The nationwide initiative encourages residents to take a few minutes each evening to secure their homes, vehicles, and belongings. The three main steps are simple: remove valuables, lock up, and light up.
One of the easiest ways to discourage theft is to avoid leaving valuables visible from outside a vehicle.
Bland explained that many thefts are crimes of opportunity. If someone can easily see a purse, electronics, cash, or another valuable item inside a vehicle, it can create an incentive to break in.
Residents are encouraged to take valuables with them rather than leave them in a vehicle, even if they plan to be away for only a few minutes.
Modern vehicle technology also creates additional considerations. Keyless entry systems and remote starts can make it especially important to know where vehicle keys and key fobs are at all times. Leaving keys inside a vehicle can make it easier for someone to steal the vehicle if they gain access.
The second part of the routine is making sure vehicles, homes and other property are locked.
Bland emphasized that residents should make locking their vehicles a regular habit, even when the vehicle is parked at home or the owner plans to be away for only a short time.
The same principle applies to homes. Doors, garages, and other access points should be secured each night.
For residents who may have grown up in an era when leaving a vehicle or home unlocked was common, the 9:00 P.M. Routine serves as a reminder that times have changed and taking basic security precautions is increasingly important.
The final step is to make sure the area around a home or property is well lit.
Parking under a streetlight, using exterior lighting around a home, and illuminating dark areas can make potential offenders more visible and may discourage them from attempting a theft.
Lighting works alongside the other two steps by making it more difficult for someone to operate unnoticed.
The routine is designed to be easy to remember and incorporate into everyday life. An accompanying app can serve as a nightly reminder, prompting users to check whether their vehicles and homes are secure and whether valuables have been removed.
The concept is like older public-safety reminders that encouraged people to check on their families and surroundings at a particular time. Today, smartphones can provide that reminder directly.
For residents in Sterling, Rock Falls and communities throughout the Sauk Valley, the routine provides an opportunity to make basic security checks part of their nightly habits.
The Sterling Police Department plans to continue sharing information about the 9:00 P.M. Routine through its social media channels as part of its effort to encourage residents to take proactive steps to prevent crime.
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