Bill Bickel’s Crimeweek

Press release from the National Crime Prevention Council:

Holiday Shopping at the Stores

• Enjoy the decorations and merchandise, but stay alert.   Always be aware of what is going on around you.
• Don’t leave packages visible through car windows; lock them in the trunk or if possible take them directly home.
• When carrying your purchases, don’t overburden yourself so that you would not be able to react quickly and easily if you need to.
• Take only what you need in purse or wallet, and keep a tight hold on it. Carry purse closed and snugly against your body; carry your wallet in a front pocket or coat pocket.
• File receipts in your wallet immediately; identity thieves can get important personal information from them.

When Shopping Online

• Beware of “bargains” from companies you are unfamiliar with—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

• Shop with companies you know; make sure the site uses a secure connection for purchases.
• Keep your personal information private and your password secure.   Do not respond to requests to “verify” your password or credit card information unless you ask for it—credible retailers should already have that information!

Press release from the National Crime Prevention Council:

As the summer heat fades to memory and the leaves begin to fall, children of all ages will file back to school all across America. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) wants to ensure that our children return to a safe environment so that they may learn, thrive, and succeed. The influence of drugs and violence in America’s schools is on the rise, and administrators, faculty, parents, and even students are struggling to counter the problem effectively. School safety is an achievable goal, but one that will require the combined efforts of faculty and staff, parents, and students. NCPC offers some tips to these groups on how to improve safety in the schools.

School Staff

* Objectively evaluate the school’s safety and set targets for improvement.
* Develop effective security procedures and consistent disciplinary policies.
* Be open to and encourage student-led solutions
* Work with parents, students, law enforcement, local government and people from the community to address larger safety issues.

Parents

* Know where your children are, what they are doing, and whom they are with at all times.
* Ask your children about what goes on during the day and really listen to the answer.
* Become involved in school activities by joining the PTA, attending field trips, and helping out in the classroom.

Students

* Learn effective ways of settling arguments. Help start a conflict mediation program if there isn’t one already.
* Be willing to report crimes or suspicious activities and learn how to do so.
* Get out and get involved. Work on antiviolence activities, clean up graffiti, and get others involved in community service.

Only through the cooperation and dedication of all the parties involved will America’s students have the safe learning environments that they truly deserve.

Press release from the National Crime Prevention Council:

In view of the breakup of a global identity theft ring and the arrest of its members, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is advising consumers to take extra precautions to protect their personal information.

From data breaches to phishing scams, thieves are targeting your money and you need to be prepared. NCPC, the nonprofit home of McGruff the Crime Dog, says you can fight back with eight simple steps.

• Lock up your personal information—tax information, previous tax returns, bank statements, and unpaid bills—even at home.
• Don’t fall for scams—A legitimate business will not ask you to verify personal information via email. If you receive an email from a business or institution with whom you do business, call their customer service line—don’t use the phone number included in the suspect email.
• Don’t respond to requests to verify personal information unless you initiated the contact with a legitimate business or financial institution.
• Destroy or shred documents that you don’t need to keep for long periods. Documents such as phone bills, credit card receipts, and mail-order catalogs all hold valuable information tied to your identity.
• Carefully review your mail. Check monthly credit card and bank statements for unfamiliar transactions.
• Check your credit report—The law entitles you to at least one free report a year from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experion, and Trans Union).
• Report suspicious activity right away—Alert any one of the three major credit bureaus to the possible fraud, close the account you think has been compromised, file a police report in case you need to provide proof of the crime, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
• Retrieve your mail from your mailbox promptly. Consider using direct deposit as an alternative to receiving a mailed check. Ask the post office to hold your mail if you are going away on travel.

For more information about how to protect what matters to you, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s website at www.ncpc.org.

Press release from the National Crime Prevention Council:

In the heat of the summer, many kids spend their days unsupervised while their caregivers are out of the house. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) recognizes that gang activity and crimes committed by youth are most prevalent during this time of year. This new publication from NCPC is intended to help parents and guardians talk with their children to reduce the risk that they will join a gang.

Smart and Safe With McGruff®, is an activity book that parents and guardians can use to teach children to make smart choices and to stay safe and healthy. It is geared towards children seven to ten years old. Its interactive approach helps educate caregivers about their kids as well. Activities that parents and guardians complete with their children will generate conversations about children’s experiences with friends, school, and their neighborhood.

According to the most recent survey from the National Youth Gang Center, in 2004 some 760,000 gang members and 24,000 gangs were active in more than 2,900 jurisdictions in all 50 states. Since most gang members join between the ages of 12 and 15, it is imperative that caregivers talk to their children about the dangers of gangs and help empower them to make smart decisions at a young age.

As children grow older, they tend to spend even more time unsupervised, especially in summer. In 2006, a study of over 600 California 12-17 year-olds by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time found that kids left unsupervised three or more days per week were twice as likely to hang out with gang members and three times likely to be engaged in criminal behavior.

Parents cannot spend every second watching over their children, but they can find comfort in knowing that by taking the time to talk to them, they can give them the information they need to take care of themselves and lead a safe and healthy life. Coversations with a young child can lead a teen to make wise decisions.

For more information about gang prevention or ordering this new resource, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s website at www.ncpc.org.

Press release from the National Crime Prevention Council

Every year thousands of Americans celebrate Memorial Day weekend by traveling to a favorite vacation spot. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) suggests you take advantage of the three-day weekend without letting anyone take advantage of you.

NCPC has a few quick safety tips.

Gas Station Theft

• Pick gas stations that are well-lighted and have pump video-surveillance cameras.
• Always remove your keys and lock the car doors while you are pumping gas.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Keep valuables out of plain view in your vehicle and lock the doors even if you are going inside for just a moment.

Secure Your Home

• Lock all windows and doors before leaving town.
• Use automatic timers on a few lights to give the impression that someone is home.
• Ask the post office to hold your mail or ask a trusted friend or neighbor to collect it while you are away.
• Use motion-detection lights outside and trim hedges to reduce potential hiding places for burglars.

Travel Safety

• Never leave your hotel room unlocked, even to go to the ice or vending machine.
• Check all the locks in your room. Each door and window should have a sturdy key lock and a well-constructed deadbolt.
• Never open the door to someone you don’t know well or trust.
• Take only the credit and other cards you will absolutely need. Leave the others at home, safely stored.

For more information and tips on travel safety, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s website at www.ncpc.org. To schedule an interview, please contact Michelle Boykins at 202-261-4184 or mboykins@ncpc.org or Nicole Nasiatka at 202-261-4123 or nnasiatka@ncpc.org.

From an advisory by the Washington Metropolitan Police Department and the National Crime Prevention Council:

“Gas stations provide criminals with a unique setting to catch their victims off guard. Many customers leave their car doors unlocked and their valuables in plain view while pumping gasoline and purchasing additional items inside, allowing thieves the few seconds they need to grab the valuable contents of the car and take off…

Thefts committed at gas stations are on the rise across the [Washington DC] region. The number of thefts from autos at gas stations rose from 89 in 2006 to 427 in 2007, a 380 percent increase in just one year. Stolen autos from gas stations also showed a rise of 93 percent from 2006 to 2007.”

Identity theft prevention tip from the National Crime Prevention Council: “Cancel all credit cards that have not been used in the last six months. Open credit is a prime target for thieves.”