From Cape Story’s Neighborhood Watch liaison Regina:

With nice weather approaching, here are a few suggestions for keeping you and your property safe.

Please lock your houses and cars and do not leave valuables in your yards and cars.  The Crime Prevention Office offers free home inspections and will offer tips on lighting and shrubbery placement/trimming to prevent break-ins.  They also do assessments for business owners.

Record serial numbers for GPS’s, laptops, etc.  If stolen, they cannot be traced or recovered without a serial number.  These are the especially “hot” items being taken from cars.

Shred personal papers, credit cards and applications to prevent identity theft.  One of our residents recently threw a credit card application in the recycling bin and received phone calls that someone was trying to use her credit card.

Be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to the police.  If you have a car remote key, use the panic button if you see anyone around your home or car.

All solicitors are required to have a city-issued permit and you can ask to see it if there is any doubt.  If no permit and you suspect suspicious behavior, call the police.  Just recently, two solicitors were asked by the police to leave our neighborhood due to no permit.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meets on the second Wednesday of each month.  They have representatives from many City Departments giving reports and answering questions.  Everyone is invited to attend.  Here are a few highlights from this past Wednesday night:

An arrest was made in the wheel thefts that occurred along the Shore Drive area and including our neighborhood.

There have been 18 commercial burglaries in the Hilltop/Great Neck area.  Some arrests have been made and more likely soon.

In one neighborhood in the Shore Drive area, there were 20 auto break ins and all 20 cars were left unlocked.

Gang-related graffiti has been showing up at the Oceanfront.  Police advised that parents be aware of gang symbols and watch their children’s school notebooks, etc.  The Code Enforcement Department will remove graffiti from private and City property.

Finally, do not take a prostitute home with you.  Someone did and she came back later and robbed his house.  Advice from the police – take her to a hotel.

Have a safe summer. 

Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity.