“A male in his mid-30′s rang the bell at the home of a dear friend.  The man was dressed as a police officer.  Against instructions, the wonderful babysitter opened the door since she thought it was a policeman.  When she did, he pushed his way in and then ran when he heard the back door and a voice from the back of the house.

He had no car parked in front, had dark hair slicked back, and was close to six feet tall.

The police department asked that she spead the word and warn the neighborhood not to ever open the door to strangers, to report any suspicious activity or person immediately, and call them to confirm that a police offier  should be in the neighborhood.  Call before opening the door.  She said all offices carry their badges with badge numbers and do not mind if you call to confirm.  Certainly, no officer should come in unless someone asks them to.

This is a frightening situation which all of our neighbors need to know about to protect themselves and their kids.  We all need to call in about anything at all that doesn’t seem just right.”

WANG recently co-hosted a Crime and Safety Seminar with the Austin Police Department at the O. Henry Middle School.  The seminar featured APD Chief of Police Art Acevedo as the special guest speaker, including presentations by APD representatives concerning crime prevention, as well as information from local security companies and products for protecting your home.  See highlights and links from the agenda below:

HIGHLIGHTS AND LINKS FROM THE

WEST AUSTIN CRIME AND SAFETY SEMINAR

Website for Austin Police Department with links to all areas:  http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/

Neighborhood Crime Summary, including Central/West Austin:

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/crimeinformation.htm

West Austin Crime BLOG — To report crime or read blogs on activity in West Austin see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/West_Austin_Crime_Reports/

Burglary prevention tips

Burglaries in Austin neighborhoods cost residents over 1.3 million per year in loss of property alone. Most burglaries in your neighborhood are being committed by youths 18 and under. They are not skilled professionals, but they will take advantage of an easy target. Don’t make it easy for them.

1. Install a deadbolt lock.
Deadbolts are usually locked with a key from the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder should be pick resistant. Lock your doors every time you leave the house, even if you’re leaving for just a few minutes during the day. The most popular times for residential burglaries are weekday daylight hours. In over 1/3 of burglaries, there is no forcible entry–someone forgot to lock the doors.

2. Install solid doors.
Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood and at least 1 3/4 inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material and each door must fit its frame securely.

3. Keep garage doors closed and locked.

4. Secure sliding doors and windows.
Cut a broom handle to the length of the bottom track so that the window or door will not slide open when forced. Also, drill one hole through both casings and sliding window and insert a nail or pin.

5. Secure sash windows.
To prevent wooden sash windows from being pried open, drill a downward sloping hole into the top of the bottom window through and into the bottom of the top window and insert a pin or nail.
To prevent aluminum sash windows from being broken into, purchase a track lock that blocks the window track.

6. Mark your property.
Mark your valuables with an engraver. Marking your property serves as a deterrent to would-be burglars and it helps police in identifying and returning stolen property. Make a property identification list. Put warning stickers on doors and windows.

7. Purchase a burglar alarm.
A home alarm system can be a very effective burglary deterrent and fit into many people’s needs. Remember to test your system monthly.

8. Leave a light on.
When leaving on trips, leave a light on in the bathroom. In the bedroom, attach a lamp and radio to a 24-hour electric timer set to go on at dusk and off at your bedtime. Close bedroom drapes or blinds.

9. Use proper exterior lighting.
Place a light over every door. Double cones lights on each corner of the house will also light up windows.

10. Work together with your neighbors.
When you are going to be away, tell trusted neighbors and ask them to watch your property. Have neighbors maintain your yard. When on vacation, have someone cut grass. Shrubbery should not hide neighbors’ view of windows or doors. Have someone pick up newspapers and mail. Tell neighbors to call police if they notice anything suspicious.

back to crime prevention

Neighborhood Watch Block

How to start a neighborhood watch

Participation in a neighborhood watch program can help reduce crime in your area. To be eligible for a neighborhood watch sign, it is preferred that fifty percent of your neighborhood or block must attend one to three meetings where helpful information on personal and property crimes is shared. Tips include how to reduce your chances of being attacked. Contact your neighborhood association president, or the Austin Police Department at 974-4736. Download the Neighborhood Watch Manual (PDF)

“Stranger Danger” video adds to APD arsenal for child safety –>

Watch the MPEG video – low resolution (13.6 Mb .mpg)
This video will generally play in any default multimedia player.

