Crime Watch newsletter for Pineridge Estates
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August 2010
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"They get you scared first," says a special agent in the Minneapolis field office who has heard the complaints. "They get people saying, 'Oh my gosh! I'm not a criminal. What's going on?'" That's when the scammer dangles a solution-a fine, payable by credit card, that will clear up the problem.
With enough information, scammers can assume your identity and empty your bank accounts.
"It seems like a very simple scam," the agent adds. The trick is putting people on the defensive, then reeling them back in with the promise of a clean slate. "It's kind of ingenious. It's social engineering."
In recent months, communities in Florida, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, California, Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Hampshire reported scams or posted warnings or press releases on their local websites. In August, the federal court system issued a warning on the scam and urged people to call their local District Court office if they receive suspicious calls. In September, the FBI issued a press release about jury scams and suggested victims also contact their local FBI field office.
In March, USA.gov, the federal government’s information website, posted details about jury scams in their Frequently Asked Questions area. The site reported scores of queries on the subject from website visitors and callers seeking information.
The jury scam is a simple variation of the identity-theft ploys that have proliferated in recent years as personal information and good credit have become thieves' preferred prey, particularly on the Internet. Scammers might tap your information to make a purchase on your credit card, but could just as easily sell your information to the highest bidder on the Internet's black market.
Protecting yourself is the key: Never give out personal information when you receive an unsolicited phone call.
DING DONG!
Are you annoyed by people showing up at your door to sell you something, or to ask you for a donation?
Well, there are laws these people known as Solicitors or Peddlers have to follow in order to do so.
· Solicitors can enter your neighborhood up to 2100 hours.
· If they are selling an item or service, they are required to have a permit in their possession.
· The permit does not have to be issued to the individual salesperson. It can be issued to the company.
· Any individual who is not selling an item or service and is just hanging flyers, door hangers or any other advertisement is not required to obtain a permit.
About the permit:
I hope this clears up any confusion about permit requirements and whether or not to report violators to the APD.
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THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning yourcarpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget tolock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out oftown, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. Ifyour neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again.
If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you'rehome, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your
neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runscrimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job
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Update from the City of Arlington,
please read this .pdf letter if you have natural gas in your home and have had recent remoleling or
replaced a roof. Letter to Arlington Homeowners
The holiday season is upon us and so are thieves! Here is a Flyer from APD to help you prevent
or notify the police of a commercial robbery.
New Link for Locating sex offenders CLICK HERE to go to the updated information.
****************************************
New, updated information will appear at the top of this page ( right here!), and unchanged or general
information will be at the bottom.
In the interest of keeping the latest information easy to find, the safety tips that were posted here
have now been moved to their own page. Click Here to go to the safety tips page.
BOLO (Be On the Look Out ):
Nothing at this time
In an effort to keep our neighborhood safe, I will be putting a door hanger on your door,
if I find an open garage door on one of my patrols. The door hangers are made by Arlington PD.
by Labrador Grafix
To watch a video clip on Garage Burglary Click Here
For other areas of the site click here
For past issues of the Crime watch news click here
ALERT!
No Alerts at this time
Citizen on Patrol Update:
In a plan to increase the number of residents taking part in the Citizen OnPatrol
Program, Arlington PD has been working to simplify the program. Starting Oct 2007
the Orientation Class will be available On-Line! or in the form of a DVD., So..
no longer any need to spend 6 hours in a class room, and no waiting for the next
orientation class.
Just apply for the course (you will be screened for felony records.. etc)
and take the class at your convenience.
For past issues of the news click here
Crime statistics:
click on the links to a Word Document file with the
local crime statistics that are sent to the Citizen on patrol groups.
We need more people on patrol.
Scroll down for more information and join in!
