On Sunday May 11th the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers with assistance from more than 70 volunteers hosted 1001 people for it's Sixth Annual Pancakes With Mom". Along with the many pancakes that were served up the volunteers helped serve 180 pound of sausage, 60 gallons of coffee, 11 cases of fresh fruit, 13 gallons of apple sauce, 24 gallons of orange juice, 14 gallons of fruit topping and 400 carnations.

The volunteer corps included Wauwatosa residents, business owners, area students, members of the Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee, Whitman's Boy Scout Troop 111, Underwood's Cub Scout Pack 118, The Wauwatosa Police Reserves and even some family members from as far away as Door County, WI and Rochester, MN.

On behalf of the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers I want to thank all the volunteers and our guests who made the breakfast an outstanding event. Much needed funds were raised and will be used to reward anonymous tipsters who provide information leading to the arrest of people involved in committing crimes in Wauwatosa.

Recently the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) issued a scam alert relating to to stimulus and tax rebate checks. Please take the time to read the alert.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Department of Justice are warning consumers about emails and phone calls from scammers claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). The IRS does not gather information for rebates by telephone. Nor does it send unsolicited email to taxpayers about tax account matters. Filing a tax return is the only way to apply for a tax refund; there is no separate application form. Similarly, if you get an email out of the blue from someone claiming to be from the IRS that asks you to call a phone number or email back your personal information, don't click any links. Instead forward it to www.phishing@irs.gov and then delete it. Clicking on a link in an unsolicited email carries risks of spyware, pagejacking, and phisisng - threats that can lead to the theft of your identity. The only official IRS Web site is located at www.irs.gov. visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov/phishing for more information about phishing scams.

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers is hosting its Sixth Annual Pancakes With Mom on Sunday May 11, 2008 at the Muellner Building in Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut in the City of Wauwatosa. They will be serving from 8:00am until 12:00pm and everything on the menu is all you can eat including pancakes, Klement's sausage, fresh fruit and Starbucks Coffee as well as other items.

Advance tickets are still available at the Little Red Book located at 7603 W. State Street in Wauwatosa; $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children 3 and older. You may also purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event. In addition to free door prizes we will be holding a raffle for some very nice items. All proceeds will benefit the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers and allow them to pay cash rewards for tips that lead to arrests for crimes committed in Wauwatosa.

Being able to offer cash rewards to anonymous tipsters is an extremely effective crime fighting tool. In 2006 and 2007 the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers received 25 separate tips which resulted in 8 arrests and solved 7 crimes. During that two year time frame the Crime Stoppers disbursed nearly $3000.00 to anonymous tipsters. So far in 2008 they have received 3 tips that have resulted in 4 arrests, solved 5 crimes and the dispersal of $850.00 in reward money.

So the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers are asking for you support by your attendance at this very worthwhile event. You may also lend support by volunteering to help out anytime between the hours of 7:00am and 1:00pm on the day of the event. All volunteers will receive a free breakfast as well as one for that special "Mom" in their life. If you wish to volunteer please contact Officer Don Semega via email at dsemenga@wauwatosa.net or by calling 414-471-8430 Ext. 5114. Make sure you leave a name, call back number and mailing address.

Warmer weather is finally here and that means our children are going to be moving about outdoors and maybe out of sight from time to time. Included here you will find some ideas on what to share with your children regarding strangers and proper conduct in dealing with them.

1. First of all remind your children that a stranger is "Someone you do not know". Make sure they understand that the person's age, race, gender or appearance have nothing to do with who a stranger is

2. Make sure they understand some strangers are helpers, but also make sure they know how to positively identify those strangers. Here are some "Helpers":

• Police Officers
• Firefighters
• Ambulance workers
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Uniformed Security at the mall, zoo or other such place
• Uniformed workers at various retail establishments noted by their aprons, smocks or matching shirts and the like.

3. Some suggested "Rules" to teach your children as it relates to strangers. Add any others you feel are appropriate.

• Never talk to a stranger (You may consider allowing a simple hello)
• Never take anything from a stranger
• Never go with a stranger
• Never help a stranger search for a lost puppy, kitten or child.

