"Your Partners in Crime"

Definition: "Community Policing" is a philosophy, management style, and organizational strategy that promotes pro-active problem-solving and police-community partnerships to address the causes of crime and fear as well as other community issues.

COMMUNITY WATCH is a Crime Prevention program that involves citizens working with each other and with law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and victimization in their communities. It involves:

• Citizens protecting themselves and their property by using common sense crime prevention practices.
• Neighbors getting to know each other, watching out for each other and acting on or reporting suspicious activities.
• Citizens working with groups, community leaders, and more importantly, law enforcement agencies to make entire communities safe and free from crime.

NEIGHBORS LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

REMEMBER: Criminals gravitate to places where they feel safe and secure. They avoid neighborhoods where they are likely to get caught. When they are neither wanted nor welcome, they go someplace else.

COMMUNITY WATCH SECURITY TIPS

1. MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED: Leave some lights and a radio on when you are out.
2. LOCK YOUR DOORS: Never leave your house open for "just a moment," always lock your doors when you are out.
3. USE DEADBOLT LOCKS: A deadbolt lock is a good deterrent to burglars.
4. DON'T HIDE A KEY OUTSIDE: Burglars know all the secret hiding places.
5. DRILL AND PIN YOUR WINDOWS: Window locks can be jimmied; pins cannot.
6. BRACE SLIDING GLASS DOORS: If the door is braced, the only way a burglar can get through it is to break it.
7. INSTALL GOOD EXTERIOR LIGHTING: Motion sensor lights and other good lights don't let a burglar hide in the dark.
8. KEEP BUSHES AND SHRUBS TRIMMED: If bushes are too high, someone hiding near your windows and doors cannot be seen.
9. STOP MAIL AND PAPER DELIVERIES: If you go on vacation, stop deliveries or have one of your neighbors collect mail and papers.
10. GET A DOG: Even a small dog may be a deterrent to a burglar.
11. INSTALL AN ALARM SYSTEM: Houses with alarms are avoided by burglars.

The Argyle Police Department, now has on staff, two certified crime prevention inspectors. Senior Officer Sam Walterschied and Sgt. Cottle, are available by appointment to inspect your residence, or business. Upon passing a crime prevention inspection, you may be eligible for home owner's insurance reduction. Call or email today to set up an appointment.

Checklist: Tips for preventing identity theft

Only a few years ago, almost no one had ever heard the term "identity theft." But now, newspapers are filled with stories of people whose credit was ruined by strangers who managed to find out just enough personal information to establish lines of credit, make bank withdrawals and rack of hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt--all in their name.

"Upon falsely assuming an identity, thieves will commit crimes, including opening phony bank accounts, establishing insurance policies, stealing from established bank accounts, obtaining unauthorized credit cards, applying for car or house loans and leasing apartments with false names," said Robert Bryant, president of the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

According to the NICB, criminals get the information they need to steal your identity by:

·         Stealing your purse or wallet to obtain credit cards, social security cards, driver license

·         Digging through trash for credit card carbons or loan applications

      ·         Pilfering information such as bank statements and pre-approved credit card information     from your mailbox.

·         Watching your transactions at automated teller machines and phone booths to capture your personal identification number.

 ·         Examining court and employment records.

 ·         Ordering your credit report.

 ·         Retrieving information from the Internet.

 ·         Buying complete identities from the black market.

You can help prevent identity theft by remembering to:

     ·         Shred or tear up any personal financial documents before throwing them in the trash.

·         Do not print personal identifiers such as your social security number, date of birth or driver's license number on your checks.

·         Use your social security number only when necessary.

·         Before revealing any information, online or in person, ask how it will be used.

·         Do not answer personal, financial or identifying questions to an unknown telephone caller.

·         Pay attention to billing cycles. ID thieves may reroute bills to another address to hide their illegal activities.

·         Carefully review your monthly credit card statement, checking for any unauthorized use.

·         Get a copy of your credit report at least once a year to check for errors.

·         Eliminate the number of cards you carry, especially your social security cards and passport.

 More information about preventing and dealing with identity theft is available from the Federal Trade Commission's Web site, where it's brochure, ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name, is posted at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.