PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY

The Takoma Park Police Department has several programs which assist citizens in maintaining their safety and security. The programs on this page are related to the protection of your property Vacant House Checks: To increase your peace of mind while on vacation or out-of-town business, the Police Department offers Vacant House Checks. Officers will visit your house daily and inspect for signs of suspicious activity. No one should be staying at the house. The minimum period of absence is three days. For more information, contact the Takoma Park Police Department Communications Division at 301.270.1100. (Multiple-family dwellings cannot be serviced in this program.) Download the Vacant House Check Form

Operation ID:

Marked property can deter theft and makes recovery easier in the event of loss. Through this program, you may borrow an engraver, free of charge, from the Police Department. Bicycles, televisions, power tools, lawn-care equipment, cameras, stereo equipment and computer equipment should be marked with your driver's license number. Keep a listing of serial numbers or other identifying features.

Once the engraving tool is returned, you will receive window stickers warning potential thieves that your property is engraved and therefore, more difficult to convert in resale or pawing. Speak with the COP team at 301.891.7124 or Administration at 301.891.7102.

Home Security Surveys:

A residential security survey is an inspection of your home, performed by a police officer, in an effort to identify possible improvements to the physical security of your residence and to review personal safety and security habits. The goal is to decrease the likelihood that you might be victimized by crime.

Home Security Surveys are offered to homeowners living in the City of Takoma Park, free of charge, by appointment only. They generally take about an hour of your time and can be set during evening hours.

To schedule a security survey and a review of personal security issues contact the COP team at 301.891.7124 or 301.270.1100.

Commercial Security Survey:

A survey similar to the Home Security Survey previously mentioned, is available to businesses in the community to look at the physical facility and daily practices that could make your business more secure.

To schedule a security survey, as with the Home Security Survey, please contact the COP team at 301.891.7142 or 301.270.1100.

Bicycle Registration:

Bicycle registration stickers are available free of charge to residents of the City of Takoma Park. To receive a registration sticker for your bicycle, please visit the Takoma Park Police Department at 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. After submitting the registration form, registration sticker will be assigned to you.

If you would like a national registration, please visit the National Bike Registry's website at www.nationalbikeregistry.com. They offer four types of bike registration for various costs.

"Watch Your Car" Program:

For individuals who usually don't operate their vehicles after midnight, the national "Watch Your Car" program can help recover a stolen vehicle more quickly or prevent theft by making it less attractive to thieves.

Registration forms are available from your beat officer, or at the Police Administration offices. You will need photo identification for each owner and the current title or registration card for each vehicle.

For more information on this program and the others mentioned on this page, call the Police Department at 301.270.1100, or by writing: Takoma Park Police Department, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD. 20912.

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