Neighborhood Watch
“learning to make your community safer”

With everyone seeing an increase in burglaries, vandalisms and thefts, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department strongly encourages the activation of a Neighborhood Watch within your community as statistics have shown that an active watch may reduce criminal activity by 60%.

Neighborhood Watch works by joining local law enforcement and citizens together by putting neighbors back into neighborhoods to aid in the reporting and reduction of neighborhood crime. Some of the benefits of a neighborhood watch are:

Reducing the risk of being a crime victim – participants are trained on how to take preventative measures to help decrease their likelihood of becoming a victim of crime

Learning how to better report suspicious activity – members are trained on how to better report suspicious activities thus supplying law enforcement with more detailed information

Greater access to criminal activity information – to aid in both the detection and prevention of crime, members are informed of crime trends and patterns

Neighborhood Watch signs – statistics show that neighborhoods displaying Neighborhood Watch signs are less likely to be targeted as it alerts criminals that measures have been taken to actively watch for criminal activity.

Collaboration between neighbors – promotes getting to know your neighbors and their regular patterns so unusual or out of character activity may be promptly reported.

Reducing the fear of crime, helping to make neighborhoods more safe and secure – helps to increase the number of arrests and convictions as citizens serve as the eyes and ears for law enforcement

Community concerns addressed – allows concerns within communities to be addressed and properly handled.

Homeland Security should begin at HOME and once again, we encourage everyone to start a neighborhood watch within their community. If you would like to activate a Neighborhood Watch within your community, please contact Chief Gary Howard or Debbie Martin, 931-484-6176, ext. 2002 or email us at ccsdalerts@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY BULLETINS

Anyone that would like to help organize a Neighborhood Watch meeting in the Pleasant Hill area is asked to contact Debbie Martin at (931) 484-6176. The meeting will be scheduled for the week of June 7, 2010.

Theft from Automobile

1. Park vehicle(s) in a garage if possible; if not possible:
1. park the vehicle(s) in a well lit area, or
2. park in an area covered by a motion detector floodlight
2. Lock vehicle(s) completely and roll up all windows
3. Remove stereo face plate, if so equipped,  If the stereo is an after market purchase:
1. Be sure to record the
• brand name
• model number
• serial number of the uni.
• Keep a picture of the unit from the box, it will have the model number on it
4. If so equipped, activate the Auto Alarm!
5. Don't leave an extra set of keys in the vehicle
6. Don't leave the vehicle title in the vehicle
7. Don't leave a purse or wallet in the vehicle, especially in plain sight
8. Don't leave CD's, DVD's, or other types of media in the vehicle; use a CD wallet or other type of carrier, take it inside with you or place in the trunk and lock the trunk
9. Don't leave credit cards, cash, checks, or other forms of currency in the vehicle when rafting, hicking, skiing, at biking trail heads or boat ramps
10. Don't leave a vehicle unattended and unlocked in the morning or anytime while warming it up or defrosting the windows
11. Hide valuables and packages from plain sight by placing them in the trunk and locking the trunk
12. Large bass speakers placed in the back seat of vehicles are an inviting target for theft from vehicles
13. Repair broken windows and door locks
14. Have neighbors watch your place if you plan to be away

Burglary Prevention Tip - Harden Your Target

This information has been prepared to help reduce or eliminate the potential that your residence or business will be the victim(s) of a burglary. The following are suggestions that may prevent such a crime. It is important that you understand the necessary steps to prevent a burglary. 

Nature of Burglary: Burglary is a felony crime that has the lowest clearance rate among all property crimes. Burglary is not a sophisticated crime; it's a crime of opportunity. Burglars don't choose victims, they choose opportunities! Be safe! Be Smart! And don't be a Victim!

Prevention:

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To make your residence and business safe:

• Make sure all your exterior doors have good locks - at least dead-bolt locks with a minimum one-inch throw.
• Use the locks you have. Always lock up when you go out, even if only for a few minutes.
• Make sure outside doors are solid, 1 ¾ inch metal or hardwood.
• Secure sliding glass doors with commercially available bars or locks, or put a wooden dowel or broom handle in the door track. A screw partially seated in the overhead track will prevent the doors from being lifted out.
• Make sure your windows have good locks - particularly those at ground level. Lock double-hung windows by sliding a small-headed bolt or nail through a hold drilled at a slight downward angle in a top corner of the inside sash and partway into the outside sash.
• Make sure all porches, entrances, and outside areas are well lighted. Business owners should leave a security light on inside their business so officers can see inside when doing business checks.
• Trim any bushes or trees that hide doors or windows. Keep ladders and tools inside when you're not using them. Keep lawn chairs and tables away from under windows.
• Don't hide your house keys under the doormat or in a flower pot (that's the first place burglars look!) Rather, give an extra key to a trusted neighbor or friend.
• Get an (inexpensive) engraver and mark valuable property with an identifier of your choosing. (Cumberland County Sheriff's Department Does Not Suggest you use your social security number due to the potential for identity fraud.)
• Make a list of your property to include make, model, color, serial number, personal identifier if completed and estimated value. This list should be updated every year and should be put away in a safe place such as with a friend or in a safe deposit box. This is also a smart idea incase you have a fire. This information will possibly help in the recovery of your property. Photographing and/or videotaping your possessions are a convient way to keep a record of what you own.
• Consider installing an alarm system for summoning emergency help. If you install an alarm systems remember to activate each and every time you leave or close up for the day.
• Contact Chief Gary Howard or Debbie Martin for a free safety assessment of your property.

