Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer provided TLS with the following message:

As we approach Rosh Hashana and finish up our shopping and preparations for the holidays, I want to take a moment to remind you all of some important safety concerns.

Please remember to lock your doors and windows at night. As cooler temperatures are approaching and the windows are opened up for fresh air, we must secure our homes before we leave or go to sleep.

Also, please remove your valuables from your cars, as well as the key fobs, and secure them in a safe location.

Leave exterior lights on, and keep an eye out and report all suspicious behavior and persons to the police department. Over the holidays, we – as well as our partners – will have extra patrols out, but I implore you to take these easy steps to protect your valuables.

Wishing you a safe and happy Shana Tova.

Chief Gregory Meyer

Lakewood Fire Department Chief Jon Yahr provided TLS with the following message:

Holiday time means candles, matches and fire. When burning candles, make your home safer by:

• Using sturdy candleholders, with flame-protective non-combustible (glass or metal) shades or globes.
• Placing candles at least four feet away from curtains, draperies, blinds, kitchen cabinets and bedding.
• Placing candles out of reach of small children.
• Extinguishing candles when they burn within two inches of the holder.
• Never leaving burning candles unattended.
• Securing hair and clothing, such as sleeves or aprons, from the flame when
  handling candles.
• Keeping candles, matches and lighters, including lit memorial containers out of reach of children
• Consider alternatives to leaving ovens and stove tops on for 24 hours in order to heat food, such as warming plates and crock pots.
• Any warming plates used should be manufactured after 1984 and be ULlisted. Units should be plugged directly into an outlet, not via extension cords or power strips.
• Consider purchasing an electric stove, which does not give off carbon monoxide.
• Although they advise against leaving a burner on, for families that do, they recommend leaving two windows open on opposite ends of the house to create cross ventilation.
• MAKE SURE YOUR SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS WORK.
• Change your smoke detector alarm batteries twice a year when you change your clocks.
• Change your carbon monoxide detector alarm batteries yearly.
• Practice your home fire escape plan.
• Do not hesitate to call 911 in the event of an emergency. Delaying to call 911 can result in a longer response time, and G-d forbid, severe injuries.

Wishing the community a safe and happy Hew Year,

Chief Jon Yahr

Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, Chaplain of the Lakewood Fire Department has told TLS multiple times, “NEVER hesitate to call the fire department even for the slightest suspicion of danger. Since it is impossible for the typical layman to determine from the time of the crisis if it poses a danger to one’s self or neighbors, one should not hesitate to call the Fire Department immediately. What may appear to the uneducated to be “nothing” may, in fact, be deadly.”