"Careful!" Program

The "Careful!" Program is designed to alert residents that they may have exposed their property to criminal activity. Nobody wants to be a victim of crime, but leaving a purse, laptop, tools or other valuable items in a vehicle increases the risk of theft. Many property crimes are crimes of opportunity, and removing the opportunity is the simplest prevention.

If an officer spots a safety or security concern during patrol, the officer issues a "Careful!" tag identifying the concern and a way to correct it. The tag is a helpful alert from a neighbor, not a citation, and there is no fine or penalty attached.

In 2025 the Chesterfield Township Police Department issued 71 "Careful!" tags to residents and businesses in the township.

Common Reasons for a "Careful!" Tag

• Valuables such as purses, laptops or electronics left visible inside a parked vehicle
• Unlocked vehicle doors or windows left open in public areas
• Tools, equipment or bikes left unsecured outside a property
• Garage doors left open and unattended overnight
• Home entry doors or windows found unlocked or ajar
• Mail or packages left unattended for extended periods
• Business doors or windows found unsecured after hours