 

If you live in an apartment:

• Do your part to see that entrances, parking areas, hallways, stairways, laundry rooms, and other common areas are well lighted. Mailboxes should be in a publicly traveled, well lighted area.
• Make sure fire stairs are locked from the stairwell side with an appropriate emergency release mechanism. Laundry rooms and storage areas should be kept locked.
• In a security building, always assure you know the person buzzing your apartment before allowing them to enter the building.

When you go away:

• Ask a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers, and offer to return the favor, or place a stop delivery order with the post office and newspaper.
• Put an automatic timer on at least two lights and a radio. Consider photoelectric sensors to turn outside lights on and off automatically.
• Tell a trusted neighbor when you're leaving and when you'll return. Include an itinerary and phone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.

 

If You Discover A Burglary:

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If you arrive home and find your door open or you discover your residence or business has been entered:

• Do not enter. Back off and go to a neighbor's house, or nearby business and call the police (911). Don't make the assumption that maybe you forgot to close the door when you left, or perhaps it did not latch when you pulled it closed or the possibility that you may have forgot to lock it. Call 911 from a position of safety so an officer may be dispatched to investigate the scene.  Some people, when finding an open door, realize that they may have been burglarized, but make the false assumption that the burglars have already gone. These people then rush into the house to find out what the burglar might have taken. By doing this you may destroy valuable evidence needed in the investigation. Whenever you find a door or a window unexpectedly open, treat it as if the house is being burglarized and the burglar is still in the house.
• If you find your residence or business has been burglarized and the suspects have left, leave the residence or business as suggested. Do not go though the house looking to see what is missing or to see what type of damage has been done. By doing this you may destroy valuable evidence that will be used in the investigation to prove who is responsible for the crime. If you have touched things let the reporting officer know what items were touched so he can document it in his report. The officer may at some point have you enter the residence with him to help him determine what is and isn't out of place and to determine what is missing.

 

If you enter your home or business and find it is being burglarized:

• Remember, burglars like to come in when no one is home. If you interrupt a burglar, remember the suspect(s) are as afraid as you are and have a lot more to loose since they have been discovered. If the burglar wants to leave let him do so. Keep your cool, leave the residence immediately if you can without being hurt or caught. "Do Not", under any circumstances, attempt to apprehend the suspect(s) yourself. Remember material things can be replaced, YOUR LIFE CANNOT.

Home Protection

How to Protect Your Home From Intruders

 

Home Safety

• All doors leading to the outside of your home should have deadbolt locks.
• When away at night, leave an outside light burning.
• Do not leave a key over a door or under a mat.
• The single lock on a garage door is inadequate to keep intruders from prying up the opposite side and crawling in. Use a padlock, but never leave it unlocked. This is an invitation to have the padlock removed so that a key can be made, and the lock is returned to it's position. Later, the burglar returns when no one is home and enters at his leisure, using "his" key.
• Mark your valuables and keep an accurate record of all valuable possessions.
• When leaving on a trip: stop all deliveries, connect a light to a timer, notify the police, have a neighbor check your home periodically, and have someone maintain your lawn.
• Be a concerned neighbor. If you see a suspicious person, car or situation, contact the police.

 

Safety at your Front Door

• Never automatically open your front door.
• Make sure you know your caller's identity before admitting him.
• If the person at your door is a stranger, ask for identification to be passed under the door. If he is unable to do this, do not let him in.
• It is advisable to have a wide-angle viewer (peephole) in the door so that you can check a person's identity without unlocking your door.

 

Safety for the Apartment Dweller

• If you live in an apartment building with an intercom system, make sure the landlord keeps the system in operating order.
• Never admit anyone unless you are expecting or know them.
• Never admit anyone to the building who is there to see another tenant or to deliver something to another apartment.
• Anyone asking admission so they he can do some work for another tenant should not be admitted, but should be referred to the building manager.
• If you see someone in your building who looks out of place or is acting suspiciously, contact the police.

