Neighbourhood Watch Association of St. Albert

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS WITH YOU

This tip came from a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator. Always keep your car keys with you, and put them beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Next time you come home for the night and start to put your keys away, think of this. It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.

Test it. Your car alarm can be activated from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If you car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbours will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and the criminal won't want that!

Remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or prevent a sexual assault. My mom has suggested to my dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him (or vice versa). He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem. It would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone.

Tell your friends and neighbours about this, and remind them not to ignore a car alarm when it comes from your home.

This page was added on May 12, 2009.