Keep an eye out for this one: Seen 12:05am. Silver Honda with rack on top license# 844 RQN parked in front of Monika and Andre's house. Young Black male hanging out on the street corner between Jennifer's and your house, waiting for someone (drugs?). Owner of car in front??? Called 911 and reported suspicious activity in KNOWN DRUG AREA. Said they were sending an officer.
NEWSLETTER
Dear Community Friends –
Summertime Security Tips
We often see an increase in residential burglary and theft in the warm weather months. At times, we leave our windows open for ventilation when we are not home. In a vast number of summertime burglaries, the burglar gains entry through an opened or unlocked door or window. We also see an increase in theft of personal property, because there is a tendency to leave items unattended at parks. Here are some summer safety tips
Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your doors and windows. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, but not wide enough for someone to gain entry, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to allow the window to open no more than 4”. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops installed on the inside track, which will also prevent the window from being opened to far. Call me for a free home security survey where I can go over these options with you in further detail (206.386.9766).
Lock Your Doors
I have seen reports of someone stepping out to the store for a short bit and leaving their doors visibly opened. They returned to find someone had burglarized the home. Anytime you leave your home, close and lock your doors. Let’s not make it easy for the burglar.
Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave the front door open and/or unlocked. Just recently a neighbor left her front door open while she worked in her back yard. She saw a man walk by the front of the house a couple of times. The man saw her, he also saw the open door. He helped himself to what he could while the neighbor was still in the yard.
If you have a garage or storage unit that is out of your line of sight while you are working in the yard, be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to anyone who may be walking or driving by.
Secure Your Tools
Gardening tools, lawnmowers, other yard tools, ladders… all tend to be stolen more in warm weather months. Make sure you lock them up in the garage, shed, etc.
Secure Bicycles
I’ve noticed a large number of bicycles being stolen in past summers. Locking these up with a bike chain - or storing them inside - can help prevent theft.
Do Not Leave Pets Or Children Unattended In Vehicles
There are far too many reports of pets or children dying because they were left unattended in a hot vehicle with the windows rolled up. Don’t leave children unattended in cars, even for a short time. If you leave a pet in a car, roll the windows down enough for ventilation and provide a dish of water. Better to leave the pet at home rather than in a sweltering car.
Fireworks
There are no legal fireworks in the City of Seattle. The Seattle Police Department strives to enforce the City of Seattle’s 1993 fireworks ban. Anyone caught using fireworks of any kind can be fined up to $500 and sentenced to 180 days in jail. Celebrate July 4th by watching the public fireworks displays instead, rather than risk a fine from the City or injury from the fireworks.
Have a great summer and enjoy the warm weather and all the community festivals our city has to offer.
Until Next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention
Night Out 2006 is Tuesday, August 1stCheck out the website: www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout
This year the Seattle Police Department is honored to partner with Verizon Wireless' HopeLine Program for this year's Night Out. HopeLine began in 1995 with a commitment to provide voicemail boxes and emergency wireless phones to victims of domestic violence living in shelters. In 2001 it branched out into recycling and re-using donated phones. By the end of 2005 HopeLine had collected more than 2.5 million phones and donated more than $1 million to organizations engaged in raising awareness and prevention of domestic violence.
For those that would like to participate in the HopeLine Program for Night Out 2006 by donating old phones and accessories, the Seattle Police Department is asking blocks to designate one person who will be responsible for getting all the donations they collect to their local precinct. For those blocks that would like to make this a centerpiece of their Night Out celebration, donation boxes will be available at the precincts two weeks prior to Night Out.
If you would like additional information or would like to volunteer for this program contact Dana Lockhart at (206) 615-0890.