Citizen On Patrol :
2010 Orientation Classes:
Aug 3rd and 10th
Tuesdays
West Station
6-9pm
West Police Station – 2060 W. Green Oaks Boulevard 817.459.6040
Nov 10th and 17th
Wednesdays
South Station
6-9pm
SouthArlingtonPoliceServiceCenter (South Police District)
1030 S.W. Green Oaks Blvd.
(817) 459-6640
In service training:
August 6th
Friday
Arlington Music Hall (Johnny High's Theater). (Homicide)*
6pm-10pm
*****
November 2nd
West Police Station – 2060 W. Green Oaks Boulevard 817.459.6040
6:30pm-9:30pm
*= Hello all community members,
I sincerely hope you will be a part of this exciting event. Hundreds of exhausting hours have been put together by your very own Citizens on patrol members to make this event happen.
The location of the event has 1100 seats available. That may seem like a lot but once this event hits the media, tickets should sell fast so as they say, “Get em while they last.”
Below is the link to the webpage which will allow you to purchase tickets. Your printed Pay Pal receipt is your ticket so be sure to bring it with you on the night of.
http://arlingtonconfidential.tripod.com/
Please share this email with anyone whom you think would be interested. Please be sure to note that no one under 17 will be admitted.
ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP ACOP .
East Police Station – 2001 New York Avenue, north of Pioneer Parkway 817.459.5802
West Police Station – 2060 W. Green Oaks Boulevard 817.459.6040
for other areas of the site click here
Citizens On Patrol:
Welcome Frank Kologey of Grissom Dr. to the neighborhood COP Team,
Frank just recently signed up and will be patrolling very soon.
Doug Scott is the COP Coordinator for Pineridge Estates, if anyone
cares to join COP, or just go along for a ride, feel free to contact Doug
at (817) 496-8762
or contact Tracie Baker, (see the following link), for the next COP
class. More COP's are needed! All that is required is to drive(or Walk!)
around our area ( less than 10 minutes, 1.2 miles) whenever you
have spare time.
The orientation class takes 6 hours and you are required to take one 4 hour
class during the year to maintain COP status.
COP's just drive around and look out for suspicious activity ,
or safety issues ( open garage doors, code violations ) and alert
the police. You never have to confront the suspicious person.
If you will be going away for any period of time, you can
inform Doug (e-mail) to pay special attention to your home.
(include if you give permission to walk around the premises to
check for signs of criminal activity, and if anyone else has access to your home)
For past issues of the Crime Watch news click here
for other areas of the site click here
Information on 911 system click here
APD information in case of Armed Robbery Click here
Looking for volunteers;We are looking for help with the Crime
Watch. It would be helpful if we had one person from each street to be
the street Captain. .
Communication is the key to success in eliminating crime in our neighborhood.
Arlington Police Department web site: http://www.arlingtonpd.org/
For past issues of the news click here
http://www.familywatchdog.us/
When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a
small icon of a house. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood.
When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and
the description of the crime he or she has committed.
The best thing is that you can show your children these pictures and see how close these people
live to your home or school.
This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted. This is another tool we can
use to help us keep our kids safe.
Please pass this on to everyone!!!
Sex offenders registry:
Here are 3 web sites to help locate where sex offenders live:
http://www.mapsexoffenders.com/
http://www.sexcriminals.com/regs/1224.html
National Sex Offender Registry
According to the above web sites there is one registered sex offender
on Inglewood Lane, just 1 street south of our neighborhood, and
west of Jason Dr.
Latest report from ABC news:
(10/02/06 - DALLAS, TX) - One in six registered sex offenders in
North Texas has false or outdated contact information in the state
database that's charged with tracking them, according to a newspaper
investigation. Eighteen percent of 1,625 convicted sex offenders in
North Texas provided the Texas Sex Offender Registry with
addresses where they could not be found. The City of Dallas
had 22 percent of sex offenders with incorrect addresses, the
most of any city. In Fort Worth, 13 percent of sex offenders
had incorrect addresses
Click here for Crime Watch News Archives
Crime statistics for our area;
Our Crime statistics area covers an area enclosed by
Pleasant Ridge to the south, Jewell Dr. to the north
Little Rd. to the east and Green Oaks Blvd. to the west.
Credit: Mapquest.com
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