Safety Committee Info Page

McGruff House News

Please remind your kids that our neighborhood has several McGruff houses that they can go to for help. A McGruff House is a temporary haven for children who find themselves in frightening or dangerous situations. Children can go to specially marked McGruff Houses any time they sense danger as they go to and from school or are playing in the neighborhood

McGruff houses have a yellow sign with McGruff the crime dog displayed in the front window.

The following addresses are registered McGruff houses:

1714 Turnberry Lane
1600 Turnberry Court
2021 Briarbrook
1713 Brookcrest
1509 Winterbrook
1710 Knoll Court
1718 Mossbrook Lane


If you would like to be a McGruff safe house, please contact me for an application.

McGruff House volunteers do:
Call the child’s parents or appropriate authorities if a child is lost or has a medical emergency
Reassure the child if he or she is frightened
Report crimes and suspicious activities
Consent to a background check

McGruff House volunteers don’t
Provide first aid (except in life-threatening situations)
Administer medications
Supervise the neighborhood
Enforce laws

REPORT ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE/VANDALISM TO CITY OF ALLEN POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 214-509-4321 or CALL 911 IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

Accomplishments:

- Neighborhood Crime Watch signs were purchased and installed at the 3 entrances to Country Brook in 2004. The signs were paid for by the HOA.
- We have established an email communication link between the Allen Police Department Community Relations Department and the Country Brook Safety committee.
- The committee has implemented the McGruff Safe House program. There are currently six houses in our neighborhood that have been cleared to be McGruff Safe Houses. You can spot a McGruff house by the bright yellow sign featuring McGruff the crime dog displayed in the homeowner’s window. McGuff houses provide a safe place for elementary age children to go to for help in an emergency situation.
-Worked with the City of Allen to get raised yellow dividers installed on Country Brook Lane as well as Crosswalk lanes and signs on Country Brook and Knoll Court. (2008)
- We participated in National Night Out every year since 2004 by having a block party.
- Distributed glow sticks and safety pamphlet to all homes before Halloween.
- Worked with Lovejoy ISD to get a sidewalk from Lovejoy elementary to Knoll Court

Upcoming Events:

- Look into more lighting for the common areas of the neighborhood
- McGruff house safety training at Lovejoy Elementary (date TBD)
- National Night Out on October 7, 2008
- Halloween safety October 31, 2008

General Tips:

- Report non-emergency incidents (vandalism, suspicious activity report, etc.) to APD at 214-509-4321.
- Let your neighbors know when you will be on vacation and have them pick up your newspaper and mail.
- Keep outside lights on from dusk until dawn.
- Keep your garage doors closed and doors and windows locked.
- Lock your vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.
Links and Useful Info:

Allen Police Department
Allen Police Department Community Relations - (972) 678-2500
McGruff Website
National Night Out Website
Lovejoy Contruction Handout
Safety Meeting Minutes - 2/19/08
Copyright 2010 - Country Brook Estates HOA - All Rights Reserved