Crime Report and Patch article and Speeding on our Streets

Greetings all!

I hope you are doing well during these cold mornings, but beautiful sunny days. Just wanted to send out the most recent crime report map, and share a great article from last year that covers a lot of helpful information, and shows that the problems we face in our neighborhoods today have been around for a bit. The Fair-Oaks/Carmichael Patch, a neighborhood oriented online news media site, shared their insights from a Sheriff's Meeting from January of 2011, and much of this information is what you can hear at the recent meetings.

http://fairoaks-carmichael.patch.com/articles/sacramento-county-sheriffs-department-wants-your-input

The Return of the Neighborhood Sheriff Center

Our local POP Officer, Officer Peyton, is aware of some of our hyper-local issues, such as transients in the park, and concerns over suspicious activity at certain houses, and is an excellent ally for us in working on long term issues in our neighborhood. We appreciate his, and other sheriff's department personnel's help, and have even heard that the new proposed regional neighborhood offshoot of the Sheriff's North Division will be located in the shopping center at Winding Way and Dewey. As we have reported before, they will definitely be looking for volunteers from the community to help staff the center, so please contact the North Division for volunteer opportunities.

Speeding in the Neighborhood

One of the concerns many neighbors have voiced is speeding on our local streets, particularly Jan Drive. It's important to contact CHP regarding speeding. Here is the contact info:


Contact the California Highway Patrol at:
    NORTH SACRAMENTO CHP
    5109 Tyler Street
    Sacramento 95841-2583
    916-338-6710

Another topic that comes up naturally with the discussion of speeding in the neighborhood is speed bumps or the addition of Stop signs in certain areas.This is content from the County of Sacramento Neighborhood Services website:

A petition signed by ten households on your street is required for speed bump requests. Stop signs require evaluation by a Traffic Investigator from the Traffic Engineering Division before work can be done. View more information at www.sacdot.com.



Information about speed bumps taken from the Sacdot website: http://www.sacdot.com/Pages/SpeedBumps.aspx

Transportation > Speed Bumps

What are Speed Bumps? Speed bumps are 12 foot wide by 3 inch high asphalt undulations which are usually placed across roadways between intersections.  They are requested by residents as a means to slow down traffic in residential neighborhoods.
	Benefits Speed Bumps may: Reduce traffic speeds in the immediate vicinity of the speed bumps. Decrease traffic volume.
	Drawbacks  Speed Bumps may: Present a potential hazard to bicyclists and motorcyclists. Increase response time of emergency vehicles where seconds may be critical. Increase noise level due to vehicle brakes, tires and engine. Increase vehicle emissions due to deceleration and acceleration. Conflict with school and transit bus operation. Provide an attractive nuisance. Divert traffic to other neighborhood streets.
CONTACT INFORMATION To make inquiries regarding installation of new speed bumps in Sacramento County, contact: Customer Service4100 Traffic Way, Sacramento, CA 95827 Phone: 916-875-5171 Fax: 916-875-5587

VIPS (Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff)

Just wanted to share a really cool program our Sheriff's Department has had in place since 1993, the Volunteers in Partnership with the Sheriff Program. Just to borrow a little info from the Sheriff's Depts. website, http://www.sacsheriff.com/organization/field_&_investigative_services/field_services_bureau/volunteer_services/vips.cfm

 Effective crime prevention requires the support of a partnership between the Sheriff’s Department and our community.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department is proud to have a volunteer work force that helps form that partnership, and works with the department to improve the quality of life for the residents of Sacramento County.

Applicant Requirements:

1. Must be at least 18 years of age
2. Have a valid California driver’s license or I.D. Card
3. Possess a clear criminal history
4. Pass a required background investigation
5. Ability to work 16 hours a month (Preferably volunteering 1-2 days a week with a 4-6 hour commitment each volunteer day)
6. Complete the department orientation and all required training
7. Have a good moral character and reputation
8. Must be able to demonstrate good judgment
9. Have the desire to assist your community

Our volunteers are currently assisting in the following programs:

Community Partnerships:  Neighborhood Crime Watch, Business Crime Watch, Special Events, Safety Fairs
Investigations:  Missing person follow up, special projects, graffiti abatement
Clerical Support: Computer data entry, filing
Service Center:  Customer Service, to include citizen walk in and phone contacts, crime report writing, fingerprinting children, community events
Volunteer Patrol:  Neighborhood patrol, vacation checks, illegal sign abatement and directed patrol requests

You can download an application to participate in this program from their website, and if you are interested in having the Volunteer Patrol check on your house while you are on vacation, contact the Sheriff Department for the official form, but here is a large jpeg to give you an idea of what to ask for. You can also contact Carmen or Olivia for copies of this form.

