Officer Pete Gelabert from APD Crime Prevention was in attendance, and provided tips and offer for residents; he and APD will provide FREE onsite security reviews. Call him ( 897 8803) schedule an appointment, and he will do a walkaround your home or business for security evaluation ... doors, windows, lock and alarm systems, shrubbery ( continue below for info on "CPTED") and property layout. Here's a chance to have a professional give you the "burglars eye-view" of your home or business and ID weak spots before they bite you. APDs' emphasis on property-crime prevention is having some impact for our neighborhood, and the West Side in general. Property crime is down versus last year and trending down in January this year v last year.
Once again, I encourage you to keep an eye on this page and the LNA website in general; APD will again have their Neighborhood Association Patrol Training Class later this year, and I can't recommend it enough. The info is extensive, extremely useful and invaluable to you and the greater community. One example ? ... the material on CPTED - Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. How can I set up my property to discourage criminal "survey and theft" and make my home or business safer. How do I control Access ? Reinforce Territorial Boundary ? Maintain property to discourage criminal attempts ? Set up Natural Surveillance on the Property ?
And that is just one of many key areas in the class. Bottom line is that your knowledge base enhances personal and community security, allows APD to do its' job more effectively, and gives more "eyes and ears" to LE officials. The new BC Sheriff, Manny Gonzales, was generous with his time and attended. A common theme running through his remarks, and those of Officer G, is that when the residents keep their heads-up and take note and communicate with BCSD and APD, it makes it much harder for crime to proceed. Crime is opportunistic - it will go where it can operate unseen, and unchecked. Info is King, so get it, share it, and use it.
If you have any questions, contact them via phone @ 897 8803 ( Officer G ) or 839 6443 ( Officer J )
The Neighborhood Crime Prevention Program of the Albuquerque Police Department offers Neighborhood Watch, plus other Crime Prevention programs to clubs, organizations, businesses - any community group
Among the programs offered are ...
- General Presentations
- Neighborhood Watch
- Personal safety / Child Safety
- Crime Prevention through Environmental Design ( CPETD )
For scheduling or information, call 924-3600
Friday Oct 16 2009
NM Crime Prevention Association / Fall Conference Highlights
One of the linchpins of Community Policing is partnership between Police and community. Residents really are the Eyes and Ears for police, DHS and Emergency Management personnel. Your involvement and contributions make a huge difference, and there are organizations operating that would welcome our help.
Here are two online tools you can utilize to get an up-to-date snapshot of crime activity in our locale ...
CrimeReports.com ..... and ...... CrimeMapping.com
Juanita Gray, Intel Fusion Analyst from the NM All Source Intel Center ( NMASIC ) spoke about the international crime and local crime trends in the border states. Although they would not be first choice for reporting on suspicious activity - APD would be via 242-COPS or the 311 clearinghouse number - she did provide their phone contact if something "sounds a mental alert. Contact 476 9625.
Mike Rose of NM VOAD ( Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters ) described the coalition of organizations that work to assist in disaster relief, both here in NM and nationwide. If you want to provide manpower or financial assistance, contact them at their website ... nmvoad.org ... or
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.
Albq Public Safety Director Pete Dinelli spent time going over the Nuisance Abatement Program operating here in Albuquerque. The City Task Force on Nuisance Abatement meets regularly, and includes APD, Inspectors, AFD, Coding and Zoning specialists, and Human Services personnel. If some ongoing activity is creating problems, they'll address it top to bottom and decide how to act. Nuisance abatement is somewhat complicated, since there are Criminal components and Civil components to proceedings. But Albuquerque has worked to 1) define, 2) specifiy abatements, and 3) designate penalties for property holders.
That entire process begins with the citizen calling to let City Departments know that something is a nuisance - repeated noisy parties, junk cars, 45 cats ! ... whatever .... Call either 242 COPS, or 311 ( which provides a Reference # for the call ) to start things rolling. As long as Mr. Diinelli and his staff are in office, a contact number is 768 4649, which connects to his Assistant, Joe Martinez; the recent change in mayoralty may change all this.
Again, no agency knows about a nuisance until you call - you ARE the eyes and ears of the departments that work to make Albuquerque safe.
APD has developed a rather savvy program - Crime Free MultiHousing. Phases I / II / III provide resources and training to participating members that allows them to be Certified Crime Free Housing members. The value to residents and neighboring units is this - the housing contract is a binding legal contract, and when a Crime Free Lease Addendum is signed by a renter of either an apartment or home - violation of that allows for very rapid eviction, in some cases within 24 H. Residents here in Laurelwood may remember the crack house problem. Pre-placement of Crime Free Lease addendum, and enhanced tenant screening and background checks ( part of ther Crime Free administrative requirements ) might have precluded that episode.
Whether the program grows, or even becomes standard, will depend on the priorities of a new administration. Contacting Ken Sanchez, and incoming Mayor Berry with your thoughts may help to grow this program. It's a good one. Thank Detective Ken Fuller and others for "seeding" this here to Albuquerque
Patrick Murray / Chair LNA Crime Prevention Committee
Holiday Tips from your Neighborhood Burglar / Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You
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 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 to lock 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 of town, 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. 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.
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'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.
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 runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
December 2nd, 2009
How to Keep Your Home Safe
Property matters. If burglary or damage occurs, would you remember everything lost or stolen ?
Now you can record every item of property, room-by-room, and update it easily and quickly. State Farm Insurance has free software available for just this task.You'll need 4MB of RAM, and at least 6MB of available disc space.
You can enter property lists, invoices and warranties, along with photos, and it assists in printing claim and theft reports for use by insurers and local PDs.
State Farm provides this "as is," without warranty. State Farm has much more information available at their site for download ....
