Community Roll Call

The Wauwatosa Crimes Stoppers in conjunction with Shred-it Document Destruction is holding an open shredding day on Saturday September 26, 2009. The event will be held in the parking lot of Wauwatosa's City Hall from 8am until 1pm. EVERYONE IS WELCOME for this free service, we will accept up to 3 bags or boxes of materials to be shredded. All the shredding takes place on site with security provided by the Wauwatosa Police Department and Wauwatosa Police Reserves.

Shred-it is a Government certified company and will take the shredded material so that it can be bleached out and recycled. Old checks, pre-approved credit cards offers, bank and credit card statements, bills, old tax returns, old medical paperwork and old real estate documents should all be shredded. If you have computer hard drives they will be accepted and destroyed off site; there is a fee of $30 per hard drive. Shredding all of the items listed here and anything else that has personal information printed on it is a great way to prevent identity theft.

Again, this is a free event provided by the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers but as always donations are most welcome and greatly appreciated. All cash donations will go to reward tipsters providing information leading to the arrest of persons who have committed crimes in Wauwatosa.

Lately there seemed to be an unusual amount of garage burglaries and as I looked at the reports what struck me is how the vast majority of them could have been prevented with a few simple maintenance issues.

First, in some of the cases the doors were left opened, unlocked or secured with faulty locks. Okay, the easy fix for opened doors is to always keep them closed and locked. In the case of the service/pedestrian doors with faulty or inferior locks here are simple tips:

• Install a good dead bolt, one where the bolt is a 1" - 1 1/2" long.
• The strike plate which is the metal plate the bolt goes into on the door jamb should have 3" - 3 1/2" screws securing it.
• If the door has glass on it, put a security screen on the inside of the door mounting it with screws that are as long as the door is thick.
• If the door hinges are on the outside of the garage, replace them with security hinges that prevent the hinge pins from being removed.

Second, if you awake in the middle of night or even during the day notice doors or windows that are open and you know you closed them, contact the police and have them come out to investigate. Who knows, we might be able to catch a burglar in the act.

These are just a few simple items that can and should be applied to every structure you own or are otherwise responsible for. If you do, you will reduce your chances of becoming a victim. And if we all make it difficult for a bad guy to commit their crime they will give up on your neighborhood all together.

On behalf of the Wauwatosa Police Department and the Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee I want to thank all of the sponsors, participating groups and volunteers who helped to make TNO 2009 an overwhelming success! If you attended you saw the masses of people enjoying friendship, safety displays, music and food. Once again our signature flashlight walk was a success and the entire event was capped off with an amazing fireworks display.

Based on the support and attendance to this event it is clear that Wauwatosa is a concerned, caring and safe community in which to live and work. If you want to become more involved we have two key programs that allow you to do so, Block Watch and McGruff House. Both help promote an old fashioned neighborhood feel and truly support safety and crime prevention. If you are interested in either of the programs please call the Police Department at 414-471-8430 and ask for the Community Support Division.

Thanks again to all involved and all who attended TNO 2009.

We are less than a week away from Tosa's Night Out, 2009. The event kicks off at 4:00 PM on Tuesday August 4, 2009 at Hart Park, 7300 W. Chestnut in Wauwatosa. If you are unfamiliar with TNO and wondering what all the fuss is about let me just list all the free events:

• Coloring contest
• CP Railroad Kiddie Train
• Home Depot workshop
• Kid Care ID fingerprinting
• Rec Department kid's activities
• Police - Milwaukee Brewer Card sets (First 500 children only)
• Noodle art
• Car show
• Ronald McDonald Show
• Inflatable / Bounce rides
• Concert
• Flashlight walk with goodies at the check points
• Bartolotta fireworks to close the evenings festivities

Add to that the many organizations with health and safety displays as well as family friendly priced food and beverages and how can you miss on having a superb night out?

If you are interested in participating you can still register at the Little Read Book located at 7603 W. State St in Wauwatosa. They will be registering people up until noon on the day of the event. After noon on August 4th you can come to Hart Park to register right up until the time the flashlight walk kicks off or we run out of the highly coveted TNO T-shirt, which ever comes first. Upon registering you will receive a TNO T-shirt for each person registered and the night of the event you / your family will receive one event bag filled with all kinds of goodies and this will also allow you to participate in the flashlight walk so you can get the goodies along the way at the checkpoints.

Registration:

• Single person - $8.00
• Two people - $13.00
• Three people - $16.00
• Four people - $19.00
• Fifth person is free for a total of $19.00

That's right a family of 5 will receive 5 T-shirts and one bag of goodies for just $19.00; add to that all the free fun, family friendly priced food and some informative safety displays and you have a great way to spend a summer evening.

Hope to see you there!