Hold on though...

Remember, part of Neighborhood Watch groups process is to encourage neighbors to communicate and share with each other when you may be out of town, ask your neighbors to help watch your house, pick up the paper/mail, etc. so please do communicate with your street group and let your neighbors know if they can expect volunteers to be also on the lookout. We definitely want people to utilize all the programs they want to, we just hope that we keep communication pathways open and really take advantage of what Neighborhood Watch can really do. This might also be an excellent little form you might want to use to share with your immediate neighbors that you trust, as a reminder of all sorts of pertinent information.

Reminder about the Carmichael Sheriffs meeting tomorrow night

Hi folks,

Just a reminder that tomorrow, January 15th at 6 pm there will be a meeting at Del Campo High School Library for the Community meetings with the Sacramento Sheriffs Dept. Our local POP officer, Officer Peyton will be there to connect with concerned citizens, and to give us updates on their ongoing efforts to provide everyone with a safe community. Hope to see you there!


Location of Del Campo High School
4925 Dewey Drive



View Larger Map

Lost dog looking to go home

Just thought I would post this here since many of you are not members of the BHNA and this is  certainly helpful information to spread around and see if we can't get a little dog home tonight.

Reported from the BHNA:

A neighbor found a black lab with  grey fur on his face, wandering around Jan Dr. & Valor.  He has a black doggie color on with white paw prints.  He sure looks lonely and wants to go home.  If you have any information about this dog please email me. 

UPDATE:

The owners came looking for their pup right outside our door! We were extremely lucky enough to pair up a searching dog parent with the BHNA member who sent out this notice, and get a dog friend home to his family tonight. 

So glad this turned out so well!

Excellent response by Sheriff's Dept recently. Many many thanks!

Just wanted to give a major shout out to our hardworking Sacramento Sheriff Officers! Recent calls during the holiday season and regarding entrance into the park at night has been met with a very rapid and strong response. They've certainly helped me feel much safer in my neighborhood, and very assured that Neighborhood Watch works. So if you see an officer around, give them a wave and a thank you from the Lincoln- Barrett Hills Neighborhood Watch Association.

Crime Report 1/7/13/ Neighborhood Alert/Vehicle Theft Stats

You can check this out for yourself at https://www.crimereports.com/ and don't forgot that you can download a free app for your smartphone for easier access and can even download an app for submitting anonymous tips to law enforcement agencies. These apps have been suggested by the Sacramento Sheriff's Dept. social media team and they invite you to "like" their facebook page, and follow them on twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/SacSheriff?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/sacsheriff

http://www.tipsoft.com/index.asp?P=WebTips

Neighborhood Alert

This report (we have made sure not to share personal details) was received from one of our local neighborhood watch street coordinators.

I received an email from a neighbor on Jan Drive stating that their large box attached to the back of their RV was stolen either Wednesday or Thursday of last week.  This was reported to the deputy sheriff by the neighbor.  Unfortunately the theft probably took place in the wee hours of the night so that while we all slept the thieves helped themselves.

