MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD—As the pools open this season Park Rangers and the Volunteer Community Park Patrol will be greeting pool patrons with security advice. “Leave it at home or use a lock” are the words many will hear as they come to pools at Glenmont, Longbranch, Martin Luther King, and Bethesda as well as the Germantown Splash Park.
Acting Chief Darien L. Manley stated that, “Many people know how safe our parks are and feel perfectly safe leaving items of value in unlocked lockers, on the pool deck or in plain view in their cars. This program is designed to lessen the opportunity for theft by getting people to lock things appropriately.”
From noon until 2:00 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Park Rangers and Volunteers will be posted at the entrances to the pools giving advice and information on the Leave it @Home program.
Park Police advise the following tips for theft prevention:
- If you don’t need it, LEAVE IT AT HOME!
- Keep valuables out of view
- Close your car windows
- Lock your car doors
- Use visible locking devices and alarm indicators on cars
- Place valuables in trunk prior to reaching the park
- Lockers only secure your items if you use a lock.
- Bring only your towel onto the pool deck.
- Cell phones should be kept on your person at all times. If you are swimming, don’t bring it onto the deck.
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Contact:
Sgt. Lauryn McNeill
Media Relations Officer
Park Police
301-962-1646
240-876-6670