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Police Crime Reports Wilton Manors P.D. launches
Know Your Neighbor campaign by: Linda
Trischitta Sun-Sentinel - December 21st, 2011 The Wilton
Manors Police Department is asking residents to
take part in the city’s
Know Your Neighbor/Know Your Neighborhood campaign to
help stop home
burglaries in Broward County that have risen 20
percent in some areas. Home alarms, fences and guard
dogs are good, but the agency says one of the best crime
prevention methods is when neighbors watch out for each
other. “Nothing beats an alert neighbor watching over
their respective neighborhood,” said Police Chief Paul O’Connell. “The
key to this concept is communication. Talk to your
neighbor. Know who
belongs and who does not. If you see someone
suspicious in the neighborhood, pick up the phone and
call police.”
On September, 28, one
of our ENA neighbors on 17th Terrace was burglarized.
Sometime between the hours of 9AM and 4 PM, Thieves
broke a bedroom window and stole items from the house. KEEP your EYES OPEN in your
neighborhood and call the police to report
anything suspicious. On July 6, There
were two BURGLARIES in
the East Neighborhood that took place between
the hours of 9am and noon when homeowners were not home
. Our Neighbors lost their jewelry and computer
equipment. If you notice anything suspicious in your
neighborhood please report it to the Wilton Manors
Police department. Write down all the SERIAL NUMBERS on
your computers, printers, Televisions etc. and keep them
in a paper file - not on your computer. This will help
the department properly identify your property as YOURS if it is found
in a pawn shop or other location. To deter thieves from setting foot in your home, take note of the following tips from a robber .to better protect your casa. 1. Of course I look familiar—I was here just last week cleaning your carpets! 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have. 4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer on your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 5. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy. 6. A good security company alarms the window over the sink, as well as second floor windows. 7. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella and you forget to lock your door. Understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather. 8. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. 9. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table and the medicine cabinet. 10. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms. 11. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me. 12. A loud television or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. Leave it on. 13. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. 14. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. 15. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll go back to what he was doing. Call the police when you think you heard a window break! 16. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it? 17. I love peeking into windows, looking for signs that you’re home and for flat screen TV’s or gaming systems. I call this "window shopping for later," when I pick my targets. 18. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address. 19. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation. 20. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in! As of January 2010, the weekly crime
stats data are no longer be posted on this site.
You will have to go the police web site www.wmpd.org
and look under the area called "CRIME DATA" where
citizens can view this information. ENA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE
There have been a lot of car break-ins lately in
our neighborhood. This is due to people not locking
their cars!
Traveling ?
Doing house checks for
our citizens is just another service you
receive by having your own police department
that is committed to Community Policing.
All you need to do is let us know when you
will be gone and when you will return by
filling out our "House Check Form". To
make it easy for you, we have added this form
to our website. Go to www.wmpd.org
and on the left column under “Your Police
Department” you will see House Check Forms OR USE THE QUICK
LINK http://wmpd.org/housecheck.htm
Download the Form which is an editable document, (save a copy for your next trip) then email it to housechecks@wmpd.org You can also print it out and either mail it to or drop it off at the police department. The updated police website www.wmpd.org has some very important and informative items for our citizens and business owners. One new feature is our Code Compliance Unit link. In an effort to make it easier for anyone to report a code violation online, all you need to do is go to the Wilton Manors Police Department website www.wmpd.org. On the left hand side of the home page under DIRECT CONNECT, look for Code Compliance. Click on Code Compliance and you will see Click here to report a code violation. Once you click on this, it will allow you to send a code complaint directly to the Code Compliance Unit. Our Code Team is committed to addressing quality of life issues for our City but we need additional eyes and ears on the street. If you see a violation, please report it.  Download a printable Pdf version for distribution in your neighborhood
The Police Force in
Wilton Manors
SEXUAL PREDATOR ALERTS
Due to
the volume of this information and its ever-changing
nature, the Wilton Manors Police Department makes no
representations regarding its continued accuracy. We
direct you to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
website (www.fdle.state.fl.us)
for daily updates.  Introducing
our
volunteers & staff, from left to right: Betty
Winslow, Ruby Tucker, Gloria Sylvestry, Former Chief
Perez, Sgt. Howard, Fred Neely, PSA McCammon, David
Morgenstern, and Laura Wheeler V.I.P.S.
(VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE) Today the demands on law enforcement have never been greater. In the new post-September 11 world, agencies are struggling to protect their communities from the threat of global terrorism. Law enforcement faces increasingly sophisticated challenges from computer crimes, identity theft, narcotics trafficking and other crimes. All these efforts take place against a backdrop of shrinking budgets and limited resources. Agencies use volunteers in numerous ways. Administrative volunteers can help with data entry, fingerprinting, filing, supply distribution and many other office duties. Volunteers gain a high sense of purpose by helping to keep their community safe and contributing to the agency’s mission. They come to the law enforcement arena with different agendas and various backgrounds. What they all have in common is a very high regard for law enforcement and community involvement. Given adequate training, a friendly work environment and a strong sense of belonging, volunteers can become extremely loyal and help the agency achieve its goals and objectives. If you have time on your hands or know of someone who would like to volunteer some of their time, please let us know. If you would like to volunteer at the Wilton Manors Police Department, please call 954-390-2150 and ask for Captain Edward Costello ***Alert*** Alert*** Alert*** ATM SCAM The Wilton Manors Police Department has seen a rise in reports of ATM frauds. Investigators have found that criminals are able to place devices that capture your ATM card information over a bank’s ATM slot. Criminals are also installing small pinhole cameras so that they can capture the victim’s PIN number. The Wilton Manors Police Department is recommending you cover your hand while typing in your PIN number with a book, magazine, or even your other hand. If you find that an ATM machine has been compromised, you should immediately contact bank personnel. If it is after hours or on a weekend, you should call your local police department and then call the phone number on the back of your ATM card advising them of what you found. Click on the link below to watch how this crime is being facilitated. ATM Skimming Scam We have attached a link to Power Point presentation provided to us by Suntrust Bank. This is an actual incident where a subject was able to trap an unsuspecting victim’s ATM card and then use it once the victim leaves. Please feel free to forward this slideshow to all your friends and family, as it is not sensitive material. Note* The link will open a new browser widnow to downlad the 662 KB file. You will need Power Point to view this slide show. Wilton Manors Police Launches Click It or Ticket Enforcement Blitz Buckling Down on Those Not Buckled Up – Day and Night. Wilton Manors, FL – In 2006, 15,046 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes between the nighttime hours of 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – and 64 percent of those passenger vehicle occupants killed were NOT wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crashes. The proportion of unbuckled deaths at night is considerably higher than the alarming 46 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed and were not wearing their seats belts during daytime hours across the nation that same year. That’s why Wilton Manors Police announced today that it is joining with state and local law enforcement agencies and highway safety officials May 19 to June 1 to launch an aggressive national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization to increase seat belt use and reduce highway fatalities – with a new emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up – day and night. “Research shows us that there is a problem with drivers and passengers not buckling up at night – when the risk of a fatal crash is greatest,” Chief Richard Perez said. “Clearly this is an indication that these individuals are not taking the law seriously. That’s why we’ll be out in force making sure that all passengers, in all vehicles, are buckled up – day and night.” Former Chief Richard Perez said regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. He said that in 2006, 72 percent of passenger vehicle occupants involved in a fatal crash who were buckled up survived the crashes, and that when worn correctly, seat belts have proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Yet nearly one in five Americans (18% nationally) still fail to regularly wear their seat belts when driving or riding in motor vehicles, according to NHTSA’s observational seat belt studies. Stepped-up law enforcement activities will be conducted during the national Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization. The mobilization is being supported by a projected $7.5 million in paid national advertising and additional state advertising to encourage all motorists, but especially motorists at night, to always buckle up. “Seat belts clearly save lives. But unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force buckling down on those who are not buckled up,” said Perez. “Wearing your seat belt costs you nothing, but not wearing it certainly will. So unless you want to risk a ticket, or worse – your life — please remember to buckle up day and night – Click It or Ticket.” For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.
The Alarm Systems Ordinance, in its entirety, can be viewed on the Wilton Manors Police Department’s website at www.wmpd.org. If you have any further questions please contact the Alarm Administrator, Officer Grant S. Gundle, at (954) 390-2106.  Excellent press on the good works of WMPD officers. view the pdf A Child is Missing D.A.V.I.D.
Emergency Contact Information for Florida's Licensed Drivers and ID Card Holders Most law enforcement agencies in Florida use Florida’s Driver and Vehicle Information Database (D.A.V.I.D.) which is maintained by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. D.A.V.I.D. provides officers information on drivers licensed in Florida and those who have Florida Identification Cards. This information includes a photo of the person, vehicles registered to them, their driving record, addresses, etc. D.A.V.I.D. was enhanced a couple of years ago to allow collection of emergency contact information (ECI) into the database. Now, licensed drivers or ID holders can enter their emergency contact information into D.A.V.I.D. and it is then available to law enforcement officers in the event of an emergency. This information may save crucial time if ever it becomes necessary to contact family members or other loved ones. Almost 1.5 million people have already entered their ECI into D.A.V.I.D. Here’s a link to information about ECI http://www.flhsmv.gov/EmerContInfoHistory1.html and the direct link to the on-line form to add your emergency contact to D.A.V.I.D. https://www6.hsmv.state.fl.us/dlcheck/findcustomer We recently added information about this service to our new employee on-boarding process and encourage each of you to also make the information available to new and current employees. Please contact Rene Knight, DHSMV at 850-617-3207 or via email reneknight@flhsmv.gov if you need assistance. Crimes of Opportunity The Wilton Manors Police Department is committed to providing our residents with prompt, courteous and professional police services. While we offer a committed effort to ensure your safety, we can not provide you total isolation from crime. Crimes of opportunity, such as vehicle break-ins continue to occur through out the county. "It's