Holiday Crime Prevention
December, 2007
During the holidays, we can easily be a target for crime as we become distracted with the stresses and obligations that often accompany holiday preparations. While we want to enjoy the celebration of the season, we also want to be mindful of the safety and security of our property and ourselves. Below is a list of safety tips that can help reduce your chances of becoming a holiday crime statistic.
Vacation Holidays Away From Home
Change the light bulbs just before leaving on your trip. Set lights, TV, and other electronic devices on timers so that they go off and on throughout your house to mimic your normal routine when you are home.
Notify a trusted friend or neighbor concerning your trip itinerary. Leave an extra set of keys and an emergency phone number where you can be reached. Have them pick up mail, newspapers and flyers, take trash out and in, open and close drapes, and whatever helps to make your house look occupied.
Identity Theft
Use only one credit card to make all on-line purchases. Do not give more information than is absolutely necessary to place an order. Monitor receipts and statements closely. Immediately report suspicious or unusual statement activity. DO NOT use an ATM card to make on-line purchases.
Do not place anything with personal information in the trash. Crosscut shred all mail correspondence, bills, and credit card offers, anything that can be used to obtain your personal information.
Gift Card Scams
It is possible to become a victim of theft when you buy gift cards from a display rack. In some cases, criminals are jotting down the gift card numbers, and are then waiting a few days before calling to find out the balance on the card. If the card has been used by its rightful recipient, and there is still a balance, they go online and shop.
To avoid this from happening to you, you may want to purchase gift cards from a customer service person or on-line where the gift cards are not viewable to the public.
You can also spend gift card money all at one time, and then there would be no balance for a criminal to use.
Charitable Giving
Many frauds and scams use Law Enforcement, Fire, Paramedics, diseases or disorders as their focus to play upon your sympathy, passion, or patriotism in order to get money from you, especially during the holiday season.
Question phone calls or requests by mail or Internet, soliciting donations for a “worthy cause.”
Research their legitimacy before committing. Ask for information to be sent to you. Ask how they got your name and number.
Never make a “right now or never” or “once in a lifetime opportunity” decision. Legitimate organizations are proud of their cause, and will gladly provide you with as much information as you need, and welcome donations any time of year.
For more information on these and other crime prevention related topics, please contact the Irvine Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at (949) 724-7042, or kcherney@ci.irvine.ca.us
Irvine – America's Safest City.
What Does it Truly Mean?
November , 2007
Recently, the new media heralded the fact that the City of Irvine had achieved the ranking of America’s Safest City for the third year in a row. Although the members of the Irvine Police Department would like to think that we played a significant role in accomplishing that goal, it is a little more complex than the ever present vigilance of the men and women in blue.
Each year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects crime data from cities across America and groups them into categories based upon population. With respect to violent crime such as homicide, robbery, and assault, Irvine reported the lowest number of incidents in the category of cities with populations over 100,000.
Design has been a key factor in Irvine’s success in repressing crime. City planners engineered streets and neighborhoods that are aesthetically pleasing, but also present greater challenges to criminals in terms of access and egress than traditional urban grids. Experts in crime prevention through environmental design, review all new building plans to ensure that structures and landscaping promote visibility, and that sufficient recreational facilities are in place to accommodate children and teens.
A critical factor in preventing and repressing crime has been the Irvine Police Department’s Crime Prevention and Crime Analysis programs. The Crime Prevention Bureau has kept Irvine residents informed as to emerging crime trends, wanted persons, and victim avoidance training.
Crime analysts track patterns and forecast potential targets so that police managers can direct resources in the field more effectively than random patrol. In addition, community programs and non-profit foundations and coalitions focus upon channeling the City’s youth toward productive endeavors, and away from delinquency.
Ultimately, a significant weight of responsibility falls upon the individual officer in the field to proactively intervene and investigate suspicious activity. Recruitment is a key element in obtaining the correct mix of individual traits for officers who are educated, approachable to the public, yet assertive enough to confront potentially violent situations. Once that individual is found, he or she receives extensive training in identifying criminals, recognizing evidence, and preparing legally sound cases for prosecutors.
Our challenges for the future involve impacting our increasing numbers of domestic violence, which account for a rising percentage of reported assaults. Additionally, demographic changes involving new residents from foreign countries have necessitated an outreach to cultures that have traditionally been reluctant to share information with police.
