Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch

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Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch November 2009 Newsletter

Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch is organizing in your community, and we need you to get involved! What’s in it for you? It’s safer streets and homes, community spirit, camaraderie with your neighbors, stronger relationships with law enforcement, and so much more. And it’s easy to participate in Neighborhood Watch!

Neighborhood Watch embraces and strengthens many things we’re already doing, such as watching out for each other’s homes or working together to solve problems. But Neighborhood Watch brings along the power of organization and the ability to focus energy and resources.

Often Neighborhood Watch groups get started because there have been incidents in the community that have caused concern – acts of vandalism, burglaries, or auto thefts. These are the types of crime that Neighborhood Watch is the most successful in reducing. An active Watch group can also help reduce drug dealing and open-air drug markets, discourage gangs, improve the security of young people, and help older neighbors stay safe from crime.

Get to know your neighbors. You are each other’s best defense against crime. Studies show that where neighbors work together, where they know and respect each other, there’s less crime.

To read more about why Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch needs you: http://www.ncpc.org/resources/files/pdf/neighborhood-safety/neighborhood-watch-needs-you.pdf

To become an integral part of your Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch, visit: www.chneighborhoodwatch.com and “join in.” If your neighborhood or block isn’t yet organized, become a Neighborhood Coordinator or Block Captain.

HOW TO RUIN A CRIMINAL’S DAY

Criminals love it when you are alone and away from people who could help you. So shop with a buddy and protect yourself from being isolated and becoming a potential assault victim because you are alone or in a dark or lonely area of a parking lot.

‘T was the month before Christmas and all through the town

People were busy shopping and rushing around.

The purses and wallets were filled with lots of money,

In hopes that finding great deals would help Mommy!

With bags full of gifts in every hand to carry,

Thieves were eager to catch shoppers unwary.

So shoppers take care and aim those thieves to outsmart–

Put the bags in the trunk and find a new place to park.

MALL SHOPPING AND SAFETY

1.         Always try to walk to and from your vehicle with another person. If you are            shopping alone, consider walking near other shoppers in the parking lot.

2.         If shopping alone and leaving at night – particularly if you’re carrying several bundles – ask a security officer to accompany you to your car. Most malls will            provide that service.

3.         Consolidate purchases into one or two large shopping bags so you can keep track of everything. Never leave your purchases unattended, even for a few minutes.

4.         A man should carry his wallet in the front pocket of his pants, rather than in a back pocket or in his jacket. A woman should hold her purse close to her          body, with the opening facing toward her; when walking with another person, the purse should be held between the two.

5.         While Christmas shopping in large crowds, it is best to keep personal items in front of the body and never let those items out of sight.

6.         Park in areas that are well-traveled and will be well lighted if you return after dark. When parking in an attended lot, leave only the ignition key.

WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT:

For Mall and shopping safety check out this site: http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/christmas/MST.htm

Christmas shopping safety tips: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/204697/shopping/safety_tips_while_christmas_shopping.html

To view the National Sherriff’s Neighborhood Watch website: www.usaonwatch.org

Citizen Corps was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds. For info: www.citizencorps.gov

Visit www.bereadyutah.gov for more information on how you can be prepared in the case of an emergency.

REMEMBER:

Call the Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC)  Police Dispatch @ 801-840-4000 for non-emergencies.

Of Course Call 911 for emergencies.

WE SEE, WE HEAR, WE CALL

Well in case you are wondering if Pro Active Policing and Neighborhood Watch make a difference. Look at the map below from www.CrimeReports.com. Not much going on inside Cottonwood Heights, a little bit on the parameters. Not bad for a Police Department that is 14 months old, Official Neighborhood Watch that is only a few months old. There have been neighborhood watch programs in the community for quite some time, it is until recently that they have become more organized and getting resources. w00t w00t.

This training is required Neighborhood Coordinators and Block Captains and good for everyone.

Thursday November 5th 7pm.

