The instances of identity theft are on the rise however the ways that offenders steal our identities for the most part is low tech. Following you will find a list of how identities are being stolen:

• Stealing wallets/purses from shopping carts
• Pick pocketing
• Stealing mail and applying for your pre-approved credit offer simply by changing the address to a vacant home or PO Box
• Rummage through residential and business trash containers
• Posing as someone legally permitted to gain your credit report
• Collude with or bribe employees of businesses or other organizations who have your personal information on file
• Break into homes and find personal information laying about
• Hack into corporate computer systems
• Legally getting access to your credit card while conducting a transaction then copying or electronically scanning your credit card number
• In home service calls where the service provider might see your banking or other personal information on a desk or table

Here is a short list of things to consider when safeguarding your personal information:

• Shred every piece of paper that you do not need to keep that has any personal information on it
• Delete much of the pre-printed information on your personal checks
• Ask your Doctors, banking institutions and even your grocery store how they are safeguarding your information and if they sell any of it
• Change all your banking, internet and computer passwords on a regular basis
• Be careful as to what information you are sharing over cordless phones, cell phones, instant messaging or text messaging
• Sanitize your home before having an in home service visit
• Check you credit report frequently; each major credit reporting agency must provide you with one free report annually.

Are you aware that you can sign up to receive free wireless Amber Alerts on your cell phone in the form of a text message? It takes all of about 3 minutes to register your cell phone number and pick the zip codes you want to receive Amber Alerts from. Visit www.wirelessamberalerts.org and follow the very easy step by step instructions. In selecting your zip codes you need only select one zip code for a metro area per county because of the way the system is set up. For example, if an alert is issued for 53208 which is a strictly a Milwaukee zip code, every zip code in the County of Milwaukee will receive that alert. As a matter of fact, in nearly every case, an Amber Alert will go State wide. This is crime prevention that comes in two forms, free and easy. Please consider signing up for the Wireless Amber Alerts.

RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...

The Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers along with Shred It are hosting a Shredding Day on Saturday September 13, 2008 at the Wauwatosa City Hall parking lot, 7725 W. North Ave, from 8:00am until 1:00pm. This event his being held in conjunction with MMSD's household hazardous waste disposal. Entry to the parking lot will be from North Ave and exit will to Wauwatosa Ave / 76th Street.

The purpose of this event is to help you protect yourself from identity theft by providing, free of charge, the opportunity to shred up to 3 boxes per household of papers that may contain any of your personal identification and account numbers. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States with 15 million reported victims a year, that means that every 2 seconds an identity is stolen!

Again, this is a free event. The Crime Stoppers will howerver be excepting cash donations to further their crime prevention and crime solving programs. Their biggest expense is in supporting their most successful program which is paying cash rewards for tips that lead to the arrest of persons who have committed crimes in the City of Wauwatosa.

 

Please take advantage of this shredding day to help protect your identity and your future.

 

RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...RAIN OR SHINE...

Recently there has been some burglaries in various areas around the City and many of them could have been avoided if some simple practices were put into place. Please take the time to review the bullet points listed below and try to employ them around your home, it should reduce the chances of you becoming the victim of a burglary.

• Never leave an unattended garage or garden shed unlocked or with the doors open.
• Never allow a stranger into your home.
• Never leave your doors or windows open if you cannot physically monitor them. Unmonitored doors should be closed and locked, windows should be closed so that they are open no more than 4" and they are pinned so that they cannot be opened any wider.
• Light the entire exterior of your home during hours of darkness.
• Always roll up vehicle windows and lock the vehicle, even if you are away from it for a short period of time.
• All bikes should be locked in a garage or to an immobile object when not actually being ridden.

The "Bad Guys" rely on three things - Ability, Desire and Opportunity. The one thing we can take away from the "Bad Guy" is his or her OPPORTUNITY!

There has recently been a real issue with a number of graffiti incidents in the City and I thought it would be appropriate to blog some excerpts from the City's Ordinance.

7.30.030(a) indicates that is unlawful for any person to apply graffiti to any natural or man made surface on any city owned property or, without the permission of the owner on any non-city owned property.

7.30.030(b)(1) indicates that it is unlawful for any person under the age of 18 to possess any graffiti implement and according to 7.30.020 that includes aerosol paint, broad tipped marker, gum label, paint stick or graffiti stick, etching equipment or any other device capable of scarring or leaving a visible mark.