The pressure to remain on top as America’s Safest City is mitigated by the fact that we share this accomplishment collectively with our partners in city government, schools, and the resident and business community as a whole, working together to keep Irvine safe.
Halloween Safety
October, 2007
Halloween can be an exciting, fun-filled time for children as well as adults. Costumes, trick-or-treating, and holiday parties bring excitement to the fall season, but also present some challenges with regard to safety. The Irvine Police Department offers the following safety tips for parents, children, and the motoring public.
Adults
• Welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and exterior lights on.
• Immediately report any suspicious or criminal activity to the Irvine Police Department by calling 911.
• Do not give homemade or unwrapped treats to children.
Motorists
• Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle.
• Be alert to trick-or-treaters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, and who may dart out into the street.
What Parents Should Tell Children
• Never trick-or-treat alone. Have at least two friends go together for the entire evening.
• Carry a flashlight and use it so that drivers can see you, and any hazards in the street.
• Set a time limit for your children to trick-or-treat. Together, designate a safe route for them to take. An adult should always accompany younger children on Halloween night.
• Cross only at street corners, never between parked cars and never diagonally across an intersection.
• Walk in well-lighted areas only.
• Do not go inside anyone’s home. Remain on the porch at all times.
• Only approach homes that have a front porch light on.
• Do not eat treats until your parents have inspected them.
• Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.
Costumes
• Make certain that your children’s costumes are not flammable.
• Do not permit your children to wear cumbersome, floor length, or vision-impairing costumes.
• Light colored or reflective type clothing makes trick-or-treaters more visible to motorists.
• In lieu of vision-impairing masks, use makeup or face paint.
• Call the police if you suspect any tainted candy.
It is my hope that these recommendations will assist you in making safe decisions regarding the Halloween season. For more information on Halloween safety or general crime prevention, please contact the Irvine Police Department’s Preventive Services Bureau at (949) 724-7042.
Electronic Fraud
September, 2007
Just when you thought that you were safe from identity theft by diligently shredding credit card offers received in the mail, your bank accounts have now come under attack at the ATM. Recently, automatic teller machines (ATM’s) and “Pay Point” machines have been the target of identity theft criminals intent upon obtaining access to bank accounts through the use of skimming devices. The devices, which resemble authentic key pads, are placed on the exterior of ATM’s and “Pay Point” machines found at gas stations, convenience stores, and banks.
The skimmers are lined up with existing devices, and fastened with heavy glue or double-stick tape, and are capturing both debit card numbers and PIN’s. Arco Gas Stations have been targeted in the cities of Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, and Irvine banks have been used for the withdrawal of money from victims’ bank accounts. Generally the suspects have placed the devices on the “Pay Point” machines closest to the street, and have obtained information to generate counterfeit credit cards which are then used at various bank ATM’s in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Often the fraudulent devices can be removed by simply jiggling the key pad or card insertion port. Please be aware of suspicious persons, who often stand in groups of 2 or 3, at Arco Gas islands or at bank ATM machines using multiple cards to withdraw money. In addition, watch for suspicious vehicles that are often parked across the street from bank ATM’s.
Another form of electronic fraud on the rise has involved internet hackers who fabricate authentic looking bank logos, and notify prospective victims through their computers that someone has unlawfully entered their bank account. The suspects request that the victim provide identifying information to verify their identity, so that they can proceed with resolving the problem. When birthdates, social security numbers, and access numbers are provided, bank accounts are then raided with information conveniently provided by the victim. Please keep in mind that banks do not solicit personal information over the internet to resolve banking problems.
With the proliferation of computers, laptops, cell phone access, and bank cards, theft has become as sophisticated as the devices our daily lives now depend upon. Fortunately, many people are cautious, and we frequently receive calls from residents attempting to verify the legitimacy of businesses and solicitors. Please remain careful, regularly scrutinize your banking information, and make certain that your on-line transactions are made to whom you truly intend to communicate. The Irvine Police Department will continue to keep you informed as to the latest safety concerns, as well as issues impacting our quality of life.
** As a footnote to last month’s article on thefts related to athletic endeavors, the Irvine Police Department successfully arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for the locker room burglaries at fitness clubs, and vehicle burglaries near basketball courts. The District Attorney’s office has filed twenty (20) felony counts against the suspect currently in custody.