4. Teach them "Run, Yell and Tell"

• "Run" means that you run to a safe place such as a McGruff House,store, trusted neighbor, school, friend, gas station, police car, fire truck, etc.
• "Yell" means that you yell for help while running.
• "Tell" means you tell a a grown up to call the police once you arrive at the nearest safe place.

5. Employ a "Code Word" in your home. This is a word or phrase that only Mom, Dad and the children know. Not even Grandma or Grampa should know that word. That way should you need to send another family member or neighbor to pick the child up from school, day care or any other function; the person picking them up has to give the code word to your child before your child goes with them. Teach your child that no matter who is picking them up, they do not go unless the code word is said.

Please note that providing the code word to the person picking up your child does not preclude contacting staff or others in charge at the place / event the child is being picked up from.

Should the code word have to be used change it immediately, use each code word or phrase only once. You can make it fun by allowing the children to make up the code word.

As always, these are merely suggestions and may not be suitable or appropriate for you and your family and only you can decide that. "Stranger Danger" should be reviewed regularly by improptu verbal questions and proper answers or behaivors need to be positively reinforced.

Recently this office has received several complaints about citizens feeding stray or feral cats. As such I felt it appropriate to address this issue in an effort to explain the City's Ordinances regarding the feeding of these animals.

Covered under Wauwatosa Ordinance 9.04.020 is the "Regulation of Animals". Under this ordinance it is unlawful for anyone to allow an animal/pet of any species to run at large. Further, all dogs and cats need to receive the rabies vaccine and be licensed through the Wauwatosa City Clerk's office. That being said, if a person feeds and/or provides indoor or even outdoor shelter of any sort to an animal, they have in fact established ownership of that animal even if the animal is never taken into that person's residence.

So if a citizen is found to be feeding and/or sheltering an animal that roams at large, is unlicensed or has not received the rabies vaccine; that citizen can be held responsible for that animal by the City and may be issued citations in violation of 9.04.020. This of course would include stray/feral cats. The citations may begin at $172.00 for each violation and can increase incrementally up to $2,576.00 for subsequent violations.

The proper way to handle stray or feral animals is to call the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control office at 414-649-8640 and report it to them. They have the means to retrieve the animal in a humane way and process it in an effort to make it ready for adoption.

Here comes some pertinent tax / ID theft prevention items:

• Lock up your personal information. This includes all tax information, bank statements, credit card statements and unpaid bills. Yes, even at home; do you really know everything about your guests?
• Don't fall for scams. During the distribution of rebate checks, no one will contact you for personal information and this includes your bank or the government.
• Don't respond to requests to verify personal information unless you have actually initiated the contact. Don't share any indentifying information over a cordless or cell phone.
• Shred. This includes anything of a personal or financial matter, ecspecially those credit card offers.
• Review your mail. Check monthly credit card and banking statements for unfamiliar or unauthorized activities.
• Check your credit report. The law entitles you to at least one free credit report from Equifax, Experian and Trans Union each year. If you get one report from each entity spaced out properly, you could get a free credit report every 4 months.
• Report supicious activity immediately. Notify the authorities of any activity you did not authorize as it relates to any financial or personal matter.
• Mailbox. Get your mail immediately and never leave outgoing mail for the courier to pick up.

Following these simple tips now and all year will help to protect yourself from ID theft.

Three armed robberies were reported on March 14th and 15th, 2008

1. Noodles & Company, 7700 block W. State St., 14th at 10:28pm
2. Street Robbery 7600 block W. State St., 15th at 12:40am
3. Days Inn, 11800 block W. State St., 15th at 9:42pm

Each robbery was conducted by two black males sometimes wearing hooded sweatshirts, ski masks and/or a do-rag to cover their faces. In each case it seems one suspect would act as a lookout while the other approached the register or victims.

In each of these robberies at least one gun was displayed. Seen leaving the scene of two of the robberies was a newer black automobile, maybe a Chevrolet Malibu. The suspects are further described as 5'8" to 6'1", late teens to early twenties and thin to medium build.