7.03.030(c) indicates that no property owner shall allow graffiti to remain for more than 10 days. Failure to clean graffiti from private property may result in a citation.

So what does all this mean? Simply minors are not allowed to possess any graffiti devices and property owners are requried to remove all graffiti on their property within 10 days. The City of Wauwatosa and County of Milwaukee will remove graffiti from their property.

Further, you are asked to report any graffiti on private or public property to the police department so that a report can be filed which may include the taking of photographs.

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.                                                 

WHAT IS A McGRUFF HOUSE? 

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. 

  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDINGWAUWATOSA’S McGRUFF HOUSE PROGRAM…CONTACT:

            Community Support Secretary Laura Laurishke

            Wauwatosa Police Department

            1700 North 116^th Street

            Wauwatosa, WI  53226

            (414) 471-8430 Ext. 5111

            llaurishke@wauwatosa.net

   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.

 An upfront warning, this is about a 15 minute audio presentation and you will have to listen very closely, maybe even rewinding some portions of the audio because of the other persons heavy accent.

 

There is a way the "Bad Guys" are scamming us on gift cards, even before we purchase them. How are they doing that? Well, some stores elect to have their gift cards on racks or hooks where you just pull them off and have the cashier charge them up with an amount. In stores like that the "Bad Guys" are writing down serial numbers off of the cards on the rack and they can later retrieve a balance by using the store's customer service telephone number. And to make matters worse, they can use the gift card online just by having that serial number they copied earlier and a known balance provided by the store.

 Here is a scenario:

On Monday Bad Billy goes to a national department store chain we will call Alfred's. At Alfred's their gift cards are on display for purchase and Bad Billy copies down 12 serial numbers. Mr. and Mrs. Dons decide to purchase 4 gift cards for their nieces and nephews who live in another part of the country. The Dons' charge each card up with $50.00 value and stick the gift cards inside Christmas cards and send them off via the US Postal Service.

 On Tuesday Bad Billy calls Alfred's customer service telephone number and asks what the balance is on gift card A0012 and finds it to be $50.00. On Wednesday and the following days Bad Billy calls about one card each day. The bad news is, even before the Dons' nieces and nephews open their cards, Bad Billy has already gone to the Alfred's web site and redeemed the gift cards for things he wants. Bad Billy will often have those items shipped to a friend's house or even a house he knows that is vacant or even the Jone's house. Why the Jones house? well there is no one home during the day and he can drive by and get the boxes off the Jones deck before anyone gets home.

 Okay, so how to we protect ourselves against this type of scam? Easy really, purchase your gift card from a store that keeps their gift cards behind the register or customer service counter. If the store you want to purchase a card from only keeps them in the open, insist they get one out of the back storage room. But buyers beware, because Bad Billy's sister Bad Belinda might be an employee of that store and she may write down the serial numbers before selling them to you. It might be a good idea to check the store's policy on refunds or procedures on how they protect their gift cards.

Below you will find some tips on improving the security of your home. I fully understand that everything you read here may not work for you or fit your desires, but by employing the tips listed below you will make it harder for unauthorized persons to enter your home. Like any chain is only as strong as it weakest link, your home is only as secure as your weakest security precaution.

 

 Landscaping:

• Shrubs should be below the window and no higher than 2'. Consider thorn bushes as well
• Tree branches should be a minimum of 7' high
• Tree branches should be no closer than 6' to the edge of the roof

 Windows:

• All windows should be pinned so as not be opened more than 4"
• Double hung windows should have working sash locks
• Casement windows should be closed and latched when the home is unoccupied
• Basement windows should have security bars installed across them. A key should be kept 40" away on the same plane to allow unsecuring the bars for escape.
• Basement windows can be replaced by glass block windows as well

 Doors:

• Sliding glass doors should have a lift barrier strip or screws left protruding on tap track to prevent lifting of the doors from the tracks
• Sliding glass doors should have auxiliary key locks on the top and bottom
• All windows / glass on wood or metal doors should have a security screen or film installed
• Doors without glass should have peep holes installed
• Dead bolts should be employed on all exterior doors with at least 1" of bolt length
• All strike plates (The plates that are mounted on door way frame) should have screws of 3".

