Crime Prevention
The Nixa Police Department prides itself on proactive crime prevention efforts. We believe in high-visibility policing as a tactic to discourage criminal behavior. When potential criminals see our officers out on patrol, the perception of our presence throughout the community works as a deterrent to crimes.
We also take a community-oriented approach to policing, which means we rely on strong relationships with the people of the town to alert us to issues of concern so we can take proactive, not just reactive measures to prevent and reduce crime.
Furthermore, we invest in several crime prevention programs and teaching opportunities for residents, businesses, and vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children. These programs help equip our community to take crime prevention measures to reduce their probability of becoming a victim.
The Nixa Police Department encourages community members to be proactive about home security, personal safety, and crime prevention.
Select a tab above to learn about programs we offer or tips we commonly share when educating the public about crime prevention measures you can take at home and in your personal life.
Home Security Survey
Want to assess what you can do to make your home safer? Print a copy of our Home Security Checklist and use it to complete an on-site examination of physical facilities and surrounding property, with the intent of recognizing, appraising and anticipating loss potential, along with recognizing areas where you could take action to minimize criminal opportunity.
Neighborhood Watch
This program is designed to organize neighborhoods into Watch Groups that will encourage their members to report suspicious circumstances to the police, and to utilize the crime prevention concepts designed to reduce criminal opportunity.
Currently, there are 28 Neighborhood Watches in Nixa. For information about setting up a new neighborhood watch, contact us by phone or email.
More Crime Prevention
Want to read more crime prevention tips or learn about other crime prevention programs offered by Nixa Police?
#9pmRoutine
What is the 9 pm routine?
Our goal is to remind the community to lock everything up before calling it a night. A few simple steps can prevent crimes of convenience such as theft of property from an open garage or unlocked vehicle. You just have to form a habit of making sure your things are secured before bed time. We call this the #9pmRoutine.
- LOCK UP your car, house, windows, garage, gates, shed, etc.
- TURN ON exterior lights, security cameras, alarm systems
- BRING IN valuables from your car, yard, patio, etc.
Follow the Nixa Police Department Facebook Page to get #9pmRoutine reminders periodically in your Facebook feed.
History of the #9pmRoutine
In August 2017, the Pasco County Florida Sheriff’s Office began a social media campaign called #9PMRoutine. In short, the idea is to post on social media platforms at 9 pm reminding the community to lock their cars and homes before they go to bed. The effort was the idea of Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and the office’s assistant executive director Chase Daniels. In November of 2019 the Sheriff’s Office revealed that the #9PMRoutine was now a trademarked phrase owned by the Pasco County Sheriff Office.
In March of 2019 the Nixa Police Department began participating in the campaign by posting reminders on random nights on our Facebook page at 9 pm. The periodic reminders to our community actually led to a measurable decrease in the frequency of property thefts in Nixa that year, and a dramatic decrease in the total value of items stolen from yards, open garages, and unlocked vehicles. This effort led Lt. Jeremy Whitehill to earn the city an Innovation Award from the Missouri Municipal League in 2020, for bringing the idea to our department and implementing it with such success.
Burglary Prevention
Burglary Prevention Tips
- Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks.
- Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod in the track and install vertical bolts. This will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
- Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don’t rely on your automatic garage door opener for security. Never leave your garage door up a few inches for a pet during the day or night.
- Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and TV’s. Make your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, to help deter criminals.
- Keep the perimeter of your home well lit. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders as well as highlight a house.
- Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.
- Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.
- Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
- Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. Large and ornate hedges may be beautiful but they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
Robbery Prevention
Robbery Prevention Tips
Robbery is a crime against your person rather than against your property. If someone breaks into your home or business when you’re not there and takes property from the premises, the crime is called a burglary. However, if you are confronted by an individual on the street or in your home, car or business and force is used or threatened against you, you have become the victim of a robbery.