Two armed robberies were reported on March 9th, 12th, and 29th, 2008

1. 7300 block of Milwaukee Avenue, 9th at 10:25pm
2. 7300 block of Harwood Avenue, 12th at 11:04pm
3. 7100 block of West State Street, 29th at 9:10pm

In each case a lone black male described as being 5'7" to 5'10", dark complexion, heavier build at 180 to 200 pounds and 35 to 45 years of age. The suspect usually starts a conversation with some small talk and then displays a hand gun and demands money.

Possibley vehicles in these armed robberies are:

• A large 80's 4 door, possibly a Ford or Mercury, dark blue or gray in color.
• An early 90's BMW, loud exhaust, red in color.

You are reminded to remain alert at all times and contact the police immediately for suspicious circumstances and persons.

If your are the victim of a robbery, remain calm and do exactly as the robber asks, nothing less or nothing more. As soon as it is safe notify police and do not compare notes with other victims or witnesses; keeping separate and not talking to others will allow the investigating officers to gather the best evidence.

 Anyone with information regarding any of these or other crimes commintted in the City of Wauwatosa can remain anonymous and call the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers at 771-TOSA. Tips that lead to an arrest may be eligible for cash rewards up to $1,000.00

Three armed robberies were reported on March 14th and 15th, 2008

1. Noodles & Company, 7700 block W. State St., 14th at 10:28pm
2. Street Robbery 7600 block W. State St., 15th at 12:40am
3. Days Inn, 11800 block W. State St., 15th at 9:42pm

Each robbery was conducted by two black males sometimes wearing hooded sweatshirts, ski masks and/or a do-rag to cover their faces. In each case it seems one suspect would act as a lookout while the other approached the register or victims.

In each of these robberies at least one gun was displayed. Seen leaving the scene of two of the robberies was a newer black automobile, maybe a Chevrolet Malibu. The suspects are further described as 5'8" to 6'1", late teens to early twenties and thin to medium build.

Two armed robberies were reported on March 9th and 12th, 2008

1. 7300 block of Milwaukee Avenue, 9th at 10:25pm
2. 7300 block of Harwood Avenue, 12th at 11:04pm

In each case a lone black male described as being 5'7" to 5'9", dark complexion, heavier build and 35 to 45 years of age displayed a hand gun and demanded money. A similar incident took place in another Milwaukee County City in which a red BMW with a loud exhaust was observed.

You are reminded to remain alert at all times and contact the police immediately for suspicious circumstances and person.

If your are the victim of a robbery, remain calm and do exactly as the robber asks, nothing less or nothing more. As soon as it is safe notify police and do not compare notes with other victims or witnesses; keeping separate and not talking to others will allow the investigating officers to gather the best evidence.

 Anyone with information regarding any of these or other crimes commintted in the City of Wauwatosa can remain anonymous and call the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers at 771-TOSA. Tips that lead to an arrest may be eligible for cash rewards up to $1,000.00

Those really cool GPS devices that many people are using have become the new target for bad guys. Unlike most thefts from vehicles when the bad guys only target unlocked vehicles, they are going that extra step and forcing entry to the vehicles to get to the GPS. Victims are not only losing these expensive electronic devices but are also suffering several hundred dollars in damage to the vehicle as the bad guys break windows, windshields and/or door locks.

Those GPS's are then being sold for pennies on the dollar or even traded for small amounts of narcotics. The answer? Remove not only the GPS from your vehicle but everything associated with it including mounting platforms and power cords.

You can never take away the bad guy's desire or ability, but you can take away their opportunity. Take a few extra seconds and remove anything from your vehicle that might be attractive to the bad guy.

Mothers day is not too far over the horizon and the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers with help from the Wauwatosa Police Department and the Wauwatosa Police Reserves will be hosting the 6th Annual "Pancakes with Mom". The event will once again be held on Mother's Day, Sunday May 11, 2008 at the Muellner Building located at Hart Park. Ticket prices remain the same at $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. More details about the event will follow as the date gets closer.