Recently I was off duty and running errands when I saw several scary situations as it relates to people riding bikes. Two to three people on one bike that only had a single seat and a toddler in a bike seat that appeared to be shifting back and forth and the toddler did not have a helmet on and an infant in a pouch carried on the chest of the rider. Yes, I know Wauwatosa does not have a bike helmet ordinance and most of us survived our youth without wearing helmets. But think about that unsuspecting toddler if that seat came off the bike or the bike was to go down for one reason or another. If as an adult you decide not to wear a helmet I respect that but please consider teaching your children to wear them and put them on your toddlers if they are riding in a bike seat or in a bike trailer.

Wauwatosa Ordinance 11.48.020(A) excerpt states it is unlawful for any person who propels or operates a bicycle on any street or alley in the City of Wauwatosa to carry or permit to be carried any other person upon such bicycle except a bicycle built for the operation of two or more passengers and having two or more sets of pedals.

Wauwatosa Ordinance 11.48.020(B) states it is unlawful to operate a bicycle equipped with a child seat unless the following regulations are observed:

1. The operator shall be eighteen years of age or older;
2. The passenger shall be under the age of seven years and seated on the child's seat;
3. The child's seat shall be fastened securely to the bicycle and shall be located behind the operator's seat, shall be so designed and manufactured for this specific purpose and be equipped with safety belt, arm rests, back rest, foot and spoke protector;
4. A child's seat may be used only after it has been inspected by the police department and found to comply with the provisions of this chapter;
5. A bicycle equipped with a child's seat shall be operated only during the hours of daylight when such seat is occupied.

If you are going to be leaving town for a vacation of a few days or more please follow these tips to help keep your home safe and secure:

• Notify a trusted neighbor of your trip and also leave a key for them.
• Make sure the mail and newspapers are stopped or someone is picking them up for you.
• Put various lamps on timers throughout the house.
• Put talk radio on a timer to provide the sound of voices in your house.
• Make sure lawn mowing is taken care of if you are away more than 5 days.
• Install low voltage or solar landscaping all around your house that will operate during the hours of darkness.
• Install photo electric cells on your outdoor lighting around doors and windows so that they come on during hours of darkness.
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked, including those on garages and garden sheds.
• Notify the Police Department of your trip and at a minimum give them the following information:
• Name and phone number of a keyholder.
• The dates you will be away.
• What vehicles are okay to be in your driveway while you are away.
• Name of who may be checking on things in and around your house.
• A phone number to contact you in case of an emergency.

If you follow these simple tips you will make it more difficult to allow the bad guys the opportunity to turn you into a victim. This in turn should allow you some peace of mind while you are away unwinding and decompressing.

As always these items are merely suggestions and all of the ideas may not work for you. There is also no guarantee that following any or all of these steps will prevent you from becoming a victim.

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.
4. Submit to a brief background investigation

Just a quick reminder since good biking weather has finally arrived, and that is to secure all bikes when they are not under the actual physical control of someone. By securing I mean locking with a chain or cable through the wheels and frame to a sturdy and secure object or bike rack, locking it in a shed or garage or bringing it into the house. It only takes a few seconds for someone to take your unlocked bike and you may never see it again.

Wauwatosa Ordinance 11.48.090 states that it is illegal to operate an unregisterd bike in the City of Wauwatosa and that it has to be licensed in Wauwatosa or by another jurisdiction.

Wauwatosa Ordinance 11.48.100 states that every Wauwatosa citizen should register their bike with the police department. This is a free service where all of the bike's information is gathered for entry into a data base and a non expiring license is issued and affixed to the bike. Besides registering at the police department you can also register at any Wauwatosa fire station and at Johnson's Cycle and Fitness located at 6916 West North Ave in Wauwatosa.

Besides being a requirement to register, should your bike be stolen, having it registered will increase the chances of it being returned.

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers are offering a CASH REWARD OF UP TO $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest in the vandalism incidents at 7720 Harwood Avenue, the newly remodeled Little Red Store. All information is anonymous and callers remain anonymous.

On May 2, 2009 and again on May 17, 2009 unknown Actors threw rocks through two windows of the building . Anyone with knowledge about either incident is asked to call the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers at 414-771-TOSA (414-771-8672) to make an anonymous tip. If the tip leads to an arrest the tipster may be eligible for a cash reward.

On Thursday April 30th, 6:00 PM at the Muellner Building in Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut, a panel moderated by Wauwatosa Mayor Jill Didier will address underage drinking issues, focusing mainly on parents hosting underage alcohol parties. The timing for this panel presentation is not by accident as proms and graduations are fast approaching and that is why Tosa United has made the efforts to organize this event.