It is important to remember two things:
1. Robbers want one thing – your money or property – and they want it quickly.
2. Robbery is a risky business and robbers are usually nervous. You do not want to delay a robbery in any way and increase the potential for violence. Give the robber what he or she wants and do it quickly. Do not risk your life, or another person’s life, for property.
While not all criminal contact can be avoided, there are some crime prevention techniques which can greatly reduce the likelihood of being victimized.
At Home:
- Do not advertise that you live alone.
- Do not allow individuals you do not know into your home.
- Be aware of fake emergencies or reasons people might give you to make you feel they need help. Keep your door locked and call 911 on their behalf.
- Trust your instincts when seeing or hearing something out of the ordinary or suspicious.
At Work:
- Develop a specific robbery plan for your business and discuss that plan with your employees.
- Restrict access to offices and employee areas.
- Maintain visibility that allows you to easily see both inside and outside the stores.
- Never count money in the open.
- Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount of cash in drawers and make regular drops into safe.
- Maintain working alarms, lighting, surveillance cameras and locks.
- Set camera angles for optimum viewing of not only employee cash handling practices, but also to aid in the identification of suspects.
Away from Home:
- Be alert at all times. Remain audibly and visually aware of your surroundings.
- When driving, be extra vigilant and alert at intersections and stop lights.
- Do not allow individuals you do not know into your vehicle.
- Park in areas that are well lit.
- Do not display items such as cash, wallets or expensive jewelry.
- Do not advertise on any social media site that you are on vacation.
LeadsOnline
The Nation’s Largest Online Investigation System
LeadsOnline is the nation’s largest online investigation system used by law enforcement to recover stolen property, help stop meth makers, reduce metal theft, and solve crimes. With hundreds of millions of records in their database (and increasing by the minute), LeadsOnline’s secure, easy-to-use Web-based electronic reporting service is trusted by thousands of law enforcement agencies and participating businesses nationwide.
LEADSONLINE
For residents of jurisdictions LeadsOnline serves, they provide a system for maintaining secure records of property you own. You may store serial numbers, item descriptions, pictures, and scans of receipts so that your items may be more easily identified in the event of theft or loss. This record may also come in handy when reporting any loss to your insurance provider.
Please note, you will not see any LeadsOnline law enforcement functions, and LeadsOnline is not searching for any property that may have been lost or stolen. Use this as an inventory system to provide to law enforcement agencies and insurance providers in the event of loss.
Click the button above to sign up for your account and begin securing records regarding property you own.
The Nixa Police Department encourages community members to be proactive about business security, personal safety, and crime prevention.
Select a tab above to learn about programs we offer or tips we commonly share when educating the community about crime prevention measures you can take to protect your business, employees, and customers.
Commercial Security Survey
Want to assess what you can do to make your place of business safer? Print a copy of our Commercial Security Checklist and use it to complete an on-site examination of physical facilities and surrounding property, with the intent of recognizing, appraising and anticipating loss potential, along with recognizing areas where you could take action to minimize criminal opportunity.
Crime-Free Business
Nixa Police offer the Crime-Free Business Program at no cost to all businesses inside the city. This program is designed to reduce crime in and around retail and service businesses. Crime-Free Business helps to provide a safe work environment for employees, customers, and employers, all while increases the businesses’ bottom line. Contact Officer Forgey to learn more.
Crime-Free Multi-Housing
Nixa Police offer the Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program at no cost to all multi-family residential property owners inside the city. This program is designed to help landlords achieve the following benefits:
- A stable, more satisfied tenant base.
- Increased demand for rental units with a reputation for active management.
- Lower maintenance and repair costs.
- Increased property values.
- Improved personal safety for tenants, landlords, and managers.
- Reduction in liability for managers and owners.
- A drastic reduction in calls for service has been seen by many properties who have implemented the Crime-Free principles.
Contact Officer Forgey to learn more.