Exercise Caution
August, 2007
So you have diligently held to your New Year’s resolution of getting in shape, only to become a crime victim at the fitness center, by having your property stolen. If this scenario sounds familiar, you are not alone. Criminals have found a lucrative business in stealing people’s cash, credit cards, and even automobiles while the crime victims are working out at the gym.
The most common occurrences have been vehicle burglaries in the parking lots of franchise fitness centers. Burglars target cars parked on non-windowed building sides, with valuable property left in plain view on car seats. The perpetrators, who operate primarily during evening hours, smash the windows of one to three vehicles, remove valuable items and leave within a matter of seconds. Just walk through any fitness center parking lot and you will observe numerous vehicles with purses, briefcases, and laptops plainly visible inside.
A second crime trend occurring at gyms and spas has been locker room thefts. Typically, a gym patron will hang his clothes in a locker and place a combination lock through the hasp. Upon returning, he will either discover that the lock has been cut with bolt cutters, and his wallet is gone, or that the lock is intact, but his wallet is missing. In the latter instance, the suspect has looked over the victim’s shoulder as he turned the combination to open the lock. While the victim worked out, the suspect returned to the locker room, opened the lock, stole the property, and reset the lock. In rare instances, the suspects have taken the victims’ keys and stolen their car.
Finally, full court basketball games at public parks have been targeted by thieves looking to steal credit cards from the participants. These crimes are committed by individuals who loiter around basketball games waiting for the players to move to the far end of the court.
Once this occurs, the suspect picks up a set of keys left on a bench by one of the players, and then he walks to the parking lot to locate the victim’s car. He then unlocks the vehicle, removes a credit card from the victim’s wallet, re-locks the car, and returns the keys to the bench. Within a few minutes, the suspect leaves the area and begins running up charges at department stores and gas stations.
Fortunately we have experienced successes in apprehending many of these criminals through surveillance work, following up investigative leads, and video recording of in-progress events. However, if we can harden the targets, or take a few steps of prevention, we can eliminate the problem altogether. Here are a few protective measures that can be taken to avoid being a victim:
• Do not leave valuables such as laptops, iPods, or purses in plain view inside vehicles.
• If possible, lock valuables in the trunk.
• If it is necessary to use a locker, leave valuables in the trunk, take your keys with you, and put them on a lanyard or in your pocket.
• Whenever possible, park your car where it is visible through the gym’s windowed sides.
• Be alert to individuals who are loitering, or not participating in the athletic activities occurring around them.
Above all, be alert to your surroundings, and dial 911 for crimes that you observe, and (949) 724-7200, for suspicious activity that you believe requires police intervention.
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When is a Party Too Loud?
July, 2007
With summer upon us, parties are a common event, and frequently the Irvine Police Department responds to calls for service related to social gatherings that are disturbing to neighbors.
Most people are willing to put up with an occasional party hosted by a neighbor whose stereo is loud. However, some individuals have been completely intolerant, and called the police for noisy wind chimes.
The key to determining when an event is too loud is reasonableness. Would a reasonable man or woman be expected to tolerate his neighbor’s party when it’s 1:00 a.m., and the music can be heard from the street, and the only noise louder than the music is the beer bottles hitting the sidewalk? No, but a reasonable person should be willing to overlook an occasional “bounce house” at an afternoon birthday party with screaming five year olds.
When parties become unreasonably loud, with boisterous intoxicated guests, the police are often called to bring relief to the neighborhood.
What normally occurs when an individual places a call to our Dispatch Center, is that a dispatcher will ask the caller if he or she would be willing to sign a complaint against his neighbor for disturbing his or her peace.
This process involves the issuance of a citation to the host of the party which is signed by the complaining party. In essence, the complainant is placing his neighbor under a private person’s arrest, and the officer is allowing the party host to avoid jail for the evening, by signing a written promise to appear in court. The documents are submitted to the District Attorney’s office, and a Deputy District Attorney makes a determination as to whether the matter should proceed to a criminal case.
As you may have gathered, this is a rather involved process, however, another option is available. The City of Irvine has a Loud Party Ordinance that removes the complaining party from the criminal justice system, and allows the police officer to exercise discretion as to whether the noise is unreasonable, and whether the party host should be fined.