Watch the MPEG video – medium resolution (20.8 Mb .mpg)
This video will generally play in any default multimedia player.
See below for links to multimedia players you may download for free to see the video.

The mission of the Austin Police Department is to make Austin the safest city in America. The following video was created by the Austin Police Department to educate and raise awareness about child safety issues. This video is not intended to alarm or scare children or their families.

To schedule a presentation for a school, church, or civic organization, please call the Austin Police Department Office of Community Liaison at (512) 459-1877. Watch the Real VideoTo view to video in Real Video, you will need the Real Video plug-in for your browser. You may download it for free. If you don’t have the plugin installed, download it prior to clicking on the broadcast link above.

Links to multimedia players you may download for free:

Online Crime Reporting Resources Presentation by Jack Darby — for this presentation please e-mail: (jdlink@yahoo.com)

a)      Krimelabb Citywide Crime Data Plotting Tool –http://www.krimelabb.com

b)      West Austin Crime Listserv — West_Austin_Crime_Reports@yahoogroups.com

c)      Texas DPS Registered Sex Offenders Database — https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Portal/index.aspx

City of Austin Directory (Start with the Public Information Office, (499-2220) if you need help figuring out whom to call.)

Calendars City, AISD, UT and more.

Construction Awareness Information System To obtain information about on-going construction projects that may affect your travel through Central Austin, click here.

Electric Utility (322-9100)

Graffiti Hot Line (473-4125)

Hazardous Waste (499-2111) (batteries, pesticides, paints, solvents, cleansers, etc.)

Health & Human Services Dept.(469-2188)

Oak Wilt information

Parks Department (call 974-6700 to express concerns about park grounds and facilities; Park Police 974-7707)

Potholes (440-8444)

Solid Waste (trash pickup and the reporting of brush piles in public spaces)

Street light problem reporting (505-7617)

Traffic Calming (and the reporting of neighborhood traffic problems)

Utility locator (472-2822) ONE CALL marks your property for underground utility lines you might damage by digging.

Tree Permits and Protection (what are protected trees and permit requirements from Austin’s Green Building Program) (974-1876 Jim Rhoades e-mail)

Trees – Grow Green Program (Native and adapted plant guide) (974-2446 or Kathy Shay e-mail)

Water Conservation (974-2199)

Water and Wastewater (emergency number 972-1000) Austin Police Department – Web Links (Emergencies: 911, Non-emergencies: 311)The following links are to assist you in keeping up with recent Austin Police Department news releases and other information. You can periodically check them for updated information. Crimes reported within the boundaries of neighborhood associations

News/ Press Releases on Events Making the News: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/apd_news.htm

V.I.N. Etching Dates: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/vinetch.htm

APD District Representative for West Austin,
Senior Police Officer Nicole Gray #3466
CWNAC District Representative
Austin Police Department
Central West, North Area Command
512-974-5241 nicole.gray@ci.austin.tx.us

Austin History Heritage Society of Austin

History of Austin – Austin History Center

History of Austin – Convention & Visitors Bureau Helpful Information Austin City Connection

Austin Chamber of Commerce Neighborhood Restaurants Holiday House 2425 Exposition (478-2652) (RIP)

Abel’s On The Lake, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. (904-0572) (no menu)

Maudie’s Cafe, 2608 W. 7th (473-3740) (menu)

Mangia’s Pizza, 2401 Lake Austin (478-6600) (menu)

Magnolia Cafe, 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. (478-8645) (menu)

Fabi and Rosi, 509 Hearn (236-0642) (menu)

Original David’s Brick Oven, 1608 W. 35th (453-4330)

(Lunch Menu and Dinner Menu)

Food!Food!, 2727 Exposition Blvd. (474-8515) (sandwich menu)

Mozart’s, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (477-2900)

Hula Hut, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd (476-4852) (menu)

Téo Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita 26 Doors Shopping Center (451-9555)

ThunderCloud Subs, 2308 L. Austin Blvd. (479-6504
FAX: 479-0440
ORDER ON-LINE!) (menu) Governmental Contacts Austin City CouncilComplete Detailed Information Here