As you know by now the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers pays rewards of up to $1,000.00 for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest for crimes committed in Wauwatosa. The pancake breakfast is the Crime Stoppers main event to fund the pay outs. The Crime Stoppers are seeking support in many ways to make the pancake breakfast a success. Already onboard for this years breakfast are Wauwatosa Savings Bank, Landmark Credit Union, C&G Printing and Promotions, The Little Read Book and Firefly Candles.

 The biggest need as of Sunday February 27, 2008 is items to be used for door and raffle prizes. If you or your business would like to make a donation of these type of items please contact Cindy Datka of G&G Printing and Promotions at 414-443-0027 or Officer Don Semega at 414-471-8430 Ext. 5114.

If you are the parent of a child in any of Wauwatosa's secondary schools you most likely received a notice regarding a survey being conducted as it relates to the School Resource Officer program. Officer Douglas Braun, the City's first SRO, has been receiving several questions about the program and as such has asked me to post some information to better inform the public regarding the School Resource Officer. 

School Resource Officer Program

The School Resource Officer (SRO) Program was initiated in September 2005. The SRO is assigned to the Community Support Division and serves under the direct supervision of the Community Support Sergeant, Sergeant Jeffery Farina. The SRO is a uniformed position and assigned to the Secondary Schools during the day from Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 3:30pm.

A second SRO was added in January 2007 enabling and SRO to be assigned to each High School. Each SRO is also responsible for responding to the Middle and Elementary Schools when needed and available. The Current SRO's are Officer Doug Braun at West H.S. and Officer Jeff Griffin at East H.S.

The overall scope of the responsibilities of the SRO is basically unlimited. Specific duties of a SRO officer are, at this time, expected to include the following responsibilities:

• Promote rapport between Police Officers and students in the secondary schools.
• Work to protect the school, staff and students from crime and violence.
• Serve as immediate resource for staff and students.
• Conduct criminal and quasi-criminal investigation that occur during the day and that would have normally necessitated the dispatching of a Patrol Officer.
• Handle follow up investigations of crimes other issues.
• Make arrests of students when appropriate.
• Coordinate SRO efforts with the Detective Bureau fo the Wauwatosa Police Department.
• Promote a working relationship with other police-student resources in the Wauwatosa School District.
• Make presentations to students, parents and staff members on law, law enforcement, safety issues and good citizenship.
• Refer troubled students to proper professional resources within the guidelines of school policies as needed.
• Work with parents of runaway students.
• Counsel students who are established juvenile offenders.
• Coordinate the Crime Stopper Program in the secondary schools.
• Attend various school functions as deemed necessary such as secondary graduations, proms, dances, certain athletic events, etc.
• Meet periodically with the school district administration to discuss and evaluate the SRO program.

From January to June and September to December of 2007 the School Resource Officers responded to over 330 calls for police service. The calls included child abuse, battery, robbery, disorderly conduct, theft, possession of controlled substances, intoxicated juveniles, possesion of tobacco products, warrants, missing juveniles, threats, vandalism and truancy.

The SRO's also made over 100 presentations to students, staff and parents on such topics as personal safety, drug and alcohol awareness, internets safety, bullying, conflict resolution, juvenile law, and legal consequences. Officer Braun is also a staff advisor  for the Wauwatosa West H.S. Key Club and Officer Griffin is involved in a mentoring program for juveniles.                                                 

The following is an email written by Kathy Ehly who is the Interim Executive Director of the Wauwatosa BID. These are her comments, but as a crime prevention officer  I support them and her tone completely. The incidents took place during the early afternoon hours of Thursday 01-24-08. The suspect in these cases is a white female, heavy set, in her 20's with brown hair. She was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, a pink top, brown jacket and a cream scarf.

 Kathy's email:

 On Thursday afternoon, A person writing checks on the account of Lydia N.
Steifvater has been in the Village this afternoon paying for her purchases
by check. I have verified that her account at Associated Bank is closed and
the checks are fraudulent.