When the police are summoned to a large party, gathering or event that an officer determines is a threat to the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare, the officer can issue a written notice to the host. That notice warns that a subsequent response to the same location within a 30-day period can be deemed a special security assignment, making the host liable for police services.
A subsequent response following a written warning can hold the host liable for police services up to $1,000. If the host is a minor, the debt is transferred to his/her parents, and the subsequent response may result in further enforcement action.
Clearly, the best course of action is to be proactive and be a good neighbor. If you plan on hosting a party, contact your neighbors, and afford them the opportunity to prepare, or make other arrangements for the evening.
Keep music at reasonable levels, and direct guests to remain inside your residence and backyard areas. Should you feel the need to call the police for assistance, please be assured that the Irvine Police Department will make every effort to peacefully resolve the matter so that all persons can continue to experience the high quality of life in Irvine that we all enjoy.
Grafitti
June, 2007
Graffiti vandalism has been on the rise recently, and Woodbridge has experienced several reported incidents of tagging in both business and residential neighborhoods. Most graffiti is perpetrated by high school and intermediate school age juveniles who are either in a gang, a member of a “tagging crew,” or simply a group of individuals who want to appear like a gang, and make up a name to formalize their association.
Although Irvine does not currently have any gangs that claim territory, there is evidence of some gang activity by the graffiti that they leave. This occurs when actual gang members come to Irvine from other jurisdictions and use the City’s athletic facilities to avoid the violence in their own communities. Some gang members leave their environment voluntarily and move to Irvine, and occasionally others are dismissed from their schools and enroll in Irvine’s school system. When this occurs, their gang associates will sometimes visit them and memorialize their meeting by leaving graffiti on park benches and public restrooms.
Those wanting to appear as a gang, or “wanna-be’s,” create the largest amount of defacement of property in the City. The Police Department has successfully arrested and prosecuted these individuals through probation searches and apprehensions during in-progress events.
Although juveniles seeking to look like gang members may not be participants in a violent criminal enterprise, their appearance, behavior, and graffiti create a quality of life issue that negatively impacts neighborhoods, shopping centers, and recreational facilities.
Working in partnership with the community, the Irvine Company, and various security company partners, the Irvine Police Department continues to focus resources upon reducing the incidences of graffiti and targeting those individuals suspected of maliciously defacing property. The strategic placement of cameras, saturation patrolling, and the examining of school notebooks and folders have been strategies that have also proven useful in combating this crime.
Residents who observe or suspect subjects who may be tagging property should immediately call the Irvine Police Department at (949) 724-7200. Persons observing graffiti, after the fact, should call the City’s graffiti hot line at (949) 724-7196.
Area Traffic Officers
March, 2007
The Irvine Police Department recently implemented the Area Traffic Officer program to better address traffic issues impacting each of the three geographic policing areas. Each area, Crossroads, University, and Portola, now has a traffic officer assigned to specifically focus upon community issues related to traffic flow, traffic planning, hazard abatement, parking, congestion, and neighborhood traffic concerns. They will work in partnership with motor officers, traffic collision investigators, patrol officers, parking enforcement officers, as well as partners from other City departments such as Community Development and Public Works.
Each Area Commander regularly receives letters, phone calls, and e-mail from homeowners’ associations, schools, businesses, and individual residents regarding traffic issues that impact safety or quality of life. The Area Traffic Officer program enables the Commander to task a specific officer to examine the problem, and develop responses to resolve the issue. Responses may include directed enforcement, improved engineering, or educating the community on methods for improving safety.
As an example, a resident may call regarding a stop sign that motorists regularly drive through without stopping. The Area Traffic Officer will be assigned to determine if the sign is obstructed, and if so, ensure that it is cleared. He or she may monitor the intersection to assess the need for increased enforcement by motor officers, or may issue citations themselves. When a member of the community calls regarding the neighborhood teenager who regularly speeds down the street past children playing, it will be the Area Traffic Officer who will be knocking on his door, and talking with his parents. The overarching goal of the program will be to develop and implement long-term strategies that aim to permanently address a wide-range of traffic related issues.