7045 S Campus Drive.

Cottonwood Heights

Call Joe for more details 801-943-7621

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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

www.chneighborhoodwatch.com

“We See, We Hear, We Call”

October 2009

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Salt Lake Tribune, Wednesday, August 12, 2009, “Watch groups warned not to usurp the law”

SL Tribune reporter Steve Gehrke interviewed some of Cottonwood Heights NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH coordinators in the wake of the Bluffdale man “shot and paralyzed by a fellow safety advocate” and these are some excerpts from that article.

“We never want neighbors to feel like [citizens] have to put themselves in harm’s way,” said Stacie Skelton, Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch (CHNW) Area Coordinator. “We just want people to be aware of who their neighbors are and report things that are suspicious.  If your neighbors are on vacation, but you see a van pull up and people start moving them out—call that in.”

CHNW Neighborhood Coordinator Al Haslam, issued a cautionary warning to his fellow volunteers: Don’t carry a weapon and don’t approach suspects.  “We are not enforcers of the law — we don’t do what they did out in Bluffdale,” Haslam said — referring to safety advocate Reginald Campos, who is charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting and wounding a disarmed fellow watch organizer. Instead of patrolling neighborhoods or confronting suspects, Haslam said watchers need to contact police. Officer Beau Babka said cops would take it from there. POLICE DISPATCH IS 801.840.8400.

PROACTIVE POLICING KEEPS THE CITY SAFE

SL Tribune reporter Steve Gehrke, in the same article, also asked Officer Beau Babka to respond to criticisms that police are too heavily patrolling the city.  “We’ll take the heat if we have to.  We feel it’s a positive – there’s nothing better than a proactive policing philosophy.  It lowers crime, builds trust, and reduces fear.  Criminals know the proactive communities.  And they might not stay away, but they’ll think once or twice.”

Officer Babka said police are grateful that residents are ready to help police and they don’t have to be part of the formal NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH group to help keep the city safe.  Neighbors shouldn’t worry about bugging police and he encourages them to err on the side of public safety.  “If you see something suspicious or out of the ordinary, there’s nothing wrong with calling us [801-840-4000].”

www.chneighborhoodwatch.com

HOME SECURITY

What’s the biggest door in your house?  Give up?  It’s your garage door!  Secure it just like you would the front door – any time of day! Criminals love the hours of 3 pm to 5 pm, when the kids are home from school and the parents aren’t, because the kids often leave the garage door wide open.

HOW TO RUIN A CRIMINAL’S DAY

Criminals look for easy targets! A burglar wants to get in quickly and quietly, find valuable items that are easy to sell, and exit quickly. So make it difficult!

MAKE YOUR HOME DIFFICULT TO ENTER

1.         Install hardwood or metal doors within doorframes of the same material.

2.         Use quality, case-hardened, steel deadbolt locks.  For glass panel doors, use double-cylinder locks.

3.         Sliding doors need a metal or wooden bar set in the lower track of the door to block them from opening.

4.         Use your locks at ALL times, even if you are at home.

5.         Lights!  Use motion sensors outside or inside timers to turn lights on/off at             night when you are gone. Leave your porch light on at night!

6.         Don’t hide spare keys—burglars know all the best places.  Give a spare to a         trustworthy friend or neighbor.

WANT MORE IDEAS?

Go to www.chneighborhoodwatch.com

And don’t forget: We see, We hear, We call!

801-840-4000 for non-emergencies and 911 for emergencies.

WEBSITE SLIDESHOW now available: Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch Basic Training #2:  How To Secure Your Home

During the coming months, you’ll also receive a copy of this and other newsletters with information on many topics that will help you and your family.

www.chneighborhoodwatch.com

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Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Watch Block Captain Training

Wednesday September 2nd at 7:00 PM

This training session will focus on securing your home, and will provide tips to pass on to your neighbors on how we can reduce the probability of having crime committed.  Cottonwood Heights Police Department will be presenting most of the information.

We will also be discussing some issues related to emergency preparedness, too.

For more details contact Joe Weeks at hillsideneighborhoodwatch@gmail.com