If you took a check from this person, please call the police and report it.
They will only write up a report and investigate if YOU call. We need to
give them the full picture of where this women made her purchases.

IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS OF A PERSON EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN
THE CHECK, PLEASE CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.

I know of at least four businesses, each of whom has lost hundreds of
dollars, because of this. This experience reinforces why it is important
for us to implement the Block Watch program. Each block of businesses in
the Village needs a block captain and the cooperation of everyone. I hope,
when you get the call to volunteer to serve as a block captain you will
seriously consider it.

Sincerely,

Kathy Ehley

Interim Executive Director

Wauwatosa BID

A McGruff House is a temporary haven for children who find themselves in emergency or frightening situations such as being bullied, followed, or hurt while walking in a neighborhood.

A McGruff House provides a sense of security and a source of emergency aid.  It is not an escort service or a guarantee of safety but rather a place for appropriate short-term help by an adult for a child.  An effective McGruff House Program demonstrates that the community accepts a shared responsibility to watch out and help out on behalf of all its children.

WHAT DOES A McGRUFF HOUSE PARTICIPANT DO?

An individual who volunteers as a McGruff House participant agrees to provide the following types of emergency assistance for children as they go to and from school and are at play in the area:

ü      Telephone appropriate authorities for help;

ü      Reassure and aid children who are frightened or lost;

ü      Assist children who have medical emergencies by obtaining appropriate attention;

ü      Assist those who are in immediate fear of becoming victims of personal crime or thefts, child abuse, gangs, or bullies; and

ü      Report crimes and suspicious activities to law enforcement officials and provide descriptions of vehicles and suspects when possible.

THE McGRUFF HOUSE PARTICIPANT DOES NOT X:

X     Personally provide first aid or administer medications, except in extreme emergency situations and then only if qualified;

X     Act as an escort service;

X     Assume the role of neighborhood supervisor;

X     Enforce laws;

X     Provide toilet facilities;

X     Provide a place to “warm up” or “cool down”;

X     Provide food or beverages; or

X     Guarantee safety.

WHY McGRUFF HOUSE?

What makes McGruff House different from other block parent programs?

¨      First, McGruff the Crime Dog.  The House displays a symbol - McGruff, the trench-coated spokesdog for crime prevention - recognized by 99% of America’s children because they’ve seen him on television, in print, or because he has visited their school.  One in five U.S. families moves yearly;  using a symbol recognized nationwide makes sense.

¨      Second, the McGruff House Program is designed to help children.  Recognizing that it is impossible in any program to protect against all contingencies, reasonable precautions have been designed into the McGruff House Program to determine the integrity of those volunteers who participate.  Adults who volunteer their homes agree to law-enforcement records checks.  The distribution of McGruff House signs is strictly controlled.  Each numbered sign is released only after all screening procedures are completed and the applicant is approved.

¨      Third, McGruff House is a locally operated program.  It is a service provided by the community for the well-being of children and represents a cooperative effort.  The partners must include local law enforcement, a school or school system, and a community organization (such as PTA/PTO, Neighborhood Watch, civic association).  It can and should be tailored to local needs and conditions within the basic framework.

¨      Fourth, McGruff House is a nationwide program that represents a partnership among local communities, state governments, and a national organization.  This partnership enables communities to benefit form the credibility and visibility of the national effort and to join with other communities in implementing a program with consistent standards, guidelines, and safeguards. 

            Community Support Secretary Laura Laurishke

            Wauwatosa Police Department

            1700 North 116^th Street

            Wauwatosa, WI  53226

            (414) 471-8430 Ext. 5111

            llaurishke@wauwatosa.net

• A financial institution will never solicit you for information they already have. If you do receive a solicitation regarding an existing account contact your local bank using an existing telephone number or stop by in person.

• Never give out your personal information unless you are dealing with a legitimate financial institution who you have done business with in the past.

Recently there have been some burglaries, primarily in the northwest portion of the City. It seems that large screen TV's and small electronic items are the target of the burglaries.

