Stay safe this festive season

With the festive season well and truly upon us, police are wishing to send a few safety reminders to West Arnhem residents.
Wanting everyone to have a safe, happy and joyful Christmas period, Officer in Charge of Jabiru Police Station Wayne O’Neill wishes to remind everyone to take the best possible safety measures to keep yourself, family and friends safe.
There will be police presence during the holiday period, and officer urge people to do the right thing and not drink and drive, ensure seatbelts are worn, infants and children secured in appropriate restraints and ensure timely rest breaks if driving long distances. 
With the imminent wet season, local police also encourage everyone to take care during your travels.
“If you plan to drive out for Christmas please be mindful to drive safe, slow down and be mindful of unexpected water on parts of the Arnhem and Kakadu highways,” Wayne said. 
The wet season can also bring general flooding and potential cyclones across the top end and it is important for everyone to prepare across the region and ensure you have a cyclone kits ready, clean around the house and yard and have an emergency plan and a wet season plan in place. 
Preparedness information available on securent.nt.gov.au includes: tips on flood safety, links to flood guides, what to put in an emergency kit and how to create a household emergency plan. 
If you are going away over the Christmas period, Police also remind residents to prepare your house and yard before you leave:
· Local your doors, windows and gates
· Don’t leave valuables in plain sight/in front of windows
· Arrange for someone who will be in the community to check on your home at different times each day/night
· Record descriptions 

models and serial numbers and take photos of all your valuables to assist in easy identification should they be reported lost or stolen
· Photograph jewellery and other collectables for easy identification
· Garden tools, equipment, hand tools and ladders should be locked away when not in use to prevent them being used to gain access to your home
· Don’t leave volatile substances in plain sight. Lock them away. This includes glue, paint, spray cans, mineral turps etc.
· Drain fuel from lawn mowers and other tools and lock them away
· If you see something or someone suspicious, please report it to the Police. If we aren’t working, you will be transferred to Darwin who in turn should advise us. If we don’t know about it, we can’t do anything about it. (13 14 44 police assistance line) 
If you are going away, please complete the attached ‘Absentee Owner Advice Form’ and return it to the Police Station. This will enable us to more efficiently target unoccupied homes and buildings and hopefully deter any would-be offenders. 
More information is available by contacting the Northern Territory Emergency Services.