Protect Your Family On The Internet

 

Safe Surfing Tips For Kids

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• Choose a screen name and email address that reveals nothing personal and is not suggestive
• Do not share your personal information or that of your parents with anyone you meet online. Keep your password private, except from your parent.
• Be honest with your parents about people you meet online. Do not sign up for e-mail accounts without your parents' approval or answer any emails or instant messages or chat rooms with bad or hateful language,  - log off and tell your parents. Never call or arrange a meeting with someone you meet online.
• Show your parents the sites you visit. Teach your parents more abut the internet so you can have fun and learn together.
• Understand that your parents will supervise your time online and use software to monitor or limit where you go online. They are doing this because they want to protect you!
• Make your personal safety a priority. There may be people you meet online pretending to be someone they are not. Do not do anything someone you meet online asks you to do, especially when you know it is something your parents would not approve.

 

Safe Surfing Tips For Parents

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• Talk with your children about the potential hazards of the internet, including sexual predators, inappropriate content and invasion of privacy
• Resouces like software and classes can help you become computer literate. By learning just a few simple techniques, you can see where your child has been online recently
• IM (Instant Messaging) has given birth to a slew of acronyms to describe phrases. For example: POS = Parents Over Shoulder
• Most software and internet service providers offer safety setting that block inappropriate sites.
• Given the anonymity of the internet, e-mail is an easy way for predators to track down victims. Randomly check your childs e-mail and keep track of who is contacting them.
• Know what information your kids are sharing online and with whom, either through instant messaging, social networks, chat rooms, or network game. Let your kids be the teacher, ask them to show you what sites they visit and who they meet.

If your social security number has been used and compromised with or without any financial losses associated, you will need to report it to the Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline at (800) 269-0271.

Identity Theft

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal clearinghouse for complaints by victims of identity theft. The commission assists victims of identity theft by providing them with information to help resolve the financial and other problems that can result from identity theft. The FTC also may refer victim complaints to other appropriate government agencies for further actions. If you are a victim of ID theft, you can file a complaint with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department as well as the FTC. You can reach the FTC by calling 877-ID-THEFT (877-438-4338) or via the Internet athttp://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.

Here are some steps you can take to help safeguard you and your accounts from being compromised.

1. Protect your account information and numbers. Never give out financial information, including your social security number, to anyone unless you initiate the contact and know the person or organization you are dealing with.
2. Report lost or stolen checks immediately to your bank and your local law enforcement agency. Your bank will be able to safeguard your accounts and return any fradulent checks to the merchants who accepted them.
3. Store all cancelled and new checks securely. Always try to keep new books of checks and all cancelled checks in a safe place, away from common areas of your residence, but not in your garage or a storage shed.
4. Be aware of suspicious phone inquiries. Notify your bank immediately if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a financial institution who asks for you account information. Your financial institution will never ask you to verify your account numbers with them.
5. Guard your ATM PIN number. Try not to use obvious or easily attainable information as your PIN number and destroy old ATM receipts as they may contain valuable account information on them.
6. Destroy financial solicitations you receive in the mail. If you decide you are not interested in a financial solicitation that you received in the mail, tear it up or shred it. This prevents someone from taking it from your garbage, filling it out, and having an account opened with your information.
7. Do not put outgoing mail in or on your mailbox. Always try to deposit your mail in a secure, official Postal Service collection box. If you decide to put your mail in your mailbox, do not place the red flag up and do not place your mail in the box the night before a pick up. This is a signal to thieves that there is mail in your box for them to steal. The post office will know that all the mail in your box is to be taken by them.
8. Keep track of incoming bills. If your regular bills fail to reach you, contact the company and find out why. Someone might have filled out a false change-of-address notice to divert your mail to another address.
9. Review all your statements carefully. Too often people do not carefully review the charges placed on their statements. Thieves who have compromised your account(s) may only charge small amounts to start. Always confirm that all the charges are ones that you have authorized. Credit card statements should be reconciled just like checking and saving account statements.
10. Check your credit report periodically. It is always important to check your credit report to ensure that no accounts have been opened using your information without your knowledge. It will also enable you to see who is running credit checks on you. The three major credit bureaus are:
    • Equifax -- 800-685-1111
    • Experian -- 888-682-3742
    • TransUnion -- 800-916-8800
11. Keep personal numbers off your checks. It is recommended that you do not have your driver's license or social security number printed on the face of your checks. This would hopefully encourage the clerk who accepts your check to ask for and look at identification before accepting the check. This step helps keep your account safer and will save you many headaches down the road.