More Info Regarding Vehicle Theft

A little info about vehicle theft from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You can read more details about this report on their website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Vehicle-Related+Theft/Theft+Prevention

A MOTOR VEHICLE IS STOLEN EVERY 33 SECONDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
	DID YOU KNOW? 40-50% of vehicle theft is due to driver error. The top two months for vehicle thefts are July and August. Only about 57% of stolen vehicles are recovered.
	USE COMMON SENSE WHEN PARKING AND EXITING YOUR VEHICLE. Take your key; don't leave it in or on your vehicle. Close and lock all windows and doors when you park. Park in well-lit areas - in a garage, if possible. Never leave valuables in your vehicle, and specially in sight.
	WE ARE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO VEHICLE THEFT. The ten (10) U.S. States with the most stolen vehicles are: 1. California 2. Florida 3. Texas 4. Illinois 5. Georgia 6. Nevada 7. Maryland 8. North Carolina 9. Arizona 10. Missouri / New Jersey
	THIEVES WANT PARTS AND VALUABLE  ITEMS, TOO. Radios and wheel covers aren't the only popular stolen vehicle parts thieves take. They want whatever sells, from the mandated labeled parts to those that aren't. Among some of the most popular parts or items left in vehicles are: engine, transmission, air bags, radios, GPS units, iPods, laptops, and purses.

Newsletter #2 Page 2

Comments/Tips for Loose Dog/Updates/Important Dates

Good morning all and Happy New Year!

I hope you all have had a wonderful, restful holiday season and are ready to start the new year healthy and happy. Let's get down to business, shall we?

More Tips On Avoiding Loose Dog Threats

I wanted to share with you some helpful advice from a neighbor and how she handles security for herself and her dog when she walks on Lincoln.

I read with interest the article about what to do about loose dogs.  As a small-dog walker, I am concerned about encountering unfriendly, loose dogs. As a precaution, I carry in my pocket a small combination flashlight/stun gun.  I believe the noise alone would deter any dog.....or human for that matter.  I walk on Lincoln and feel better with a little self defense with me.  I bought it at the Smoke Shop in the BelAir shopping center at Manzanita and Cypress.

I have also been in contact with  Sacramento County Animal Control and they have suggested to be very careful about considering the use of mace or pepper spray since both can blow back in your's or your dog's face fairly easily. They suggest to carry a pop-up umbrella with you as 1. a noise/movement deterrent or distraction to the charging dog and 2. as a physical object to put between you and the approaching dog. They also suggest carrying a walking stick or using a bag or purse as a shield between you and the oncoming dog. The key is to not trigger a chase or prey response in the attacking dog, since this can often escalate the situation. Looking big, using a deep voice, putting objects between you, protecting vital organs, and carrying something with you like the flashlight/stun gun or a walking stick, can help tremendously.

Neighborhood Watch Coordinators- Newsletters

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Newsletters have been printed in modest amounts and will be delivered starting at 10 a.m. on the January 6th. We could really use your help getting these out to streets not currently being served by a neighborhood watch group, so if you can volunteer to help with passing these out to the needed areas, we would be very grateful. Please contact Olivia to let her know you can help out at olymag at comcast dot net.

This is the map showing areas covered and where we need help passing out newsletters.

Jan Park Watch Update

Just a little thank you to Matt, Som and Rick for getting the Park Watch signs up on the Salmaan and Jan sides of the park, they look great!

Remember- Park Rangers have been assigned at sporadic times to check the park and will ticket for unleashed dogs, not cleaning up after your pet, entry into the park after dark, and other violations. This includes neighbors!

For more information on the county park ordinances, check this link here: http://www.carmichaelpark.com/pdf/Forms&Maps/county%20park%20ordiance.pdf

Adopt-A-Park Workday - Jan Park

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Meet at Jan Park on March 9th at 8:30 a.m. Keeping our park clean is a huge part of keeping it safe and comfortable for use by all of us, and requires more than the daily "walk by and pick it up" behavior I know we all try hard to employ on our every day outings. Please plan to help out for even a little bit-it means a lot to the Carmichael Park & Recreation District to have neighbors take responsibility of their park and be a part of keeping it beautiful. Since we do not collect any dues, we'll do our best to have a small snack and plenty of water to provide for our volunteers- we had close to 10 friends out on our last workday event and the CPRD staff were very grateful. Let's see if we can get 30 volunteers out this time!! :)

Sheriff's Dept Community Meeting - Carmichael

Meet your POP Officer and communicate your concerns, compliments, and recommendations at the Del Campo High School Library at 6:00 p.m. January 15th.

Neighborhood Watch Training for New Groups

To Be Determined (TBD) - Contact Sherrie Carhart for more information at 876-5717