A late 1990's to early 2000's Ford Explorer, black in color with deeply tinted windows has been seen in the area of some of the burglaries. The most recent sighting of the Explorer had two black males, one wearing a light colored baseball cap as occupants. If you should see a vehicle matching this description, any other supicious vehicles, person or activities you are asked to notify the Wauwatosa Police Department immediately by dialing 414-471-8430.

If it is a crime in progress or you believe any delay in police response would allow the vehicle or people to leave the scene dialing 911 is appropriate.

On Thursday December 13, 2007 at 6:15pm it may have looked like a police raid on Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa as six Wauwatosa Police Reserve Officers and two Officers from the Wauwatosa Police Department's Community Support Division walked from the parking structure, across the skywalk and into a game room on the 4th floor. It wasn't a raid, but a planned visit. A visit that brought the Police Reserves in uniform bearing stuffed animals, t-shirts, glow bracelets and Junior Police Officer badges.

A special THANK YOU to Jill Wiench a Child Life Specialist, Elizabeth the Child Life Intern and our own Wauwatosa Police Reserve Officer Ken Harris who until recently worked on the 5th floor for seven years as a Pediatric RN. We all hope this is the beginning of a strong partnership.    

   New gifts soon to be open; smiling faces, wishes fulfilled, surprises made. And, if you are not careful an advertisement to the bad guys as to the new goodies received at your household. Yes, if you leave those computer, television and game console boxes at the curb the bad guys can see which house may have the best pay off for their effort.

   If you are ready to discard the box, break it down and then cut it up before putting it into the new recycling carts. Better yet, break them down and make a run to the City yards with the boxes. No need to advertise your goodies to the bad guys.

  Unfortunately many people of various socio-economical backgrounds fall victim to scams. I am the first to admit I am no expert as to what is happening in today’s world as it relates to scams. That being said, a colleague of mine, Officer Joel Dhein of the Glendale, WI Police Department is a bit more versed on this topic than I am. Officer Dhein hosts a weekly podcast called "Police On The Scene With A Crime Prevention Lean". Recently Officer Dhein called South Africa regarding a popular Nigerian Scam. Please go to http://www.policeonthescene.com/, on the right hand side you will see what looks like a green MP3 player, click on episode 87 and it will play right in that window.

On Tuesday November 27, 2007 at its monthly meeting the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers held elections for it's Executive Committee and the results are as follows:

• President  -  Mr. Gary Datka who is the Vice-President and Co-owner of C&G Printing and Promotions in Wauwatosa
• Vice-President  -  Mr. John Baurenschmidt who is a Wauwatosa resident
• Treasurer  -  Ms. Teri Morgan who is the Vice-President and Branch Manager of the Wauwatosa Branch of Landmark Credit Union
• Secretary  -  Mrs. Cindy Datka who is the President and Co-owner of C&G Printing and Promotions in Wauwatosa 
• Sgt. At Arms - Mr. Patrick Harrington who is a Wauwatosa resident

Also at the November meeting the membership voted unanimously to award a $250.00 cash payout for information that lead to the arrest of a subject trying to sell narcotics in the City of Wauwatosa.

 And finally - the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers need you! The Crime Stoppers is a volunteer board that serves to deter and prevent crime in the City of Wauwatosa. The board accomplishes this goal by advertising cash rewards for information leading to an arrest, fund raising so that there is cash to pay out when warranted and finally voting to approve pay out of reward money. The Crime Stoppers board meets on the last Tuesday of every month except December and has two major fund raisers, the extremely popular and successful Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast held every Mother's Day at Hart Park and look for our first annual "Shredding Day" in which you will be able to bring personal papers and such for proper destruction.

In order to become a member of the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers you only have to meet the following three criteria:

1. Be a Wauwatosa resident or own a business, work for a business or own real estate in the City of Wauwatosa.
2. Be at least 18 years of age.
3. Be of good moral character.

If you are interested in joining the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers or just have any questions please contact me.

 Officer Don Semega, 414-471-8430 Ext 5114 or dsemega@wauwatosa.net