By following these simple guidelines, you will help reduce the amount of criminal activities within your neighborhood and business complex.

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1 Livermore Police Department Chief of Police: Steve Sweeney Crime Prevention Specialist: Nichole Aguon Editor: Rich Spivey Spring 2011 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design! Reducing and preventing crime isn t always in the minds of most people on a daily basis, but there are a few simple improvements you can make to help prevent loss. The concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) has been adapted by many neighborhoods, businesses, law enforcement and private industries to reduce the amount of opportunities for criminal activity. The premise of CPTED is that proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear of crime and incidence of crime, and to an improvement in quality of life National Crime Prevention Institute. Here are four ways to prevent crime in your home or business through simple environmental design: Natural Surveillance Territorial Reinforcement National Access Control Target Hardening

2 Natural Surveillance: Trim bushes and trees so that you maximize your visibility. Have a maintenance plan in place to keep sight lines clear. Clear your windows and view from clutter. It allows you to see your surroundings, in turn, discouraging would-be thieves. Natural Access Control Structure elements around your home or business to deny access to private areas. Clearly marked signs will help direct people and traffic flow. Address numbers should be clearly visible from the street. Territorial Reinforcement Create eye-pleasing boundaries by using planters and fencing. Motion sensor lighting will alert entrants that you are aware of access to your property. Pathways and sidewalks should be illuminated to the point where pedestrians faces can be seen up to 20 yards away. Target Hardening Secure your doors, windows, and fencing with locks. Exterior door hinges allow easy removal it is recommended to have them replaced with interior door hinges. By following these simple guidelines, you will help reduce the amount of criminal activities within your neighborhood and business complex. The Watchdog News Spring Page 2

3 The next time you drive down your street, take note of how many garage doors are open. Perhaps the homeowner just got home and is unloading groceries from the car, maybe they got home a couple of hours ago and simply forgot to close the door, or they are dropping off the kids at an activity and will be gone for just a few minutes. What should you do? Do you simply mind your own business and continue on your merry way? Or do you notify your neighbor or the homeowner? Unfortunately, it only takes a few minutes, if not seconds, for someone to walk into the garage and take whatever might appeal to them. Remember that by leaving the garage door open, you may be providing direct access to your home and other belongings. Please pay attention to your garage door and close it when you leave. If your neighbor forgot to close his, then let him know. A good dead goes a long way. Spring is here. It s time to take that bike out for a trip and enjoy the warm, sunny day, but don t let safety take a back seat. The Watchdog News Spring Page 3

4 The most common cycling accidents involve colliding with a car or another bicycle; loss of control; entangling hands, feet, or clothing in the bicycle, or feet slipping off the pedals. Bicycle riders of all age groups and levels of experience need to be concerned about safety. To ensure injury-free cycling for everyone, please follow these bicycle safety tips: Always wear a helmet. Make sure it fits snugly and does not obstruct your vision. Ensure that the bicycle is the proper size for the rider. Consider using training wheels for young and first-time riders. Ensure your bicycle is property adjusted and well maintained. Replace broken or missing parts. Wear bright fluorescent colors and avoid biking at night. If you have to ride your bide at night, make sure you have rear reflectors and a working headlight visible from 500 feet away. Stay alert and watch for obstacles in your path. Ride with traffic and be aware of traffic around you. Obey all rules of the road bicycles are vehicles too. Wear knee, wrist and elbow pads to protect the bones and joints when falling. Playground Safety Tips The emergence of warm weather will send children flocking to local playgrounds in droves, and hospitals may see a surge in playground-related injuries. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries each year and approximately 15 will die. But there are things parents can do to keep kids safe at the park Make sure that children wear the appropriate safety gear when riding bicycles and roller skating (helmets, knee-pads, etc.). Avoid letting children wear drawstrings, hoods and loose-fitting clothes around the head and neck area, as these items elevate the risks of strangulation if they are accidentally caught on play structures. Always provide close supervision to children when they are on the playground. Make sure children are only allowed to use age-appropriate play equipment. Parents should report any visible hazards to the agency that is responsible for properly maintaining the park and playground structures

5 Parents should avoid letting children wear shoes with sling-backs or open toes. Tennis shoes with slip-proof bottoms are a better choice. Make sure that all play equipment is in good repair, and anchored safely to the ground. Since most playground injuries occur as a result of falls to the surface, parents should make sure the ground is covered with materials that will cushion a fall such as mulch, sand or rubber before allowing children to play. Public sandboxes can be a breeding ground for hazards and bacteria, so it s best if children are not allowed to play in them. Playground structures are riddled with germs, so it s imperative that children wash their hands after using play equipment especially before eating. Keeping kids safe on the playground includes protecting them from the sun s damaging rays. Children should dress in light colored clothing and all exposed areas of the skin should be covered with sunscreen. Don t let children play in areas where visible hazards are present (broken glass, excessive amounts of trash, needles, stray animals, etc.). Maintaining a Neighborhood Watch Program After your Neighborhood Watch is established, be sure everyone understands and observes the following guidelines: Be alert to unusual or suspicious behavior in your neighborhood. Call the Livermore Police Department if necessary. Write down descriptions of suspicious person(s) and license numbers; Tell a trusted neighbor if your house will be unoccupied for an extended period. Tell him or her how to reach you in an emergency; Look after your neighbor s homes when they are away and ask them to look after yours. This includes picking up mail, newspapers and storing trashcans or recycling bins. Don t send a message that says, "No One Is Home;" The Watchdog News Spring Page 5