Mayor Will Wynn
Phone: (512) 974-2250 Fax: (512) 974-2337
E-mail: Will.Wynn@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 1 – Council Member Lee Leffingwell
Phone: (512) 974-2260 Fax: (512) 974-3212
E-mail: Lee.Leffingwell@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 2 – Council Member Mike Martinez
Phone: (512) 974-2264 Fax: (512) 974-1887
E-mail: Mike.Martinez@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 3 – Council Member Randi Shade
Phone: (512) 974-2255 Fax: (512) 974-1888
E-mail: Randi.Shade@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 4 – Laura Morrison
Phone: (512) 974-2258 Fax: (512) 974-1886

E-mail: Laura.Morrison@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 5 – Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken
Phone: (512) 974-2256 Fax: (512) 974-1884
E-mail: Brewster.McCracken@ci.austin.tx.us

Place 6 – Council Member Sheryl Cole
Phone: (512) 974-2266 Fax: (512) 974-1890
E-mail: Sheryl.Cole@ci.austin.tx.us Regional, State and Federal Gov’t
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)Texas State Senators

Senate District 14 – Senator Kirk Watson (463-0114 or kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us)

Senate District 25: Senator Jeff Wentworth (463-0125 or jeff.wentworth@senate.state.tx)

Texas State Representatives

House District 46: State Representative Dawnna Dukes (463-0506 or dawnna.dukes@house.state.tx.us)

House District 47: State Representative Valinda Bolton (463-0652 or valinda.bolton@house.state.tx.us

House District 48: State Representative Donna Howard (463-0631 or donna.howard@house.state.tx.us)

House District 49: State Representative Elliott Naishtat (463-0668 or elliot.naishtat@house.state.tx.us)

House District 50: State Representative Mark Strama (463-0821 or mark.strama@house.state.tx.us)

House District 51: State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (463-0674 or eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us)

Texas U.S. Representatives

Congressional District 10 -Michael T. McCaul ((202) 225-2401 or michael.mccaul@mail.house.gov)

Congressional District 21 – Congressman Lamar Smith (202-225-4236)

Congressional District 25 – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (202-225-4865 or doggett@hr.house.gov)

Texas U.S. Senators

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (202-224-5922 or senator@hutchison.senate.gov)

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (202-224-2934 or senator@cornyn.senate.gov)

U.S. President President Barack H. Obama (202-456-1414 or president@whitehouse.gov)

United Nations Secretary-General Of The United Nations – The Honorable Ban Ki-moon (Fax: (212) 963 2155 or sg@un.org or ecu@un.org) ]]> http://westaustinng.com/2009/05/13/helpful-links-list/feed/ 0 http://westaustinng.com/2009/04/14/west-austin-crime-and-safety-seminar/ http://westaustinng.com/2009/04/14/west-austin-crime-and-safety-seminar/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:55:19 +0000 admin http://westaustinng.com/wordpress/?p=212 AGENDA FOR WEST AUSTIN CRIME AND SAFETY SEMINAR
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 22, 2009 (6:30 – 8:30 PM)
O.Henry Middle School Cafeteria, 2610 West 10th Street

A.        Call to Order (6:30 p)

B.         Feature Speaker (6:30-7:00 p) — Art Acevedo, Chief of Police, Austin Police Department

C.        Guest Speaker (7:00-7:15 p) — Peter H. Price, Principal, O.Henry Middle School, will address the school’s initiatives to address school safety concerns

D.        APD discussion (7:15-7:45 p) – Discussion topics:  West Austin neighborhood crime statistics, current neighborhood scams, residential and vehicle burglary prevention tips, personal security, using 911 emergency and 311 non-emergency calls, organizing neighborhood watch programs and neighborhood “Citizens on Patrol” program, etc. (APD Commanders Antonia Singletary and Chris Noble; Lieutenant Gena Curtis; and Central West District Representatives David Knutson, Dana Munguia, Armando Rodriguez, and Troy Schouest)

E.         Brief Question and Answer Session with APD, security companies, and neighborhood crime reporting resources (7:45-8:15 p)

F.         Breakout Presentations (8:15-8:30 p)

1)     APD Crime Prevention Programs and Information

2)   City of Austin Code Enforcement Information

3)   Security company presentations on home security products and services (All Safe Security, Crenshaw Alarm, Mesa Home Systems, etc.)

