Tag Archives: Safety

Safer Together: DHIC Block Safety Groups & Home Defense 

Posted on by

Dolores Heights has block groups covering nearly every block in our neighborhood.  We also have a network of block safety captains who share information across groups.

If you’re not on one of our block safety aliases, email info@doloresheights.org with your name and block/cross streets (e.g., 3600 block of 21st St between Church & Sanchez.)

Report any key safety alerts/incidents on your block safety alias.

If you’re seeking info on how to make your home more secure, one neighbor has summarized his home defense recommendations here.

DHIC has a safety page on its website with more information and links to resources. Join your local block safety group for more updates as they occur.  Email info@doloresheights.org.

Want to learn more about home security. Use this QR code to read a summary put together by a Dolores Heights neighbor.

Neighborhood Safety Tips from Dave Burke – D8 Public Safety Liaison

Posted on by

On August 16, 20th Street residents walked the 3900 block of 20th with Dave Burke.  The objective was to identify ways to deter residential break-ins/burglaries

Dave described the burglar mindset: stealing is the profession, the burglar wants our things, not to hurt us, and usually does not break in via the front door.  90 % of break- ins happen between 2 am and sunrise.  Dave’s specific recommendations covered three areas:

Lighting: 

  • Bright light over front door, over garage, and at back door (“treat back door like your front door”
  • Don’t use motion-activated lights.  Set a timer to turn on the light at sundown and off at sunrise.  If burglars see a lit street, they will find a dark one
  • Light up spaces in between homes    

Security:

  • Secure all doors and windows even when you’re home
  • Set up cameras at the front and back doorsSet up TV lights, lights on timers and/or get a dog!
  • Do the same for the garage – radio or machinery noise
  • Reinforce any garage windows and pull up the emergency release cord    

Garden: 

  • Cut back bushes as burglars hide
  • Keep front garden neat and beautiful; burglars prefer unkept homes    
  • Keep garden free of ladders for burglars to climb and tools to take

Network with neighbors. Know when they are out of town.  Watch out for each other!

June 3 Safety Meeting Brings Neighbors Together

Posted on by

On a sunny Saturday, over 60 neighbors met to discuss safety.  After a brief intro, folks organized by their block safety groups and talked about their specific safety concerns and suggestions.  Following these 30-minute small group discussions, they reconvened to hear the key takeaways.  

Here’s what each group’s leader reported:

  • 19th Street – Church to Noe and down Noe to Hancock (Russ Kellites) – discussed the wide range of low-cost safety devices to help folks monitor safety on their property and to prevent crimes such as garage door break-ins 
  • Lower 20th – Church to Sanchez (Celeste Oberfest – DHICsafe) – reminded neighbors of services available including DPW street/sidewalk cleaning.  They also distributed Dave Burke’s contact info (listed at end of this article.) 
  • Upper 20th – Sanchez to Noe (Sheri Harris & Patrick Crisp) – talked about lighting as a safety measure – where, when, and types of illumination
  • 20th & Noe Streets (David Dea) – focused on natural disasters (such as the “big one”) and preventative measures (like automatic gas shut-off) to reduce fires, harm, or damage
  • Liberty Street – Church to Rayburn (Jennifer Bury & John O’Duinn) – shared a number of safety/security tips such as securing the garage, general household safety tips, awareness when walking at night and/or in Dolores Park
  • 21st /Hill /Sanchez Streets (Hans Kolbe) – discussed recent safety issues; discussed sharing info via an incident tracker.    

If you’d like to join any of these block safety groups, contact the lead listed above or simply email info@doloresheights.org   And for those wanting a deeper dive on block safety, Dave Burke is D8’s Public Safety Liaison.  You can contact him at dave.burke@sfgov.org