Crime Prevention

The Salisbury Police, and Law Enforcement Agencies in general, rely heavily on information from the public to build cases, investigate crimes, and prosecute those responsible.  It is this partnership with the community that helps keep our residents and visitors safe.

If you have information about a crime or criminal activity, call the Salisbury Police Tip Line: 978-225-2038 or fill out the form to the right.  You can remain anonymous if you wish.  If you are currently witnessing a crime please dial 911.

When submitting a tip, please include as much information as possible so we can best follow up on it.

Crime Prevention Tips

Don’t become a victim! Below are some basic steps you can take to keep you, your family, and your property safe.

• Lock it Up – Keep your vehicle and home locked.  These physical barriers make it more difficult for individuals to gain entry and more likely that someone looking to steal something will bypass your property.
• Light it Up – Exterior lighting, including motion detection lighting, can reduce the likelihood of becoming a target – criminals like to work under the cover of darkness!
• Remove It – Bring your valuables inside, including cell phones, wallets, purses, laptops and other electronics.
• Hide It – Keep valuables out of sight in your car, garage, home or shed.  Thefts are crimes of opportunity – don’t tempt someone by leaving valuables out in clear view.
• Alarm It – Home alarms and video security systems especially, may also reduce the likelihood of becoming a target.  The costs of home video security systems have come down in recent years and are a valuable investment for your safety and peace of mind.
• Monitor It – Monitor your credit history and bank accounts.  Catching fraud or identity theft early can save lots of time and headaches down the road.
• Transact in Public – When making purchases online, select a public meeting place that has cameras to make the exchange.  We have a designated internet exchange area that is on 24/7 video surveillance in front parking lot of the Salisbury Police Station located at 181 Beach Road, Salisbury MA.
• Report It – Report all crimes or suspicious activity to the police.  Even if it seems minor or if nothing was taken from your vehicle, we can use these reports to track crime trends and increase targeted patrols to areas where crimes are occurring.

Scam and Fraud Prevention

Don’t fall for scams!

Reports of fraud and other scams have been increasing in recent years.  Remember that government agencies such as Police, IRS, Social Security etc. will never cold call you and ask for money.  They especially will not ask you to send gift cards over the phone or money via Western Union.

Scam perpetrators are successful because they catch you off guard and use scare tactics to get you to send them money.   It is understandable that people fall for these tricks as the perpetrators sound very official and demanding.  If you are suspicious it may be a scam, hang up and call the police department at 978-465-3121 and we can assist you in verifying the legitimacy of the call.

Often times these scamsters request that you send them a large amount of money via western union or another payment method with the promise they will send you money back after.  Be wary of sending any money to people you don’t know.  Scamsters will sometimes mail you a check and ask you to deposit it then send them half the money.  These checks are almost always fraudulent and you will be out the money you sent!

Some common scams we are seeing are:

• IRS Agent claiming you owe back taxes, demanding payment in gift cards.
• Social Security Administration claiming your identity has been stolen and you need to send money to fix it.
• FBI/Law Enforcement reporting a relative has been arrested and needs money for bail.

Never give out your personal information over the phone unless you are confident you know who is on the other line.  If you think you may have given out your personal information or were a victim of a scam, contact the Salisbury Police at 978-465-3121.

For more information on Identity Theft and Fraud visit IDtheft.gov

How to Avoid a Scam- Federal Trade Commission FTC.gov