4)      Do-it-yourself security and surveillance measures (Best Buy, Oliver Custom Homes, etc.)

5)      “Yarding” Your Dog To Provide Good Home Security (Invisible Fence, Tony Garcia or Barbara Arledge)

6)      Online Crime Reporting Resources Presentation by Jack Darby (jdlink@yahoo.com)

a)      Krimelabb Citywide Crime Data Plotting Tool –http://www.krimelabb.com/_live/view/_welcome.php

b)      West Austin Crime Listserv — West_Austin_Crime_Reports@yahoogroups.com

c)      APD Crime Listing by Neighborhood Association –http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/neighbor_crime.htm

d)      Texas DPS Registered Sex Offenders Database — https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Portal/index.aspx

G.                  Adjourn (8:30 p)

The new APD District Representative for our neighborhood (SPO David J. Knutson #3002, Central West District Representative, Ph: 512-974-5917) provided the following list of tips for preventing vehicle burglary:

VEHICLE BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS

Most of these crimes occur because people leave car doors unlocked or leave valuables in plain sight. The most likely targets for theft are briefcases, purses, wallets, expensive sunglasses, watches, camera gear, MP3 players, PDAs, gym bags, sports equipment, auto parts, CDs, speakers, power tools, spare change, and mail.

Vehicle burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and carelessness often results in vehicles being broken into; however, residents can minimize their chances of being a victim by taking a few simple steps:
Keep all car doors and windows closed and locked – even if it’s a quick errand. This sounds like common sense, but about 30% of vehicle burglaries are from vehicles where the doors were not locked or a window was down.

Do not leave valuables or packages in plain sight in your vehicle. This may sound like a simple solution, but it happens all the time where items of value are left in plain view. It automatically makes you a target. If you must leave valuables in the car, put them in the trunk.

If your vehicle has a built in security system, use it. If you don’t have a security system installed, it is worth the investment – it may also qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance.

Park your vehicle in an area that is visible to the public and well-lit at night. If possible, park your car in the garage. If garage parking is not available, the next best option is to park your car in the driveway and install motion-sensor security lighting on your home.

Never leave an electronic garage opener in the car. It can provide a thief easy access to your home.

Headed to the gym or hike & bike trail? Burglars are, too. Hiding valuables under the seat is not enough. Bring as few items as possible with you – leave jewelry, watches, laptops, etc at home. Keep any necessary valuables like keys, identification, and credit cards on your person.

Keep a list of serial numbers (include make and model information, as well) for the commonly used electronic equipment you may keep in the car, like CD players, stereo faceplates, MP3 players, etc. Keep a copy of this inventory in a safe place such as a safe deposit box. We also suggest that you engrave your driver’s license number on your valuables to aid in their recovery, should they be lost or stolen.

If your car is burglarized, please report it to the police department immediately.

These simple steps should be used whenever you park your car, whether you are just “running in for a minute” or parking for the evening.

In addition to protecting your own property from criminals, you can be a good neighbor by watching out for suspicious persons or activities in your area. No one knows a neighborhood better than the people who live there, so the Police Department depends on the assistance of concerned, responsible residents to report suspicious persons or activity. If you see something that looks suspicious, call 9-1-1. Suspicious activity may include:
A person looking into parked cars may be looking for a car to steal or for valuables left in plain view inside.

The sound of breaking glass or car alarm could mean a vehicle break-in.

Any vehicle without lights at night, cruising slowly, or following a course that seems aimless or repetitive is suspicious in any location. Occupants may be “casing” for a burglary.

Persons walking around a neighborhood pulling on car door handles may be looking for unlocked vehicles to steal from.

Residents are encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately about all suspicious activity. Don’t worry about feeling embarrassed if your suspicions are wrong; think instead about what could happen if your suspicions are right and you don’t call. It is the Police Department’s job to investigate suspicious matters, and any assistance in spotting suspicious persons or activities is appreciated.