Besides the Mayor the panel will consist of Mr. Tom Swittle, Associate Prinicpal at Wauwatosa East, Rebecca Huenink of Tosa United, Jeanette Kowaliak, MPH, of the Wauwatosa Health Department and yours truly, Officer Don Semega of the Wauwatosa Police Department.

All area parents are encouraged to attend with their high school aged children as this issue is discussed from many angles and view points. This promises to be an eye opening and extremely educational event so bring your questions and note pads. No pre registration is required.

On behalf of this panel I hope to see you there. 

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers is hosting it's Seventh Annual Pancakes With Mom on Sunday May 10, 2009 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.

All rewards are paid with funds obtained from donations and fund raising, Crime Stoppers receive no tac dollars. Being able to offer cash rewards to anonymous tipsters is an extremely effective crime fighting tool. In 2008 the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers received 8 separate tips which resulted in 8 arrests and solved 4 crimes. During 2008 the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers disbursed $2,400.00 to anonymous tipsters. So far in 2009 they have received 2 tips that have resulted in 2 arrests, solved 1 crime and the dispersal of $175.00 in reward money.

So the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers are asking for you to support them 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.

Also take a look at our new website, www.tosacrimestoppers.com 

This comes to us from our friends at Prevention Works with some additional input from me.

According to the Center for Media Research, "Most parents in the United States estimate that their children spend about two hours a month on the internet. In reality, kids and teens are spending upwards of 20 hours a month surfing the Web. 41% of US teens claming their parents have no idea what they are looking at online. The most popular online activities are online dating - 23%, social networking - 50% and playing games - 72%."

Facebook and MySpace are two popular Internet sites used by children and adults that have become social getaways to chat, blog, post pictures, join groups and make friends.

With a few clicks of the mouse, people can present their personal information and thoughts for anyone to see. What many people new to the Web do not realize is that there are risks involved and that they need to understand them before they post this kind of information. Teachers, employers, predators and basically anyone who knows how to use the Internet can go online and find information about you. Have you ever done a Google search on yourself or others?

It is important to be aware of the risks of social networking in this cyber world we live and work in. It is important to remember not to post personal information, that no information is truly personal information and anything you post and delete can still be found.

Sure, many social networks have an age verification required, but it is easy to go online and lie about one's identity. Law enforcement agencies now search these social outlets posing as who they are not as a way to catch online predators. They are also, in cases, legally able to obtain passwords and hack into computers. While realistically this is good, be aware that it is easy for anyone with a basic knowledge to steal your password, log in and be you for a day.

Understand, teach and protect. Do each of these to create a safe haven for you and your loved ones. The last thing you want to do is share information with the cyber world that you cannot take back. Also, never allow a minor child to be online when they cannot be monitored non stop.

The Wauwatosa Police Reserve Unit aids the Wauwatosa Police Department by responding in times of emergency, assisting at parades, Tosa's Night Out, Hart Fest, Tosa Fest and many other events  where supplemental manpower is needed. In addition the Reserves are involved in outreach work that includes visits to Children's Hospital, raising funds for the American Cancer Society and assisting the Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers in their many fund raising events. The Reserves are uniformed Officers who receive training similar to that of a regular Police Officer and perform many of the same duties. The typical Reserve Officer falls into one on of two categories , a young person with a interest in pursuing a law enforcement career ; many of our former Reserves are now serving proudly as regular Officers throughout the Country and credit the Wauwatosa Police Reserves with their success. The second category is a more mature individual who is set in their career outside of law enforcement and just wants to give to the community.

On Saturday March 7, 2009 the Wauwatosa Police Department, Mayor, Common Council and Fire and Police Commission honored the Wauwatsoa Police Reserves at their annual awards banquet. The Wauwatosa Police Reserves are a volunteer unit of men and women who give to the community through their service as Police Reserves. This year was a record year in the number of hours that Reserves gave which totaled 5,126. I personally have the honor and privelage of working with this outstanding group of people and on behalf of the Wauwatosa Police Department want to personally and publicaly thank all off the Reserve Officers and their families for their efforts. Every Reserves gives selflessly and seeks nothing in return except the ability to continue serving Wauwatosa.

In 2008 the Reserves had 15 members volunteer between 100 and 200 hours and 5 who topped 200 hours. The top performers were Reserve Platoon LT Katie Halopka with 204 hours, Reserve Officer Kellen Williams with 204 hours, Reserve Executive LT James DeValk with 330 hours, Reserve Captain Michael Jamrozy with 367.5 hours and Reserve Platoon LT / Treasurer Matthew Bohmann with 606 hours.