a crime of opportunity," said Administrative Sergeant Ed Costello. "There are a lot of bad guys out there just looking and waiting.” A thief can open a locked car, remove what he wants and get away in a matter of seconds. They rely on the carelessness of their victims. Vehicle break-ins can happen any time of the day, so it is important to always be aware of your surroundings. Top spots for vehicle break-ins include malls, apartments, stores, churches, gas stations and office buildings. By taking just a few simple precautions you will greatly reduce your chances of being victimized: You just parked your car. Have you secured it? When you leave a car unlocked or valuable property in plain sight, you attract thieves. If you leave your car running unattended (to grab a “quick” cup of coffee from a convenience store), you attract opportunistic thieves. Lock the ignition and the doors. Remember that a lock is only effective if you choose to use it. At attended parking lots, leave only the ignition key (or valet key) with the car. Take the rest of your keys with you Keep personal and valuable belongings out of sight. Do not invite a break-in! You invite a break in by leaving valuables in plain sight; either take them with you or discreetly lock them in the trunk. If you do not have a trunk, place them in an out-of-sight location such as under a seat (it’s best to do this before you get to your parking spot). Radios, cd players, briefcases, lap tops, purse, and shopping bags are items which are valuable and popular, and are also items frequently stolen from cars. Personal safety and crime prevention efforts are the responsibility of the entire community and it is important that everyone takes responsibility for the safety of their person and property. Members of the police department are committed to providing a safe enjoyable environment for our community. The key to preventing crime is awareness, which can be best accomplished through education and community partnerships; we invite you to stop by. Someone will always be available to answer questions. “A HOME SAFETY TIP” video called “Lock-Bumping” Has been added to the Wilton Manors Police Department web site, click on the above link to view it and be sure to visit the website for more information www.wmpd.org IDENTITY THEFT I recently attended a Fraud Seminar that was hosted by the Palm Beach Police Department. The guest speaker was a leading authority on fraud and identity theft. I looked forward to attending and was certainly not disappointed. The guest speaker was Frank Abagnale who is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subject of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents (i.e.; vehicle titles, birth certificates, social security cards, etc.). Mr. Abagnale was the subject of the major motion picture “Catch Me If You Can (2002)” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks directed by Stephen Spielberg. As Mr. Abagnale began speaking I was amazed by the fact that here was a man, who from the ages of 16 to 21 years old, successfully cashed 2.5 million dollars worth of fraudulent checks. He successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor and a pediatrician. He served time in French, Swedish and US prison systems. After five years he was released on the condition that he would help the United States Government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies. It is quite a story and fortunately for us Mr. Abagnale continues to lecture to financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world. The most informative information that was learned from this seminar was ways of how to protect ones identity. Unfortunately, the criminals of this nature are really good at what they do. A major problem with identity theft/fraud is that it is considered a white collar crime (no violence) and even when the criminals are apprehended the sentences are lenient to say the least. People should not make it easier for the criminals to commit these crimes. Inevitably, it is up to the individual to take all precautions they can to protect their identity. Because of computers, printers, scanners and mail it is becoming more difficult to catch the identity thief. The quality of these documents that are duplicated is incredibly accurate. The thieves always seem to be one step ahead of you. How many of you shred your mail? One would be amazed at how much is thrown away, junk mail or not, your name is on it and that is all that is needed for a thief to get started. A paper shredder is a great investment. When shopping for one, a MICRO shredder would be the best choice. Mr. Abagnale says with a ribbon shredder a document can be reproduced in about ten minutes. A cross cut shredder is better, but a document could actually be reproduced in about eight hours. With a MICRO shredder it is impossible to recreate the document. How many of you reconcile your checkbook or even look at your bank statements? One should always keep tabs on your accounts. Accounts can be accessed and money lost and you would not even know it until it was too late. Pay attention when using your check cards or writing checks for purchases. Be aware of who is around you. Some identity thieves are good enough to remember your name and address just by looking over your shoulder. They then take that information and with a little computer research your identity has been stolen. Most never realize how much attention should be paid to ones credit. Individuals never think to check because they have not applied for credit or made any large purchases. But, monitoring the credit bureaus can help prevent or at least slow down your identity being stolen. One solution used by Mr. Abagnale is a company or service called Privacy Guard. This service continually monitors your credit and will notify you of any activity in real time. They notify you by phone, email or text as the inquiry is happening. The only real solution to help prevent identity theft is YOU! Be aware of your surroundings when making purchases. Continually check your bank accounts and reconcile your statements. It only takes a few minutes to protect yourself. You may also check the Department of Justice Website http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html Mailbox theft This time of the year we have encountered suspicious individuals driving through the neighborhoods looking for outgoing mail that residents place in their mailboxes. When you place outgoing mail in your mailbox, and raise the flag for the Mail Carrier to let them know there is outgoing mail, you are also alerting the criminals that there is mail which may contain bills, checks, and account numbers to credit card accounts, bank accounts and mortgages. All your important information is there unattended for them to take. This is easy for criminals to obtain information and thereby commit identify theft. Please be extra careful, especially this time of year. More...................
*** PLEASE NOTE: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from local officials regarding city business are public records, and are available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure. Furthermore, documents, attachments accompanying this email transmission contain information from the Wilton Manors Police Department. The information is intended for use by the individual or entity named therein. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that disclosure of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this email & attachments in error, please notify us by telephone immediately. |
