CRIME WATCH

Free Drug Booklet | Crime Prevention Tips

COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT’S 2003 CITIZENS ACADEMY
by Officer J. Haden Pitman

NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS

Don’t pass up this opportunity for an “inside view” of the Columbia Police Department, your police department.

Attend the Citizens Academy and learn first hand about department structure, patrol operations, our K-9 units, arrest and booking procedures, jail intake procedures, court and trial proceedings, evidence and crime scene processing, narcotics, major crime investigations, SWAT team, and much more. Included in the Academy is a ride-along for a shift with a Columbia police officer.

The Citizens Academy begins on Tuesday, April 1, meets each Tuesday in April and May, and finishes with a graduation on Tuesday, June 3. Classes meet from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

To apply:

Go to the Office of Volunteer Services pages, and print off an application to volunteer. Return the application to me, not to the address that prints out.

Officer Jessie Haden
Columbia Police Department
600 E. Walnut St.
Columbia, MO 65201

or call me at 874-7448 and I will send you an application.

Don’t miss out on the Citizens Academy!

FRAUD CORNER
by Officer J. Haden Pitman

What are contest scams?

If you receive anything in the mail promising a fabulous prize, be wary. These are often scams that yield no real prize.

You may be asked to complete a puzzle or answer a few questions correctly in order to advance to the “next level”. However, this may also include paying a fee. Victims who fall for this believe they are climbing up the levels to get closer to the prize each time a new piece of mail arrives from the company. Unfortunately, they pay a fee each time as well.

Prizes promised are enticing; travel packages, cars, money. Don’t be fooled by any contest like this that requires you to send money. You won’t get your money back, and there probably isn’t any prize. There probably wasn’t even any contest!

If you have questions about fraud, call the Crime Prevention Unit at 874-7405, or visit the Missouri Attorney General’s Office web site at www.ago.mo.gov.

CRIME IN COLUMBIA FOR 2002
by Chief R. G. Boehm

As I write this article, the final Uniformed Crime Report has not been completed, so there is some speculation to the comments I am making here.

Our 2002 crime statistics show decreases in homicides, robbery, burglary, and larceny. The robbery rate decrease is particularly important in that we saw a significant increase in 2001 which caused us concern. The 2002 decrease suggests that the 2001 increase was a spike rather than a trend.

The burglary decrease suggests that efforts by the community to decrease crime are working. The emphasis on prevention and Neighborhood Watch is paying off. We are seeing crime increases in rape, assault, and auto theft so there is still work to be done.

As 2002 comes to an end, I want to thank each of you for your involvement in the Neighborhood Watch program and your support of the Columbia Police Department.

Have a safe, wonderful new year!

CRIME WATCH is published bimonthly for Neighborhood Watch by the Columbia Police Department, 600 E. Walnut, Columbia, Missouri 65201 (573-874-7405). Crime Blockers is a citizen group whose aim is to reduce crime in Columbia. Board Members: Richard Poelling, President; Anne Westfall, Treasurer; Brenda Campbell,
Secretary; Joyce Calvin; Gary Greenlee; Melissa Hendren; Gary Hoffman; Betty Rose Northup; and Arthur Rikli

9-1-1 SPECIAL INFORMATION REQUEST

Telephone customers throughout Boone County pay a special tax to support an enhanced 9-1-1 emergency calling system. This allows the use of an easily remembered emergency number (9-1- 1), and it also automatically displays important information to the emergency operator whenever a 9-1-1 call is initiated. This information includes the name and address of the telephone customer and the proper emergency units for the particular address. This information is constantly updated. Citizens do not need to take any special action to make sure that it is included. Many citizens, however, want emergency operators to have additional information about medical problems, the location of children in a residence, the location of invalids, special directions to the home, etc. If you wish to have such special information entered into the database, please complete and mail this form. Thank you for taking the time to help us help you in the event of an emergency. Remember, if you do not want to submit special information, you do not need to fill out this form to be included in the system.

Telephone Number:
Telephone Customer:
Address:

Directions: If you reside within the city limits of a municipality, give only minor direction and description of your residence. Use official street names. If you reside in a subdivision, include the subdivision name. The more difficult it is to find your home, the more we need to know about it.

Medical Information:

Dangerous Materials (type and location):

Other (for example, children’s bedrooms, location of invalids, wood furnace, indoor pets):

Return to: 9-1-1 Coordinator
Joint Communications and Information Center
P. O. Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205
(573) 874-6328

LOCK CRIME OUT
OF YOUR HOME
National Crime Prevention Council

Each of us can do something to protect ourselves from crime. See how your home stands up to the following safety suggestions.

EXTERIOR DOORS
All exterior doors should be either metal or solid wood. For added security, use strong door hinges on the inside of the door, with non-removable or hidden pins. Every entry door should be well-lighted and have a wide-angle door viewer.

SLIDING GLASS DOORS
Sliding glass doors can offer easy entry into your home. To improve security on existing sliding glass doors, you can install keyed locking devices that secure the door to the frame; adjust the track clearances on the doors so they can’t be pushed out of their tracks; and put a piece of wood or a metal bar in the track of the closed door.

LOCKS
Strong, reliable locks are essential to effective home security. Always keep doors and windows locked- even a five-minute trip to the store is long enough for a burglar to enter your home.

Use quality keyed knobs as well as deadbolts-deadbolts can withstand the twisting, turning, prying and pounding that regular keyed knobs can’t.

When choosing a deadbolt, look for such features as a bolt that extends at least one inch when in the locked position, hardened steel inserts to prevent the bolt from being sawed off, and a reinforced strike plate with extra-long mounting screws. Most deadbolts are single-cylinder; they operate from the outside with a key and from the inside with a thumb latch. Double-cylinder deadbolts require a key to open the lock from both outside and inside your home. (City of Columbia codes prohibit use of double-cylinder deadbolts.) As one alternative, security glazing
can be applied to glass panels in or near the door, or shatterproof glass can be installed, though these options can be expensive.

LIGHTING
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective deterrents to burglary. Indoor lighting gives the
impression that a home is occupied. If you are going to be away from you home, consider using automatic timers to switch interior lights on and off at preset times.

Outdoor lighting can eliminate hiding places. Install exterior lighting near porches, rear and side doorways, garage doors, and all other points of entry. Place lights out of reach from the ground so the bulbs cannot be removed or broken. Aim some lights away from the house so you can see if anyone is approaching, or install motion-sensing lights.

SHRUBS AND LANDSCAPING
Your home’s walkways and landscaping should direct visitors to the main entrance and away from private areas. The landscaping should provide maximum visibility to and from your house. Trim shrubbery that could conceal criminal activity near doors and windows. Provide light on areas of dense shrubs and trees that could serve as hiding places. Cut back tree limbs that could help thieves climb into windows, and keep yard fencing low enough too avoid giving criminals places to hide.

Call 874-7405 for a FREE home inspection.

Other Educational Links:

• Free Drug Booklet
• Crime Prevention Tips

 

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