Implementation of the Crime-Free Multi-Housing program earned the City of Nixa an honorable mention Innovation Award from the Missouri Municipal League in 2015.
Learn More About Crime Prevention:
Select a tab above or click one of the buttons below to view more crime prevention tips or learn about more crime prevention programs we offer.
Robbery & Shoplifting Prevention
Robbery is a crime against your person rather than against your property. If someone breaks into your home or business when you’re not there and takes property from the premises, the crime is called a burglary. However, if you are confronted by an individual on the street or in your home, car or business and force is used or threatened against you, you have become the victim of a robbery.
Robbery Prevention Tips
It is important to remember two things:
1. Robbers want one thing – your money or property – and they want it quickly.
2. Robbery is a risky business and robbers are usually nervous. You do not want to delay a robbery in any way and increase the potential for violence. Give the robber what he or she wants and do it quickly. Do not risk your life, or another person’s life, for property.
While not all criminal contact can be avoided, there are some crime prevention techniques which can greatly reduce the likelihood of being victimized.
Robbery Prevention at Work
- Develop a specific robbery plan for your business and discuss that plan with your employees.
- Restrict access to offices and employee areas.
- Maintain visibility that allows you to easily see both inside and outside the stores.
- Never count money in the open.
- Practice good cash control. Keep a minimum amount of cash in drawers and make regular drops into safe.
- Maintain working alarms, lighting, surveillance cameras and locks.
- Set camera angles for optimum viewing of not only employee cash handling practices, but also to aid in the identification of suspects.
Shoplifting Prevention Tips
- Keep shelves and displays low and aisles clear to maximize visibility.
- Provide adequate lighting and eliminate blind spots.
- Have visible security systems such as mirrors, security cameras and electronic sensors.
- Post signs warning that shoplifters will be prosecuted.
- Make it difficult to steal merchandise. Bolt racks down, alternate the direction of hangers on the racks, tie appliance cords together, lock small valuable items in cabinets and keep other valuables away from store exits.
- Limit the number of items allowed into dressing rooms.
- Maintain a neat, orderly store with tight inventory controls.
- Develop a store policy and provide training for shoplifting incidents.
CPTED
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Are you designing a construction or landscaping project?
- Are you planning an event?
- Want to make your facility safer and eliminate opportunities for crime to occur at your location?
If any of these applies to you, please consider calling the Nixa Police Department to get a FREE consultation from our crime prevention expert.
Our crime prevention expert, Officer Brent Forgey, is nationally certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) through the National Institute of Crime Prevention.
Officer Forgey can provide training in CPTED principles as well as site reviews or plan reviews to identify opportunities to improve safety and crime prevention.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as the proper and effective use of the built environment that can lead to:
- A reduction in crime
- A reduction in the fear of crime
- An improvement in the quality of life
The CPTED recommended best practices are backed by research and include:
- Access control
- Visibility and surveillance
- Lighting
- Maintenance
- And other elements of security
If you want to learn more about CPTED and how its principles may be applied to the location of your home or business, construction project, or event plans, please reach out to Officer Forgey.
The Nixa Police Department encourages the community to participate in educating children about safety, and teaching them saying “no” to drugs, bullying, and criminal behavior. Officer Brent Forgey is very involved with teaching DARE and GREAT programs in the Nixa Public Schools, and also provides other programs like Safety Town which are geared towards educating young children to navigate dangers around them.
We also encourage the community to look out for senior citizens and those who may be targeted by criminals and scammers. Please pass along crime prevention tips to your loved ones who may be most vulnerable.
Child Safety Tips
- Children should know their full name, address including city and state, and phone number including area code.
- Be sure children know how to call 911 and how to use a phone.
- Teach children to never accept rides or gifts from someone they don’t know.
- Teach children to go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer for help if they are lost in a mall or store or on the street.
- Children should be accompanied to public restrooms.
- Teach children that no one, not even someone they know, has the right to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell them they have the right to say “No” in this situation.