 Exterior Lighting:

• The entire exterior should be lit up with low level lighting during hours of darkness
• Dusk to dawn sensors are recommended above motion sensors
• Landscape lighting is very effective
• Do not forget to light up the garage exterior

 General Items:

• House numbers should be lit and visisble from the street
• Caregivers should be trained in lock and window operation
• If an alarm system is in use, make sure your key holder list is up to date
• If going out of town ensure the grass cuttting, snow removal, mail and newspapers are taken care of
• Consider leaving a radio tuned to talk radio while the house is unoccupied
• Conisder timers on interior lights if out of town or you return from work after dark

 As always, the recommendations made here are designed to make your residence more secure. While there is no guarantee that you will not be the victim of a crime regardless of the precautions you take, by adopting these recommendations you should reduce your risk. The recommendations made on this blog are made in good faith and there is no guarantee implied or stated.

 As always, contact me with questions or concerns.

Officer Don

If you have been to Mayfair Mall this week you have seen the Christmas / Holiday decorations are up. Add that to the fact that the busiest retail day of the year, the Friday after Thanksgiving is just two short weeks away; not to mention the fact that the ladies in my family are about to embark on the annual shopping weekend this second weekend in November; well I am compelled to write about shopping safety tips.

 

Please take the time to review the tips listed below and should you think of some additional tips, add them in the comments section or give me an email.

 

Ø      Always park in a well lit area.

Ø      Remember where you parked.

Ø      Keep your car locked at all times.

Ø      Walk with authority, always making eye contact with others.

Ø      Shop in groups.

Ø      Dress casually and comfortably.

Ø      Leave the expensive or even expensive appearing jewelry at home.

Ø      Avoid carrying a purse if possible.

Ø      Take only the cash, credit cards and identification needed.

Ø      If carrying cash, credit cards and identification on your person, keep it in your front pocket.

Ø      Don’t flash large amounts of money around.

Ø      Always double check to make sure you have your credit cards back.

Ø      Never allow your credit card to leave your sight.

Ø      Always be alert to your surroundings.

Ø      Do not allow yourself to be overloaded with packages. Make several trips to your vehicle if needed.

Ø      Never leave packages or anything of value in view in your vehicle.

Ø      When returning to your vehicle, look around, inside and out of your vehicle before opening it up.

Ø      If using an ATM, use one in a busy area, have a friend with you.

 

And from the Better Business Bureau, here are some online shopping tips.

 

Ø      Shop only at Internet Merchants you know and trust. If in doubt visit www.bbb.org

Ø      Beware of emails offering cut-rate prices, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Ø      Check the merchants refund policies before making a purchase.

Ø      Make sure the merchant is using a secure server.

Ø      Refrain from using a debit card or online check, it exposes your personal checking/savings accounts to fraud.

Ø      Always print and save any confirmation or order forms.

Ø      Frequently check your accounts online, no need to wait for a paper statement.

 

I am often approached and asked how to prevent motor vehicle theft so I thought why not post a blog addressing just that issue. Pleas take the time to review some tips on preventing vehicle theft. Not all of the suggestions may be practicle for you or your vehicle, you have to be the judge as to what you think is appropriate.

• Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
• Never leave your keys in the ignition.
• Always roll the windows up and lock the doors, even if parked at home.
• Install tapered door lock buttons, discard the ones with the lips on them. This will prevent the opening of your doors with a coat hanger or similar device.
• Never leave anything of value in the auto; this includes the change left over from the convenience store and drive through.
• Never hide a key on or under the vehicle, thieves will take the time to try and locate "Hidden" keys.
• Park in busy and well lit spots.
• Consider having the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) etched on the entire vehicle's glass.
• Consider installing an ignition kill or cutout switch in a hidden location.
• Consider using a mechanical steering wheel locking device.
• Consider installing an alarm.
• Consider a vehicle monitoring and tracking system.
• If you install an alarm or employee a tracking system, display the provided stickers on your vehicle.
• If you have recently purchased a used vehicle, especially from a private party, consider changing the ignition switch.

As always, practicing the tips pointed our here will not guarantee that you will not be the victim of a crime. But, they will lower the chances of you becoming a victim.

