Crime Watch Newsletter May 2008

Police Badge
600 East Walnut
Columbia, MO 65201-4491
573-874-7652/FAX: 573-874-3142

The mission of the
Police Department
is to reduce crime and improve public safety by enforcing the law, solving problems, providing crime prevention education and encouraging citizens to take responsibility for community safety and quality of life.

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New Community Services Unit Supervisor

Hello everyone. I am Sergeant Lloyd Simons and I am the new supervisor of the Community Services Unit. I am looking forward to my new assignment. My fist week made me realize just how many programs and activities the officers of the Community Services Unit offer to the citizens of Columbia. I see our unit as one of the most important in the community. We have a very dynamic unit with many individual talents!

Originally from Sedalia, Missouri, I received a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia College. I started as a Columbia Police officer in 1992 and have been with the department for almost 16 years. My wife, Jennifer, is a stay-at-home mom for our four children: Lilly, Reid, Gage, and Aubrey. I enjoy family time, hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities.

I am available weekdays and can be reached in person here at the Police Department or by phone at 874-7606. I am looking forward to meeting all the representatives we work with everyday. If there is any thing I can help you with, don’t hesitate to call!

Yard Work Alert!

How much should you pay for mulch? What about having a tree cut down? How much should a business charge you to mow your yard?

Always get a written estimate and compare it to one or two other written estimates prior to having work done on your home or your lawn and property. Some victims are scammed out of thousands of dollars for yard materials or labor that should cost mere hundreds, or even less. Just because someone has a business name, a flier, or an advertisement, doesn't mean they are necessarily reputable.

Please keep an eye on your neighbors who are senior citizens. Disreputable people, as well as criminals, may prey on them for these types of services.

Don't Give Up Personal Information

If someone called you, or your mother or grandmother, and said that your tax refund or "Economic Stimulus Check" or Social Security check was being delayed because you needed to update your account number, and they knew exactly where you banked, would you give it to them?

Criminals know that this is the time of the year for this type of scam to be successful. Many of us are anxiously watching our mailboxes, or waiting for the direct deposits to our accounts. These phone calls and e-mails are occurring now in the community. Please be on the alert.

From www.irs.gov:

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The IRS does not initiate taxpayer communications through e-mail. Get your tax information at IRS.gov, the only Web site sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service."

You can view samples of "phishing" e-mails at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/phishing email.pdf and
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/phishing email2.pdf

Vacation Crime Prevention Tips

Before Leaving … Secure Your Residence

Summer is a time of year that many families go on vacation. You can make each trip more enjoyable and carefree if you take a few simple steps to reduce the possibility of your house being burglarized or vandalized while you are gone. A vacant house, or one that appears to be unoccupied, is an appealing target for a burglar.

Make sure all locks on the doors and windows function properly and use them.
Give your house a lived-in appearance. Put automatic timers on several lights, a radio and a television. Set the timers so the lights and appliances will turn on and off at random times.
Leave shades and blinds in a position you would normally leave them.
Arrange for a neighbor to pick up mail, newspapers, and any other packages. Ask your neighbor to use your driveway and garbage cans while you are away.
Make sure smoke and burglar alarms function properly and are armed.
Turn the ringer on your telephone down low or off and do not leave your lights on 24 hours a day.
Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to watch over your property while you are gone and leave emergency contact information with them.
Leave a normal message on your answering machine and avoid discussing your vacation plans in public.
Contact the Columbia Police Department at 442-6131 or 874-7652 and request a vacation "watch in passing". Officers will be made aware that you are not home and will drive by the area more frequently.

Watch for a new Crime Watch newsletter to be posted in July. In it we will discuss tips to safeguard the property you take on the road to your vacation destination.

Columbia Police officer Jay Bramblett talks with City Manager Bill Watkins at Red Lobster fund raising event for Special Olympics Missouri.

Special Olympics Missouri

It's the time of year when the Columbia Police Department is very busy with our fund raising activities related to Special Olympics Missouri. As many of you know, Special Olympics Missouri is our charity of choice. We have had a relationship with SOMO for the past 22 years.

On February 2 we held the 1st Annual Polar Bear Plunge at Stephens Lake. Yes, people donate money to jump into an ice cold lake! We raised over $30,000. A special thanks goes to Officer Jason McClintic and the Special Olympics staff for lots of hard work.

In April we held our 14th Annual "Tip-a-Cop" fund raiser at Red Lobster and raised over $3,700. On May 2 we will hold our 13th Annual Trivia Night at the Cosmo Club building. Tuesday, May 27 we will hold our Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run, running from Columbia to Jefferson City. In addition, we are always selling T-shirts and hats for SOMO. For more information contact Brenda Douglas at 874-7691.

Thanks for all your support in helping us raise funds for our athletes.

CrimeWatch

Crime Watch is published bimonthly for Neighborhood Watch by the Columbia Police Department, 600 E. Walnut, Columbia, MO 65201 (573-874-7658). Columbia Neighborhood Watch is a citizen group whose aim is to reduce crime in Columbia.

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