The next time you see one of our fine Reserve Officers please take the time to thank them for their unselfish giving and express your support. If you think you would be interested in being a member of the Wauwatosa Police Reserves you can contact Patrol Specialist II Paul Leist by calling 414-471-8430 Ext. 5113 or emailing him at pleist@wauwatosa.net. The requirements are simple, be at least 18 years old, have a vaild WI driver's license and be of good moral character; there are no residency requirements.

Recently there has been some thefts of wallets from purses. The thefts seem to be taking place in local restaurants when attention is turned away from the purse and it is left hanging on the back of chair or stool. Often the theft is not noticed until after the thieves have already made purchases with credit or debit cards.

Please remember to keep your purse not only close to you but within your direct line of sight at all times; it only takes a matter of a few seconds for someone to reach into your purse and take your wallet or other items. Leaving a purse hanging on the back of a chair, in the shopping cart while looking away at items to purchase or anywhere that has you take your eyes off of it is asking to be the victim of this type of crime.

In the recent incidents the following general descriptions were given of possible suspects:

1.) Black male, 6'2", 220 - 250lbs and wearing a large diamond earring.

2.) Black female, petite and wearing "Dollar Sign" earrings.

3.) Black female, petite and last seen wearing a knit hat.

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers are proud to announce that they have found their way onto the web! Although the web site is still being fine tuned and still has some test and example areas up we invite you to take a look. Please visit www.tosacrimestoppers.com and take a look around. Stop back every week and watch as we continue to add useful information.

The Crime Stoppers are hoping that this web site will evolve into a great crime prevention / crime solving tool all in an effort to help maintain Wauwatosa's reputation as a great community to live, do business and raise a family in!

An employee of the City received a fax at work that was seen for what it is, a scam. The heading is "Charity Foudation" and originates from Mother Helena Daline. The fax goes on to explain she is a childless widow on her deathbed and is looking for someone to manage her nearly ten million dollar estate once she passes and promises one million dollars if you are willing to help.

It goes on to state that should you be willing to help to contact her attorney, who by the way does not return my calls or emails. Should you receive such a fax, please disregard it and just throw it away.

With the recent cold snap and the non-stop weather coverage I noticed many media outlets reporting that some communities have ordinances prohibiting the practice of leaving your vehicle running unattended. And yes, Wauwatosa is one of those communities.

Wauwatosa Ordinance 11.32.370 reads No motor vehicle shall be left standing on any street in the City of Wauwatosa with the motor running except when attended by some person comepent to operate the same.

This of course does not preclude you from starting your vehicle to warm it up while you are on private property but I do want to caution you because it does leave your vehicle at a high risk of theft. It does not take long for a person walking up or down your street to jump in your running car and drive away. If you do have to warm up your car please consider having spare keys so that you can lock your vehicle as a little bit of a deterrent to theft; but a better bet is a remote starting system that allows the car to remain locked while started and will shut down if the vehicle is shifted into gear without the proper key in the ignition.

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers Presents The Glen Gerard Magic Show Friday, January 30th, 2009 Longfellow Middle School 7600 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa Show Time, 7:00 p.m. All Seats $6.00 advance / $7.00 at the door Children five and under free.

Magician and Illusionist Glen Gerard is bringing his large, old time magic show to the Longfellow Middle School on January 30th, and proceeds will benefit Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers. Show time is 7:00 P.M.

Glen Gerard has appeared all over the world, including Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines, and in Las Vegas with the Smothers Brothers. Gerard also headlined the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. This all age’s show will feature sleight of hand, large stage illusions, and plenty of audience participation. This program is reminiscent of the big, old fashioned, touring magic show, as performed by Blackstone, Thurston, and Houdini. Acts in the show will include the classic “Blade Box”, whereby a woman is placed in a casket and nine steel blades are thrust through the box, from every possible angle. Also included in the show will be the “Houdini Escape Trunk “. The program is 90 minutes of magic, comedy, and mystery that is fun for the whole family.

Proceeds benefit Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers, the anonymous crime tip-line that offers cash rewards leading to the arrest of offenders and the capture of fugitives. Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers works in conjunction with State and Local law enforcement, and is the fastest, most effective way to apprehend criminals and recover stolen property. Tipsters can get a cash reward without ever giving their name. The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers Tip Line number is 414-771-TOSA (8672).

Tickets are sold to local residents and businesses by phone. When we call, say “yes “to tickets, and support Crime Stoppers. For further information, contact our box office at 262-255-2442 Magic Show Web Site www.magic4you.com Crime Stoppers Web Site www.wicrimestoppers.org/local_events.html City of Wauwatosa Web Site www.wauwatosa.net Contacts: Cindy Datka, Crime Stoppers Secretary 414-443-0027 Glen Gerard, Magician & Illusionist, 262-250-1234 Your help in the form of advance press coverage will greatly help Crime Stoppers- a non-profit, community, law enforcement support organization. Thank you!