It’s just good sound advice, but coming from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, getting into a #9PMRoutine, it sure sounds like something everyone in the area should pay attention to.

Barrow joined John C. Rose on Town Talk to discuss how a few simple steps at the end of each day could give residents peace of mind about their safety.

“We’re supposed to feel safe in our homes,” Barrow said. A nationwide campaign that is #9PMRoutine reminds folks to lock their vehicle doors, close and lock exterior doors of the home and turn on exterior lights to keep yourself from being an “easy victim” of crime.

Grownups may remember growing up in a time where nobody locked their car doors and may not have even locked their doors at night, but they also didn’t have all those shiny, portable electronic devices – GPS systems, cell phones, computers – that are easy targets for theft.

The main idea of the #9PMRoutine is just that – getting people in a routine that they remove their valuables from their cars and remove the temptation for would-be thieves.

“Portable things that you can easily walk away with that have value” are what thieves are looking for, Barrow said.

Additionally, he said his department gets lots of calls about firearms being stolen from vehicles. Barrow suggests that those gun owners who support the Second Amendment right to bear arms also need to know the responsibilities associated with that right.

“Be responsible about how you leave it in your vehicle,” he said.

Visit the Henderson Police Department’s Facebook page to learn more about the #9PMRoutine.