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“Unofficial COPs” CA NEWS

Submitted by Susanne White, COPS volunteer AUGUST 2015 SUNRAYS | 13

You can be an unofficial COP
without signing up. COPS
patrol cars can’t be every-
where all the time. If each
of us does his/her part to stay
alert for potential concerns,
it helps keep us all safer.
COPs always needs help,
especially during vacation
time when snowbirds fly and
other Sun City residents are
off visiting family or friends.

Some things that may raise
concerns:

• a mailbox full of mail or
newspapers piling up in
the driveway;

• a pet that seems distressed or uncared for;

• activity in a house when you know the resident is gone;

• a neighbor who hasn’t been seen for awhile and whereabouts
are unknown;

• flashing emergency porch light (usually caused by hitting
the switch incorrectly);

• a garage door left open after dark, leaving the house acces-
sible to uninvited people or animals.

A garage door left open is usually a mistake; someone forgot
to close it. Failing to close your garage door could make your
home an easy target for burglars or result in wildlife such as
a snake or skunk inside your garage. When I’m out walking
my dogs at night and see an open garage door, I often ring the
doorbell to alert the resident about the open garage.

Special care also needs to be taken with porch lights that are
emergency flashers. Only use the emergency lights when you
need emergency responders to find your home, not to signal
your address to the pizza delivery person or visiting guests.
Your emergency light switch plate may have 911 written on
the plate, but turning on the light doesn’t call 911 for you. You
have to telephone 911 and then activate the light, if possible.

You can report your safety concerns to the CA desk, 512-864-
1200, COPs at 512-966-1362 or call the Georgetown police
non-emergency number at 512-930-3510.

Sun City residents are good neighbors, and we watch out for
one another. It’s a great place to live.

COPs needs volunteers! Give us just four hours a
month in easy-to-do two-hour shifts. You can drive
a COPS vehicle, or you can help staff the COPS
office from your home. For information to sign
up as a COPS volunteer, call 512-966-1362 Monday
through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG