CRIMEWATCH Newsletter

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 Organizational Plan Begins

Sunday, January 27, marked the first day of the newly reorganized Patrol Division at the Columbia Police Department. The two new patrol Lieutenants serve as Watch Commanders for fire 10-hour shifts. The shifts overlap to provide additional officers during busier times of the day. The new plan also allows officers to work at all times with their direct supervisor. Additionally, it provides the officers time to train on-duty rather than on their scheduled days off as was the case in the past.

Along with these changes the beat plan was re-evaluated and adjustments were made. The department is confident these changes will provide better coverage of the beats throughout the day

Risking Fridged Waters For A Good Cause

On February 2, 2008, the Columbia Police Department and the local Special Olympics officer co-sponsored Columbia's 1st Annual Polar Bear Plunge. This event took place at the swim beach at Stephens Lake at Old Highway 63 and Broadway. The weather was great and the sun was out as the entire park was overrun with spectators, volunteers, and plungers.

With the help of several local businesses, the Columbia Fire Department, Boone Hospital, Parks and Recreation Department, and Cumulus Broadcasting, the event was a huge success. We raised over $32,000 in donations and entry fees, and watched as more than 200 costume-clad participants jumped into the 30 degree frozen lake. This was the biggest, most profitable, first-time event in Missouri Polar Plunge history. All proceeds will go to the Missouri Special Olympics for the statewide games and their athletes.

Thanks to Officer Jason McClintic for organizing this event and to River Mist Spas, Lakota Coffee, RSC Rentals, and Lindsey Rentals for helping make it a great success

Keeping Babysitting Safe

Tips from the National Crime Prevention Council

Whether it's your first job or you're a seasoned "veteran," caring for young children is one of the biggest responsibilities you'll ever have. While watching over the child or children, though, you must protect yourself as well.

Babysit only for people you know, or for whom you have a personal reference.
Leave the name, address and telephone number of where you'll be babysitting with your parents, and tell them what time your employer expects to be back home.
Before the parents leave, fill out the information requested on the form at the end of this article. Keep the form and a pencil and paper near the phone.
Have the parents do a safety check with you throughout their house or apartment. Find out where the emergency exits would be in case of fire. Find out if the house or apartment has a smoke alarm or fire extinguisher.
Know how to work the door and window locks in the house, and lock them.
If the phone rings while you're babysitting, don't tell the caller that you're alone.
Don't open the door to strangers.
When your employer returns home, report on what happened, especially if there was anything you considered unusual.
Call home to let someone know you're on your way.
Be sure you have an escort home; this should be one of the conditions under which you accept any babysitting job.
If, for some reason, your employer won't drive or walk you home - or if he or she seems intoxicated - ask someone at your house to come and get you. Never go home alone at night.
Use this Babysitting Checklist

Warnings About Bank Scams

In January the Attorney General's office released the following warning:

Attorney General Jay Nixon is warning Missourians about a recent wave of attempts to steal bank account information. Nixon has released audio and video public service announcements to get the word out about these scams, which have been reported primarily by consumers in southwest and central Missouri.

Con artists are sending automated phone calls, e-mails and text messages at random in an attempt to get consumers to provide them with their bank account information. These schemes are sometimes referred to as "phishing" or "vishing" scams.

Often the scam message directs consumers to enter their account information on the Web site that appears to be legitimate, but is not. The criminals then use that information to try to make withdrawals from the consumers' accounts.

Nixon said his office has received several hundred phone calls and e-mails in the last week from consumers who have received text messages asking them to enter their account information at a fraudulent Web site. Attorneys and investigators from Nixon's office have been working with financial institution officials to shut down these fraudulent Web sites.

Attorney General Nixon reminds consumers that no financial institution will ever try to obtain information from them in this manner. He also says that consumers should never provide sensitive financial or personal information to anyone, unless the consumer initiates the contact.

Consumers should contact their financial institution immediately if they have provided this information in response to one of these solicitations, and also should contact the Attorney General's Office online or through the Consumer Protection Hotline, 1-800-392-8222.

These e-mails and text messages do not come from your bank. The information was not obtained from your bank. The e-mails and text messages go out to randomly generated addresses and numbers, and sometimes land on a "good" one; maybe yours.
Your bank's on-line banking is not "unsecured" or violated during these incidents.
Your bank works hard with federal agencies to shut down the origin of these texts and e-mails. Often these criminals are overseas.
The best defense against these criminals is education. If you receive a phishing text or e-mail, just delete it. If you want to do something further, report the incident to the State Attorney General's Office.

Crime Recap

Crime Recap by Beat

View a beat map.

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. Board Members: W. Connie Howe, President; Brenda Campbell, Treasurer; James Russell, Secretary; Dan Adams; Susan Clark; Jim Dyer; Richard Gray; and Richard Heimburger

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