6 Attend Neighborhood Watch meetings often. Your Livermore Police Department crime prevention officer will teach you about local crime trends and what you can do about them; Above all, stay involved. It is the most effective way to reduce or prevent crime and make your neighborhood safe; and Remember your job is to report crime. The responsibility for apprehending criminals belongs to the police. Reporting Crime Eyewitness information is the key to solving many crimes. The following tips will assist you when reporting crime to the Livermore Police Department. Call immediately. A five-minute delay can reduce the chance of catching criminals. Tell the Livermore Police Department as much as you can. No fact is too trivial. In many cases, what victims and witnesses tell the police about the criminal that results in an arrest. You may be asked the following when reporting a crime: Who, What, When, and Where? How many suspects were there? Can you describe the suspect(s)? Can you describe their vehicle(s)? What was/were the license plate number(s)? What did they do? What did they say? What did they take? Which way did they go? Due to limited resources and personnel or a heavy emergency call load, the Livermore Police Department may not be able to respond immediately. They have to prioritize their responses based on apparent danger to human life. Don t be discouraged. They will get to you as soon as possible. Do not attempt to stop or detain the suspect(s) yourself. What is Suspicious? Anything that seems even slightly "out of place" or is occurring at an unusual time of day or night could be criminal activity. The following are some obvious things to watch for: A stranger entering your neighbor s house when it is unoccupied; A scream heard anywhere might mean robbery or assault; Offers of merchandise at ridiculously low prices may mean stolen property; Anyone removing accessories, license plates, or gas from a vehicle should be reported; Anyone peering into parked vehicles may be looking for a vehicle to steal or for valuables left in the vehicle; Persons entering or leaving a place of business after hours; A sound of breaking glass or loud explosive noises could mean an accident, burglary or vandalism; The Watchdog News Spring Page 6

7 Persons loitering around schools, parks and secluded areas could be sex offenders; Persons loitering in the neighborhood who do not live there; and Anyone forcing entry to, or tampering with a residence, business, or vehicle should be reported. Things to Watch Out For That Are Not So Obvious: Strangers and solicitors. Verify the employment of all solicitors, meter readers and repair personnel prior to allowing them entry into your home. This can be done by obtaining the employer s number from the telephone book or by contacting directory assistance. Never take a telephone number offered by a suspicious person. Be suspicious of alleged delivery personnel with a wrong address or asking if someone lives there. Someone carrying property. If it s at an unusual hour, unusual place, or if the property is not wrapped as if just purchased. Someone going door-to-door in your neighborhood. Watch for awhile. If after a few houses are visited, one or more persons tries a door to see if it is locked, looks into windows, or goes into a back or side yard, it could be a burglar. Call Livermore Police Department immediately; don t wait for the person to leave. Traffic to and from a certain residence. It is not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily basis or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours. Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive in any location. Particularly in areas of schools, parks and playgrounds. Occupants may be looking for places to rob or burglarize, or they could be drug pushers or sex offenders. Parked vehicles containing one or more persons. If it is an unusual hour they could be lookouts for a burglary in progress. An abandoned vehicle parked on your block. May be a stolen vehicle. Continuous repair operations at non-business locations. It could mean stolen property is being stripped, repainted, or otherwise altered. Persons making a quick change of vehicles. May be attempting to elude the police or abandoning a stolen vehicle. One or more juveniles walking through the neighborhood looking into automobiles or backyards. Any person taking a shortcut through a backyard. The Watchdog News Spring Page 7

8 Fireworks are illegal in Livermore!! The City of Livermore s current fireworks law states anyone caught using, selling or possessing fireworks in Livermore could be fined up to $500 or imprisoned up to 30 days. Fireworks will be seized by police at the owner s expense In 2011 the City of Livermore does not plan on having any fireworks displays! National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen our communities by encouraging neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with each other and with their local law enforcement partners. The goal is to heighten crime-prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs, and most importantly, send a message that our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. It s also the perfect opportunity to get to know your neighbors even better. See you there. August 2nd, 2011 For more information visit nationalnightout.org or to reserve a time slot contact RSpivey@cityoflivermore.net or NAguon@cityoflivermore.net KEEP THESE NUMBERS HANDY Graffiti Hotline Abandon Vehicles Neighborhood Preservation Crime Tip Hot Line City of Livermore s new website: The Watchdog News Spring Page 8