- Show children safe places they can go in your neighborhood in an emergency, like a trusted neighbor’s house.
- Inspect your neighborhood for areas that threaten children’s safety, like brush in wooded areas, overgrown shrubbery, poor lighting, etc.
To have your child fingerprinted, contact Officer Forgey to learn about the next fingerprinting event.
Senior Citizens
- Con artists prey on older people who worry about insurance, investments, and maintaining their homes. Regardless of how nice and polite someone may seem, be suspicious of any proposal that sounds too good to be true, has to be kept secret, or requires immediate cash.
- Be suspicious of anyone who offers you a chance for quick and easy wealth.
- Be wary of exaggerated claims for health and medical products, such as cures for cancer or arthritis, hair restorers, quick weight loss. Before buying any cure-alls, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or clinic.
- Don’t give any details about your credit cards to phone solicitors even if they offer you gifts, a free vacation, or a sweepstakes prize.
- Check out any “work-at-home” schemes with your local or state consumer protection agency.
- Don’t give credit cards, checkbooks, or savings account passbooks to your housekeeper or caretaker. Don’t make an employee a joint owner of your bank account or your property.
- Never make cash transactions in secret. Discuss any large transaction with your banker.
- If it does happen, report it. It’s embarrassing to be the victim of a con game, but the only way to expose the con artist and prevent others from being hurt in the same way is to tell law enforcement.
Also be aware of scam callers pretending to be Nixa Utilities and threatening to turn off your utilities. To learn more about this kind of scam and how to know when you are really talking with Nixa Utilities, select the “Scam Alert” button.
D.A.R.E.
D.A.R.E.
D.A.R.E. was introduced into the Nixa schools by the Nixa Police Department at the beginning of the 1991 semester. The program is directed towards students at the fifth grade level. Officer Brent Forgey has been the Nixa DARE Officer since 1994.
Since its inception, the DARE curriculum reaches over 400 fifth grade students per year, with visitations and instruction to kindergarten through fourth grade.
Many experts in education and medicine believe substance abuse prevention must begin early. DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) targets students when they are vulnerable to try drugs or alcohol. The DARE lessons help children build their self-esteem, manage stress, foresee behavioral consequences, resist pro-drug media messages, and identify alternatives to drug use. It doesn’t just tell them to say ”NO,” it teaches them how to say ”NO.”
Junior High D.A.R.E.
Junior High D.A.R.E. is taught to Nixa 7th graders. It consists of 10 lessons with a graduation party & video for all graduates. Junior High DARE reinforces the core lessons taught in fifth grade and reconnects the students with all the techniques and values learned.
Drug-Free Community PSA
This video was created by 12-year-old Coy Plein for the 2017 Nixa Police National Night Out DARE video contest. This video was the contest winner. Contestants were asked to make a video under 2 minutes long on the subject of “Why it’s important to have a drug-free community.”
D.A.R.E. Car
G.R.E.A.T.
A program to help stop violence in schools was started for eighth graders in Nixa in 1997 called GREAT (Gang Resistance Education And Training).
Supported by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, GREAT provides our youth with the necessary skills and information to say no to gangs and become responsible members of society.
In Nixa, GREAT is taught at the 8th grade level in health class by Officer Forgey. The program is ended with a snack food graduation party.
Safety Town
Safety Town is a nationwide effort to teach children ages 3 to 8 years old safe habits at a young age. Safety Town is a one-week program for children that teaches lessons about roles of police officers in their community. Class topics include traffic safety, water safety, safety signs, how to be safe around strangers, poison safety, bus safety, animal safety, and playground safety.
Each day has classroom-based safety themes, which are taught by police officers and qualified teachers who use appropriate videos, songs, games, and crafts to instill each lesson. The lessons are combined with hands-on activities in a miniature Safety Town City that children get to walk and ride through in pedal cars.
For more information or to register, please contact Officer Forgey.