Did you know that most home burglaries occur during the day when you’re not around? When it comes to protecting your family and property, it’s important to be proactive.

Keeping Marion safe against burglary

Always lock windows & doors. Nearly 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked window or door. Keep all entry points closed, locked, & alarmed, even if you’re home.

Keep the appearance that you’re still home. Burglars are less likely to break into a home that looks like it’s currently occupied. When you’re out, leave some lights, a television or radio turned on.

Get a home alarm system. Most burglars are deterred by the presence of an alarm system. Security cameras, yard signs & window stickers will tell potential burglars that your home is not worth the risk of being caught!

Resources

Marion County Sheriff's Office-Home and business burglaries

National Crime Prevention Council's Home and neighborhood safety

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be very costly. A DUI can cost you more than $10,000 & time in jail. It could also cost you your, or someone else’s, life.

A DUI is something you can prevent. Be smart & have a plan to get home. Don’t drive under the influence.

Resources

U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drunk driving

Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility prevention of drunk driving

Online dating is rising in popularity, and so are online dating scams! These scams cheat Americans out of millions of dollars every year.

Scammers create fake profiles and can seem like real, trustworthy people. After gaining your trust, they might tell you an elaborate story & ask for money. They might say the money is for a plane ticket to come visit you, or for an emergency surgery or for something else.

Beware of these scams. Never send money to someone online you haven’t met in person.

Resources

Federal Trade Commission consumer information

Federal Bureau of Investigation romance scams

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine & morphine.

These drugs are highly addictive and can cause severe negative health effects, including death. Every day, 116 people die from opioid-related drug overdoses in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a nationwide public health emergency due to the nationwide opioid crisis.

Helpline

Marion County has experienced a dramatic increase in deaths caused by opioids. There were 17 deaths in 2015, 98 deaths in 2016, and an estimated 160 deaths in 2017 (Fifth Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office). There is hope! If you, or someone you know, is addicted to heroin or opioids, you can get local help right now.

Opiate helpline: 352-877-2740

Text or call 352-877-2740 for real-time help with concerns about a friend or loved one.

Task force

Marion County is proud to support the Marion County Heroin/Opioid Task Force under the leadership of the Marion County Children's Alliance.

The task force works with local agencies to provide residents and visitors with programs and services such as professional navigators & a valuable resource guide at no charge.

Learn more about the task force, signs of addiction and programs available.

To get involved in our community's fight against the heroin/opioid epidemic, join the task force or one of its subcommittees. The task force meets quarterly and subcommittee meetings are held monthly. View upcoming meeting dates.

Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - National Helpline: 800-662-4357

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

National Institute on Drug Abuse

It only takes a few seconds for a thief to break into your vehicle, grab your valuables & be gone. Follow these tips to ensure you don't also become a victim, & share with your friends & family to help build a safer Marion County for everyone.

Keeping Marion safe against theft

Lock your doors. Thieves are looking for a quick, easy target. Locking your doors is the most effective way to deter a thief.

Secure your valuables. Never leave laptops, smartphones, purses or wallets in plain view. Thieves will break into your vehicle even for loose change!

Park in a well-lit area. If your vehicle is parked near a house light or street light, a thief is more likely to pass your vehicle by untouched.

Resources

Vehicle theft prevention

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Why it's dangerous

Texting takes your mind & your eyes off the road.

It's a distraction. Distracted driving was the cause of most of the 10,000+ crashes in Marion County last year.

Nationally, more than 8 people are killed & 1,161 are injured daily in crashes due to distracted driving, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Glancing down to read or send a text can take your eyes off the road for about five seconds. It doesn't seem long, but at 55 mph, you can cover the length of an entire football field in that brief time frame, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A lot can happen on the roadway in less than five seconds: A sudden stop, a dog darting into traffic, another driver running a red light. Driving requires your full attention. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road for your own safety and the safety of others.

It's illegal

Per Florida State Statute 316.305, texting while driving is illegal. In addition, the statute allows a user's billing records for their phone to be admitted as evidence to determine if the driver involved in a crash resulting in death or injury was texting at the time.

Resources

Florida State Statute 316.305

Florida Department of Motor Vehicles

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Hundreds of people fall victim to scams in Marion County each year, losing money & their sense of security. Follow these tips to prevent becoming a victim, & share them with your friends & family to help build a safer Marion County for everyone.

Common tactics used in scams & fraud

Be on the lookout for the below common tactics used in scams & fraud.

Unsolicited calls or emails. These are communications that you aren't expecting and are out of the ordinary.

Requests for money or personal information. You may be asked to pay a bill, donate to a charity or pay a fine. You could also be asked for your credit card, bank account or social security number.

Required wire transfers. Wire transfer services don't have the same fraud protection as credit or debit cards & are often the means used by scammers to obtain money from their victims. Reputable companies & government agencies would not require wiring money.

Tight deadlines. You might be asked to provide money or personal information very quickly. You might be told that your utilities will be shut off, your assets will be repossessed or that your credit card was stolen. This is an effort to force you to make a hasty decision.

Dealing with a phone scam

If you receive a call with these characteristics, follow the below tips:

• Don't share. Don't give any financial or personal information.
• Hang up. Get off the phone with the suspicious caller.
• Verify. If you think the caller might be legitimate, call the company using a phone number on a bill, bank statement or other verified source. This extra step is worth the time spent to ensure you are not releasing information that could be used to defraud you.

Resources

Federal Trade Commission scam alerts

FBI common fraud schemes

USA.gov scams and frauds information

Marion County Sheriff's Office