputies work 24/7 throughout the holiday season to protect you and your families.