Crime Report 11/25/12

Good morning and Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the beautiful sunshine while enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends, it's been beautiful lately! Just getting out the weekly update for the crimereports.com page (you can check this out anytime at www.crimereports.com) and wanted to let you all know that if you have a smart phone, there are even easier ways to stay up to date with what is going on in the area as well as send in an anonymous tip to local law enforcement for graffiti, vandalism, and other non-violent crimes not in progress.

The crime reports iPhone app can be found within the App Store at Apple.com for free or you can download it from this link https://www.crimereports.com/home/iphone_app

The tip submit app is available for Androids and iPhones at this link http://www.tipsoft.com/index.asp?P=TipSubmitMobile

This information was shared with the crowd at the recent Sheriff's meeting at Del Campo High along with a lot more information about the goings on in the area. Come out for the next meetings after the new year to meet your POP officer and interact with fellow neighbors :)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED BY SHERIFF'S DEPT FOR SERVICE CENTER

The Sheriff's Dept. also recognizes the great need in our area to reopen the Sheriff's Service Center that was located in the Raley's Shopping Center on Manzanita, and are still working to find ways to make it work within their extremely restricted budget. Location has not been determined (they may have another nearby business spot that would offer them cheaper rent for a space), but in order for the Service Center to be able to reopen, they will need to rely very heavily on public volunteers to help answer phones, handle paperwork, and direct people who use the Center to the proper source of information to help their needs. If you are interested in volunteering (I believe there may be a minimum hours/week you can volunteer for) please contact Sherrie Carhart at 876-5700 or by email at scarhart@sacsheriff.com.

Newsletter Update

Olivia has been hard at work putting together an informative newsletter to get out to the neighborhood and I must admit, I think I'm the lagging end of this string :) We will do our best to get a newsletter completed and printed in the next few weeks, well before Christmas, and would appreciate help in distributing newsletters to streets where there we don't yet have Neighborhood Watch groups in effect. Please contact either one of us if you can help out.

Wishing you all an excellent and safe week!

Crime Report 11/19/2012

How to Keep Informed!

Just wanted to point out to those of you who visit our little blog that you can sign up on the right sidebar at the top to receive updates via your email or an RSS news feed, depending on your preference. This way you can keep track of what's going on here without having to remember to constantly check back with us.
***Just for piece of mind about your privacy, If you choose to follow this blog using RSS feed or email, I do not have access to your email address, IP address, etc.and cannot tell who is following the blog or not from these methods.***

I also wanted to point out two very helpful apps if you have a smartphone that was shared during the recent Sheriff's meeting at Del Campo High School. If you have a smartphone or tablet, check out CrimeReports app and the TipSubmit app that will allow you to check the local crime statistics anytime and even submit an anonymous tip to local law enforcement right from your phone without having to talk to anyone! Definitely do not use the Tip Submit service when reporting crimes in progress, but it's an excellent resource if you see graffiti or drug oriented behavior while out and about.

Wishing you all a dry, warm, and safe rest of your evening.

Good news on the SMUD solicitor

Greetings,

We have good news about the solicitor reported previously by a neighbor, suggesting he was from SMUD. Another neighbor called SMUD for more clarification and it turns out the young man was from a legitimate business that has an association with SMUD, however he should not have characterized himself as an employee of SMUD. I think it's a great sign that we are alert, aware, and cautious about who comes into our neighborhood-thank you all for being good community members!

Neighborhood Watch Report from a Neighbor-Watch For Solicitors!

Greetings all,

This is a report from one of our local  NW members who wanted to share this with other neighbors to remind everyone that people are out there who will misrepresent themselves to try and gain access and information about your house. Please remember to:

1.  Never let anyone in your home without checking to make sure they work for the company they say they are from (SMUD, PG&E, AT&T, etc) f you experience any suspicious behavior from a solicitor at your door.
2. Never give private information about yourself or your neighbors to others at your door or over the phone unless you know them well.
3. Call the Sheriff's Dept. if you witness any suspicious behavior within your neighborhood.
4. Always trust your instincts and don't be afraid to be communicate in a direct and commanding method to strangers you do not trust. 