Woodbridge residents fall within the Crossroads Policing Area, and Officer Tim Schilling serves as their new Area Traffic Officer. Officer Schilling has over eleven years of police experience, having served for five years with the Los Angeles Police Department before coming to Irvine. He can be reached at (949) 724-7212 x 2116, or tschilling@ci.irvine.ca.us
Impounding Vehicles
February, 2007
In recent years, the impounding of vehicles from private property has been a contentious issue in many communities. To address some concerns, the legislature has amended some existing laws for 2007 that will enhance the protections provided to motorists from unfair vehicle towing practices and unauthorized vehicle towing from private property. These laws will provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to protect consumers by establishing criminal penalties and strengthening consumer rights.
Section 22658 of the Vehicle Code has been amended with the following new provisions:
• Private property owners or associations are now required to have the name and phone number of each towing company that they have contracted with for Private Property Impounds (PPI’s) to be on signs posted on their private property.
• Requires the tow truck operator (if the operator knew) to immediately give notice in writing to the registered and legal owner of the fact of the vehicle’s removal, the grounds for removal, and indicate the place to which the vehicle was removed.
• The property agent is required to notify the police department of the PPI within one hour after an authorized tow. The Irvine Police Department is currently developing a procedure for documenting this action.
• Requires the towing company or its driver to immediately release a vehicle that is not yet removed from private property and in transit, upon the request of the owner of the vehicle or the owner’s agent. A towing company may impose a charge of not more than one-half of the regular towing charge.
• A towing company cannot charge a rate higher than the fee schedule under agreement with the City of Irvine, or the California Highway Patrol. The tow company may charge whichever rate is higher, however, in order to use the CHP rate, the tow company must have an agreement with the California Highway Patrol.
• A storage facility is required to conspicuously display a notice visible to the public that advises all credit cards and cash would be acceptable means of payment.
• The towing company must provide a towed vehicle’s owner with the telephone number of the appropriate local law enforcement agency in the event that the vehicle owner believes that their vehicle was wrongly towed.
Finally, section 22953 of the Vehicle Code has been amended to forbid an employee of private property that is held open to the public for parking, from towing or removing a vehicle within one hour of the vehicle being parked. However, the amendment also allows a vehicle to be immediately removed after being parked illegally in a manner that interferes with an entrance to, or an exit from, the private property, fire lane, or fire hydrant.
It is our hope that these changes in the law will better protect the rights of all parties involved, and that they will enable the police department to better serve the public safety interests of the community. Should you have any traffic related questions for the Crossroads Policing Area, you may contact your Area Traffic Officer through my office at (949) 724-7156 or dfreedland@ci.irvine.ca.us
Arriving Safely at School
January, 2007
As children return to school following the holidays, it is important that parents, relatives and guardians who transport them review some simple driving practices that will enable them to safely negotiate school traffic congestion.
Surprisingly, people who are normally excellent drivers become erratic motorists when insufficient time is allotted to accommodate a delay that may lengthen their normal drive time to work. It is suggested that a little planning ahead, and following the below listed traffic tips will promote greater safety when transporting and picking up children from school.
• Review the traffic plan for your children’s school – the administration office should have a copy.
• Obey all posted traffic regulatory signs.
• Assume that children do not see your vehicle.
• Look for crossing guards. Stop at crosswalks, and do not proceed or turn until all pedestrians are safely on the sidewalk..
• Drop children off only in designated areas.
• Do not double park and allow children to run between cars.
• Avoid U-turns near drop off zones, even if there are no signs posted prohibiting.
• When staged in line for drop off, and the car ahead is blocking a resident’s driveway, allow the resident to exit or enter the driveway before advancing in line.
• Carefully review the start times for classes. Schools will often stagger them to minimize congestion.
• Build a sufficient margin of time to accommodate delays.
• Officers are frequently assigned to schools to simply monitor safety conditions. Smiles and waves are always appreciated.
• We encourage all parents to be informed concerning the drop off and pick up procedures for their children’s schools, and to be aware of how others may be affected by their driving habits. The Irvine Police Department has implemented an Area Traffic Officer program to address long-term traffic engineering, education, and enforcement issues within the three geographic policing areas. Should you have any traffic related questions for the Crossroads Policing Area, you may contact your Area Traffic Officer through my office at (949) 724-7156 or dfreedland@ci.irvine.ca.us |
