Dallas CWEB » Crime Prevention

The Dangers of Social Media

ddattalo — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:37:55 +0000

It’s rare that you will see a video as powerful as this one. The message is so strong on this that we felt it should be shared.

Things Your Burglar Won’t Tell You

ddattalo — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 22:07:03 +0000

This great little piece came to us via the Buckner Terrace neighborhood:

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, 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 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.

6. 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. And speaking of alarm systems, if you actually use it, I will most likely NOT even consider your house a target.

7. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door – understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

8. 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.)

9. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

10. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

11. 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.

12. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. Actually, my parents lived in the same house for almost 50 years, and always left a loud radio on when we left. They were NEVER burglarized.

13. 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.

14. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

15. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your 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.

16. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

17. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, 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.

18. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

19. 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.

20. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Getting Active in Crime Watch

ddattalo — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:18:28 +0000

The best way to take an active part in crime prevention is to participate in a crime watch in which each person becomes more alert and aware of what is going on within the area. Participation in a crime watch is not an activity that requires a lot of time. It means only that each person adopts a more observant attitude on a daily basis. Neighbors will get to know each other better, and as a result, will become more aware of strange cars, persons or circumstances which might be a danger and require calling the police. The following guidelines have proven to be successful:

Get to know your neighbors. Know their names and be able to identify them and their vehicles by sight.
Maintain a map or block directory of the immediate neighborhood with names, addresses, emails and phone numbers.
Make the home as burglar proof as possible.
Mark all property for identification by using the Operation ID Program.
Be observant and watch over neighbors’ homes, especially when they are not home or are out of town.
Write down license plate numbers and descriptions of suspicious looking vehicles and/or good descriptions of any suspicious persons. Immediately report them to the police at 911.
Report information that may be helpful to your Crime Watch Chairperson.
Call the neighborhood voicemail (if you have one) on a regular basis to keep informed.
Check your Nextdoor internet communications regularly.
Educate children in crime prevention and teach respect for law enforcement officers.
Volunteer to help your crime watch organization in any way that you can, whether it involves your time or financial support.

Spotting a Drug House

ddattalo — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:31:56 +0000

There are a variety of illegal activities that can operate in your neighborhood. Spotting these and reporting them to police is crucial to keep crime from proliferating in your neighborhood. Here are a few to look out for:

Trap House

This term is used to define a crack house, or the surroundings in which a drug dealer (trap star) would use to make their profit. Also referred to as “up tha way”. Trap houses have very little to no furniture, very little to no food or kitchen items but lots of take out containers, and very little to no clothing. The dealers work in shifts making it impossible to know who runs the house. They trap you by getting you hooked on illegal drugs.

Smoke House

Smoke houses are similar to trap houses. These houses have high amounts of drug paraphernalia such as glass pipes, meth pipes, and crack pipes. They are called smoke house because their main business is providing you a place (room) and the instruments (pipes) necessary for you to smoke marihuana or cocaine for a price. What you do in a smoke house stays in the smoke house. Some tobacco discount shops are actually smoke houses. These shops have hid away back rooms for illegal use.

Stash House

Unlike the smoke and trap house the stash house usually has no furniture or kitchen items at all. A stash house is simply where drugs are kept to avoid being seized. They maintain only the amount of drug that can be sold in a certain time period (24 hours for example). They restock their drugs regularly from the drug distribution house using a runner. These houses have heavy security with braces on the doors and possibly security cameras. They may have security bars on all entrances. Transactions are conducted through the security bars or caged area. In the event of a police raid they have methods to quickly dispose of their contraband (usually down the commode). By the time police make entry all of the drugs are gone.

Grow House

A grow house is one that is strictly used for cultivating marijuana. The plants may be various stages of growth. These houses will usually have a lot of lights and some grow lights. Grow lights are ultraviolet lights and emanate a violet glow. The growers will provide an irrigation system for the plants and will be using a lot of water. An air circulation system is also required for healthy plant growth. The odor of marijuana will emanate from the house if carbon air filtration is not used. Most of marijuana grown is for personal use. Any excess marijuana will be sold directly to customers or sold to smoke houses. Selling to only smoke houses is the safer method for sale of excess marijuana.

Signs that a house is selling drugs include barricades, cage, surveillance cameras, guns, holes in screens/doors, and limited access. These houses are a business and will have business quality protection. Most of these houses will be dilapidated and in various states of disrepair. There is usually heavy traffic with short duration visits. Transactions are quick and will be stopped in the drive way just long enough to exchange the drugs and the money. The buyers/users will spend very little time in stash houses. Longer times are spent in smoke and trap/crack houses.

If you suspect that a house in your area is associated with dealing drugs contact your neighborhood police officer or call 911 to make them aware of your suspicions. You should also advise a member of the crime watch or VIP.

What is Suspicious Activity?

ddattalo — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 15:40:39 +0000

All too often citizens are confused about what they should report and why, so it is important to train citizens through a variety of reporting activities. After reviewing this section, participants will be able to appropriately use the who, what, when, where, and how of reporting. Often citizens ask officers “Why should I get involved?” or “How am I going to benefit by reporting suspicious activity?” Although the answers may seem obvious, it must be clearly communicated to the public that they are an essential component in protecting our communities. Sometimes our citizens receive mixed signals regarding what to report and when to report it. Other times they simply do not know what is expected of them. It is important to learn specific definitions and details to provide Watch volunteers with clear and concise information. Begin with defining “suspicious activity.” Suspicious activity can refer to any incident, event, individual or activity that seems unusual or out of place. Some common examples of suspicious activities can include:

• A stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly.

• Someone peering into cars or windows.

• A high volume of traffic going to and coming from a home on a daily basis.

• Strange odors coming from a house, building or vehicle.

• Open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or someone loitering around schools, parks, unoccupied residence, or secluded areas.

• Someone tampering with electrical, gas or sewer systems without an identifiable company vehicle or uniform.

• Persons arriving or leaving from homes or businesses at unusual hours.

• Multiple persons who appear to be working in unison and exhibiting suspicious behaviors.

• Signs of forced entry or tampering with security or safety systems.

The effectiveness of the police and sheriffs’ offices efforts is enhanced by active participation on the part of citizens. By calling to report suspicious persons or activity, you not only aid the police you make you community a safer place to live. Some people fail to call because they are not aware of activities that might be suspicious. Others may notice suspicious activity and hesitate to call for fear of being labeled a “nosy neighbor”. Still others take it for granted that someone else has already called or will make the 911 call. Always report suspicious activity and all crimes because police don’t know there’s a problem unless they are told.