REMEMBER: A thief can burglarize your vehicle in less than 30 seconds!

Austin Police Department – Central West Area Command

APD 2008 Resource Manual – A copy of the APD Resource Manual for 2008 is posted at Resource Manual January 2008.pdf. The manual includes information on when to make 911 and 311 calls, an alphabetical listing of city services, and a listing of agencies providing housing and human services.

Reporting VIN Etching – When folks don’t report petty crimes or other little things they feel the Police can’t solve, things can escalate to where it is a real problem, which becomes frustrating for folks. The police are not bothered by hearing from citizens about petty crimes or “little things,” and we should never hesitate to call 9-1-1 or 3-1-1 to report an incident. The police are dispatched according to a priority system. If an Officer is available he/she will be sent; if not when one becomes available they will be sent out. While the police do have limited resources, there is a “Crime Analyst” whose job is to track crime by frequency and types. This information is used to deploy, patrol officers, special units, develop plans to curve the crime. The police look for “Hot Spots,” and when the neighborhood starts reporting crime and demanding action, then the police know there is a problem and focus their attention on it.

So if you have an aggressive solicitor, or one whose story does not seem right, or one who tries your door handle before knocking…..Call 9-1-1. Let the police check them out. If they aren’t breaking the law, fine. It at least lets them know that the police know they are in the area. It also lets them know folks care enough to ask the police to check things out in their neighborhood. Sometimes, the police are lucky to find a person who has outstanding warrants and they get picked up. If it is suspicious to you, then it is worth calling in. This also lets the patrol officer assigned to your area know what kind of things to look for and he/she patrols with a better purpose.

As for yourselves be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave property in plain view in either your vehicles or your yards. These become tempting crimes of opportunity. Use motion sensor lighting. Perhaps put radios or TVs on timers during the day when your gone to work. Say one timer in a front room for a couple of hours, then a second in another room for a later time. Crooks look around and try to listen to see if someone is home. Close blinds so they can’t look in. The best thing of all is neighbors looking out for neighbors.

At the attached page, a map is provided showing the Police Reporting Areas (PRAs) for our neighborhood. Below the map is a listing of crime reports that are organized by PRA, so that you can see what types of crimes were reported for each PRA. I was frankly surprised to see how many crime reports were filed for our neighborhood during this reporting period. I guess we are getting our money’s worth from APD!

Crime statistics in the city of Austin are available from the Austin Police department, and can be accessed by clicking here and following the instructions. Our neighborhood statistics are noted in the West Austin Neighborhood Group selection. This is a useful site containing a variety of crime related information.

Central West District Representatives
APD District Representative for West Austin,
Nicole Gray
District Representative
Austin Police Department
Central West Area Command
512-974-5241
Nicole.gray@ci.austin.tx.us
www.cityofaustin.org/police

The West Austin News Police Report column has started up again. This is a great way to keep informed about crime in our local neighborhoods. To subscribe to this local newspaper please visit the West Austin News website.

Neighborhood Watch Program

WANG is trying to increase awareness of neighborhood crime. An increase in residential and automobile burglaries in the neighborhood has prompted interest in a neighborhood watch program. Because research shows that the most effective programs are those that involve neighbors in small, localized groups, WANG proposes to act as an initiator and resource for neighborhood watch groups within our boundaries. The following actions are planned:

• Provide neighbors with timely information about crime in the neighborhood, especially when distribution of this information could prevent other crime. The link to APD’s crime information is listed on this web page.
• Assist groups of neighbors interested in implementing neighborhood watch groups by providing start-up information, including contact with APD officers for presentations.
• Maintain contact with elected Block Captains and use them as contact points for distributing information to neighbors.
• Include information about established watches in our neighborhood, along with basic safety tips and suggestions for neighbors.
• Support neighborhood watch groups by hosting an annual neighborhood-wide social event focusing on crime and safety, such as National Night Out.

In addition, a recent search of the Austin Police Department Registered Sex Offenders Database identified on registered sex offender living in the 78703 zip code at 1115 West 9th Street.

For specific information and pictures of the registrants and to get up to date listings, go the APD database search site at https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Portal/index.aspx and enter the required information.