Reported November 14, 2012

This afternoon we had a young man come to our door (first rang doorbell then pounded on door).  He wanted to basically do an energy audit.  He is young, wearing a laminated badge that has the BBB symbol on it with a SMUD lanyard. He said that SMUD had sent him.   I told him no thank you and he made some small talk and moved on to the next house.  My neighbor across the street just came over and told me that the same guy came to her house and during his talk with her he said that all the people are so friendly in the neighborhood, offering him water etc.  He then asked if he could use her bathroom.  She said no and closed the door.

After he left she called SMUD and talked to their security supervisor Michael Boggs, he said that they had not sent anyone out to do energy audits.  If we ever have someone show up at our door claiming SMUD sent them, we should call him to report it.  He suggested that we send the number to our neighborhood watch people and let them know to call him if they have someone claiming to be sent by SMUD and we suspect they are not from SMUD.  Michael Boggs number is 916-732-5900.

Our concern is that this young man may have been casing the neighborhood.

News to Share

Good morning all!

Just wanted to quickly share with you all that the Stoney/Slate NW group is now active and are ready to put their signs up very soon. Congrats to another group in our area getting organized and getting active! You can keep up to date on a specific street groups status by checking their page on the left sidebar of this blog. Which leads to...

Attention Coordinators!!

Please share with me anything you would like posted to your NW groups individual page or as a general blog post anytime. I would love to have coordinators contact information (at least names) available on each street groups page, and post any important dates for meetings, etc on the blog for easier access. If you would like to be an editor of the blog, have suggestions for our upcoming newsletter, or have any questions, please contact Carmen Hirkala at ecobatt@att.net

Sheriff's Meeting Tonight!

Come out to Del Campo High School's library this evening at 6:30 p.m. and meet our local POP (Problem Oriented Policing) officer, and share your concerns with the local community. Call Sherrie Carhart, Crime Prevention Specialist (876-5700) with any questions.

Holiday Reminders

Last, but not least, please remember if you are going out of town this holiday season to have a plan in place to keep your house safe. Share your whereabouts with your NW street group coordinator and neighbors, have neighbors check on your house for you, have your mail/newspaper held for you or picked up by family/friends/neighbors, timer your indoor and outdoor lighting, secure all your entryways, and take care when packing to be aware of your surroundings for suspicious behavior.

Here are a few links to websites that will give you further tips to keep you and your family safe and help prevent crime during the hustle and bustle of the holidays:

http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/police/media/holiday_crimeprev.html

http://www.elkgrovepd.org/prevention/printables/holiday.pdf

http://www.lapdonline.org/crime_prevention/content_basic_view/1376



Veterans Day

Finally, thank you so much to the men and women in our neighborhood who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Your sacrifices are so appreciated by all those you protect and serve. We honor your bravery and hope you had a great Veteran's Day.

Crime Report 11/9/12 and Newsletter and Park Watch

Greetings all! Remember you can access the crime report for our area at crimereports.com or follow the link on the left side of this blog anytime to see the latest reports to the Sacramento County Sheriff's office, Sacramento Police Department, and Highway Patrol.

Newsletter Contributions 
We are also looking to coordinators to give us any information they would like to share on the next newsletter, and asking if there is anything anyone would like to see more of, or learn more about, so that we can provide the information you all care about most! If you would like to be a contributor or help volunteer with the editing and dispersement of newsletters, please do let Olivia or Carmen know-we'd love your help! Please leave a comment here or email Carmen at ecobatt att att dot net to let us know any concerns or questions you may have, and tell us what you want to read about!

Park Watch
Also a good reminder to please keep us up to date on any disturbances or violations you report in Jan Park. We are continuing to keep notes on suspicious behavior, calls made to the Sheriff's Dept., and other concerns on our Jan Park Incidence Report page, you can find a link to here on the left sidebar of the blog.

Rangers were out to enforce the "No Entry After Dark" rule on the park on 10/27/2012, thanks to Keith Maddison of the Carmichael Parks and Recreation District. Thank you Keith!

Remember- Dog Leash Laws are in effect throughout the park, so please keep your dogs and your neighbors safe by always having your dog on a leash.


One more reminder that there is a Sheriff's meeting where you can meet your POP officer in charge of this area, and learn more about what the Sheriff's Dept. is doing on November 13th at 6;30 p.m. at Del Campo High School. Contact Sherrie Carhart 2500 Marconi Avenue, Sacramento , CA   95821

(916) 876-5700  scarhart@sacsheriff.com with any questions you may have.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend and an excellent Veteran's Day!