RI police join national #9PMRoutine – Hide your things, lock your car, don’t be a victim

It’s 9pm in Pawtucket! And…city officials want you to know that at 9pm every night you have a routine that is important to do. The message?

Hide your things. Lock your car. Take your keys. Help yourself to not become a victim!

The program is a new promotion of the Pawtucket Police. Some of the promotional materials have the North Miami Police Department website on them – we took a look and found a similar program for residents of North Miami:

The North Miami Police Department’s #9PMroutine is a nightly reminder to residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, lock the doors to their residences, turn on exterior lights and activate all alarms and security systems.

Their program includes sending out of a nightly reminder ‪at 9pm‬ to lock up – “We ask residents to set a nightly reminder on their smart phones or other devices that will remind them to follow the #9pmroutine”.

They advise: Criminals look for easy targets. You can make it more difficult for them by following the #9PMroutine! Many vehicle burglaries, and to a lesser degree, stolen vehicles, occur as a result of vehicles being left unlocked. Criminals walk through neighborhoods, trying vehicle door handles, hoping to find an unlocked vehicle. The best way to prevent vehicle burglaries is to remove all of your valuables, lock your vehicle’s doors upon exiting and take the keys to the vehicle inside your residence.

Join us and follow the #9pmroutine each night. Ensure your vehicles and residence are locked and secured!

It’s Time to Lock Up!

At 9:00pm each evening, do a security check and verify:

   > Vehicles, residences, garages, windows, gates and sheds are locked
   > Tools, firearms, bikes, keys and other valuables are secured or brought inside.
   > Activate exterior lights, security cameras and alarm systems.

Report Suspicious Activity

Residents observing suspicious activity should contact the North Miami Police Department at 305-891-8111 or for emergencies, dial 9-1-1.

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The 9PM Routine

Law enforcement agencies frequently use Neighbors Public Safety Service (NPSS) to share daily reminders and best safety practices with residents. One such practice, the “9PM Routine” is a social media campaign created in 2017 by a Sheriff’s Office in Florida.The campaign was created to educate community members about best safety practices, and help the Sheriff’s department achieve its goal to reduce preventable crimes. T

he 9PM Routine typically includes tips such as: remove valuables from your car, lock your car, turn on outside lights, and lock up your home. Since its origination, the 9pm Routine has been adopted by law enforcement agencies all over the U.S and continues to provide value to communities by raising awareness and providing simple prevention tips.

Here is the Pawtucket program:

After looking at Pawtucket we looked at other cities in Rhode Island and found two others – one in Warwick and one in Coventry. And quite a few around the U.S.

In Warwick:

Coventry, RI:

Other programs around the U.S.

In Selma, Georgia the message is “Bullseye!! Lock Up and Lights On!”

In Arkansas City, Kansas:

In Jacksonville, Florida:

In Toronto, Canada: (a summer camp theme):

In British Columbia:

In Haralson, Georgia (a heavier hand approach):

In Bryan, Texas:

In Pasco, Florida (adding a soft touch – a teddy bear):

Closest to home: Lowell, MA: