Oct - Dec 2015

Inside This Issue:

Upcoming Captains’ Meetings

Truman High School 3301 S. Noland Road 7:00 PM, Room 240 - November 5th - December 3rd

Online Stranger Danger 3

We’ve had several people ask about personnel

changes in the Englewood Unit and how it will affect

the Neighborhood Watch program. Next week, Officer

Syme will transfer to Police Headquarters and serve as

the department’s Public Information Officer (PIO).

The PIO serves as a central source of information for

release by the department and responds to requests for

information by the news media and members of the

community. The PIO will serve as a liaison with print,

radio and television media representatives to promote

coverage of department activities and serves as the

department’s official spokesperson to promote

department activities and plans. Officer Syme’s crime

prevention officer position in Englewood will stay and a

new officer will take this position. Officer Pope will

remain in his position and will soon work with the new

crime prevention officer. These changes within the

police department are a very normal part of police work

in an agency such as ours with a variety of career

options. Our police officers have the opportunity to

work in a variety of positions within the department,

gaining all sorts of lateral experience before being

promoted. We ask that you give us, the unit in charge

of coordinating the neighborhood watch program,

patience during this transition. We are excited about

having a new officer in the unit because with this

change, the programs we operate, including

neighborhood watch, will undoubtedly become more

polished and serve you better as neighborhood watch

participants.

COPS Corner

Changes in the Englewood Unit

facebook.com/ipdinfo

Scam Alert and Resources 4

Contact Information 6

Halloween Safety 2

Cops Corner 1

Holiday Shopping 5

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests? Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone:

• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For

party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.

• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose

of 60 minutes of physical activity.

• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.

• Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings,

and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small

children, and never leave them unattended.

• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

S - Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible. A - Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult. F - Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you. E - Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. H - Hold a flashlight or light stick while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. A - Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent irritation. L - Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible. L - Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses. O - Only walk on sidewalks or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe. W - Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls. E - Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats unless you know the cook. E - Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Otherwise, stay outside. N - Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

More pedestrian accidents occur during the darkest months of the year. Drivers are urged to

use extra caution and watch closely for pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians are

encouraged to watch out for cars and only cross the street at the corner or at a crosswalk.

Never cross mid-block. Bicyclists are reminded to watch for cars turning right, even if the

bicyclist has the right-of-way. This type of accident is a leading cause of bicycle-related

injuries.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

The Dangers of Meeting a Strangers Online.

Safety Tips for Online Stranger Encounters • When online, give out as little info as possible. • If possible, meet people on sites that scrutinize their users, though even an extensive profile can

be convincingly faked. Do your homework on these sites. • Don’t rely only on profiles. Seek out their name online to see what comes up. • Use a disposable e-mail address (or phone number) service or app. • Speak on the phone first; it’s harder for a man to pretend he’s a woman this way. In-Person Safety Tips with Strangers • Use your smartphone to share where you’ll be with family and friends. There are apps that will

let trusted people view where you’re at. • Choose more than one meeting place (well-lit, very public). This is because you may want to go

to a second location if it’s a date, or if it’s a buy-sell, the other person may get lost. • For a buy-sell, bring someone with you. • For dating or business, bring minimal cash, only the amount you expect to pay for an item. Keep

extra cash (for haggling) separate and unseen by the stranger. • If the stranger must come to your home to view an item you’re selling, leave your front door

open. Try to have someone with you. • Do a background check on anyone whose house you’re going to (such as to clean or babysit). Safe Strategies with Strangers • Never get into a car with a stranger. • Arrange a nearby meeting place for you and trusted friends, after your blind date or business

meeting. If it’s a blind date, your friends could be across the street having dinner; only one text

message away. • Stick to your meeting place plans; don’t veer off-course. Tips Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/meeting-a-stranger-safety_b_5041815.html

It should no longer be a shock that meeting strangers in person, whom you’ve “met” online, can be a dangerous endeavor. During the last several months in Independence, we’ve had numerous cases where people have tried to meet someone in-person for a romantic encounter and they ended up being robbed. There are also a lot of scammer and con-men (and women) as well as sexual predators out there who are just waiting to take advantage of you or a loved one.

The below tips are from a great article I found online :

Thanks for checking out this quarterly edition of the Neighborhood Watch Newsletter. We hope that, in addition to this newsletter, you are taking advantage of the various internet resources that the police department has to offer in keeping you well informed and safer in your neighborhood. These three services help do just that: www.indepmo.org/actioncenter.public/ Action Center: While you can’t make official police reports on it at this time, the action center is a great tool for making complaints or inquiries with various city departments. The police department takes all types of complaints ranging from reporting a drug house, neighborhood problems and traffic complaints. www.raidsonline.com Raidsonline: This easy and interactive website allows you to view information on all crime reports made to the police department. The interactive map is updated six times a day and has a lot of neat features including crime alert emails and submitting anonymous tips on past reported crime. www.facebook.com/ipdinfo Facebook: Our Facebook page is another great resource. We often post info about crime in Independence, police department news as well as occasional crime prevention information.

It’s been brought to our attention that Scam Artists continue to hit our area. They disguise themselves as ‘Mom and Pop’ type businesses. One in particular, was a business claiming to be an “Asphalt & Flood Control” company. A local citizen was allegedly scammed out of $2,500 for a pave job on a driveway or parking area. The already installed asphalt was supposed to come with a Lifetime Warranty but not even a month later, it was already peeling and cracking away. Unfortunately, the business was no where to be found to make good with the warranty. There were a few clues that might have prevented this loss. First, the scammers’ phone number area code was out of Houston, Texas. If you’re not sure of an area code, Google it (example: type “area code 832” This should have been a red flag for a company claiming to be “Locally Owned and Operated.” If the area code of a business is not 816 or 913, then they are probably using a cell-phone and just traveling in our area temporarily for whatever poor work they can do. On the company’s flyer it also said “Texas Printing” in the corner in very small font size. Another red flag. Only use well know or personally recommended businesses and as always, ask a friend or neighbor about them. Stay alert and report any attempted frauds and scammers to Police.

SCAM Warning!

Holiday Shopping Safety

• When parking your vehicle to go shopping,

remember where you parked it! Always park in

a well lit and well traveled area. Do not park in a

remote dark area.

• When you return to your vehicle, scan the

interior of your car to be sure no one is hiding

inside. Check to see if you are being followed.

Have your keys in hand when approaching your

vehicle. You will be ready to unlock the door and

will not be delayed by fumbling and looking for

your keys.

• When storing items purchased at the stores, place

them out of sight. The best place is in a locked

trunk. Do not leave your purse, wallet, or cellular

telephone in plain view.

• Don't resist if someone tries to take any of your

belongings. Don't chase someone who robs you,

they may have a weapon. Instead, call 911.

• Lock your vehicle and put up your windows even

while you are driving. If you go to an automatic

teller machine for cash, check for people around

and make sure it is well lit and in a safe location.

• Carry only the credit cards you need and avoid

carrying large amounts of cash. Beware of the "a

good deal" scams. Things are not always what

they appear to be.

• If you are purchasing toys for small children, be

sure that they are safe. You will be surprised

what a small child can swallow or what can injure

them.

• Drive defensively. Traffic is heavier during the

holidays. Drivers may also have indulged in too

much holiday spirits.

(2015 Broward County Sheriff's Office)

Englewood Substation 1717 S. Appleton Independence, MO 64052

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Important Telephone Numbers Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 325-7300 Drug Activity Hotline: 325-6272 (NARC) Traffic Safety: 325-7290 Neighborhood Watch: 325-7643 Crime Prevention Officer: 325-7645 Public Information Officer: 325-7258 Hawthorne Place Apartments Officers: 257-7824 Independence Center Officers: 325-7876

To download the 2015 Neighborhood Watch

Guidebook, www.indepmo.org/userdocs/ Neighborhood Watch /2015NWGB.pdf

If you are not on our E-mailing list, please email jsyme@indepmo.org

and request to be added.

www.twitter.com/ipdinfo

www.indepmo.org/ipd

www.indepmo.org/neighborhoodwatch

You may not be aware of this but each year you must register your watch group with the Crime Prevention Unit. You can simply do this by filling out the “Group Registration Form” which is available at the Englewood Substation, 1717 S. Appleton Ave, or online at:

www.indepmo.org/userdocs/NeighborhoodWatch/2015NWGB.pdf The form is on pages 5 of the Neighborhood Watch Guidebook. Return complete registration forms to Officer Syme, a volunteer working at the substation, by mail or by e-mail. The purpose of registering your watch group is to help the Independence Police Department keep track of groups involved with the Neighborhood Watch Program. It lets us know how many groups are involved and where they are, throughout the city. We have many unregistered groups who are active in the program. An active neighborhood watch group is still functional but the partnership with the police department is not complete until your group registers with our office.

Keep in mind, simply attending block Captains’ meetings or having a block watch meeting with an officer does not fulfill the registration requirement. Each year we give awards to those groups that meet certain requirements set forth by the police department. We need one form per group, with one person dedicated as being the “Contact Captain” from your group. This person will be responsible for completing this form, and returning it. If you don’t already do so, complete this form as early in the year as possible. This will allow us to enter you as an active group, and provide you with any updates to the program.

Please Remember to

Register your Neighborhood Watch

Group for 2015