From the National Crime Prevention Council, www.ncpc.org

The news is full of stories about people who have been raped, robbed, mugged, or otherwise assaulted, and everyone cringes when they hear these reports. Who hasn’t feared becoming one of these victims? The truth, however, is that the incidence of personal violence has dropped to its lowest level in almost three decades.

Violent crime - murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault - was down from a high of 52.3 incidents per 1,000 people in 1981 to just 21.1 incidents per 1,000 in 2004, according to statistics compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the U.S. Department of Justice. Aggravated assault - which involves attack with a weapon or attack without a weapon that results in serious injury - was down even more sharply, from 12.4 incidents per 1,000 people in 1977 to just 4.3 incidents per 1,000 in 2004.

Everyone - and this applies to residents of big cities, small towns, and even rural areas - needs to be careful, but these lower rates of crime are evidence that if people are vigilant and take common-sense precautions, crime can be prevented.

Tips

* Don’t walk or jog early in the morning or late at night when the streets are deserted.

* When out at night, try to have a friend walk with you.

* Carry only the money you’ll need on a particular day.

* Don’t display your cash or any other inviting targets such as pagers, cell phones, hand-held electronic games, or expensive jewelry and clothing.

* If you think someone is following you, switch directions or cross the street. If the person continues to follow you, move quickly toward an open store or restaurant or a lighted house. Don’t be afraid to yell for help.

* Try to park in well-lighted areas with good visibility and close to walkways, stores, and people.

* Make sure you have your key out as you approach your door.

* Always lock your car, even if it’s in your own driveway; never leave your motor running.

* Do everything you can to keep a stranger from getting into your car or to keep a stranger from forcing you into his or her car.

* If a dating partner has abused you, do not meet him or her alone. Do not let him or her in your home or car when you are alone.

* If you are a battered spouse, call the police or sheriff immediately. Assault is a crime, whether committed by a stranger or your spouse or any other family member. If you believe that you and your children are in danger, call a crisis hotline or a health center (the police can also make a referral) and leave immediately.

* If someone tries to rob you, give up your property—don’t give up your life.

* If you are robbed or assaulted, report the crime to the police. Try to describe the attacker accurately. Your actions can help prevent someone else from becoming a victim.

Recently there have been some entries to and theft from motor vehicles in the City. Most of them are taking place during the overnight hours, in residential areas, with valuables left in plain sight and with the motor vehicle unlocked. How can you prevent becoming the victim of this type of crime?

1. Never leave anything of value in your motor vehicle, not even that loose change that accumulates after a quick stop at the convenience store or restaurant.

2. Lock your motor vehicle at all times, no matter what time of the day it is or where it is parked. Locking it will deter most thieves.

3. If you leave your motor vehicle in the driveway over night, make sure that all exterior and landscape lighting is left on during all hours of darkness.

4. If you park in a garage, lock the garage door(s) and window(s). If needed upgrade all the door and window locks to the most secure you can find.

Taking these precautions will not guarantee you will not be a victim but it does lessen your chances. You can never take away a thief’s or burglar’s desire or ability, but you can certainly take away the opportunity for them to commit a crime.

The warm weather has arrived; along with it comes the opportunity, or in some cases the need to do some work outdoors. As such, many Wauwatosa residents will be running between their homes, garages and garden sheds. Please be aware of the fact that it doesn’t take someone long to remove items from any of these places. Think about the physical location of each of these structures, and then think about all the blind spots that are created when you may be moving about or occupied with a specific task. Is it possible that someone may be able to enter your garage undetected while you are mowing your front lawn? If you are inside your shed or garage are you able to observe all the entry points to your home? These are only two of many questions to consider but I think the point is made.

Too often people have been the victims of theft or burglary while busy maintaining their property. The safe way to conduct business is to keep doors to these structures locked while you are away from them. It may seem like extra work to secure windows and doors if we are out of the line of sight, but if we take away the criminal’s opportunities then we prevent a crime.

This same concept should be applied when moving items to and from your vehicle. There have been past incidents of theft of groceries or other items while they were in the process of being loaded or unloaded from a vehicle.

As always, we ask that you continue to be alert to suspicious or abnormal activities in your neighborhood. If anything suspicious is observed, it should be reported to the police department immediately.

When inviting installers, repair technicians, or any other services(s) into your home or apartment there are several things to consider. Although the majority of companies are honest and law abiding, an “In Home” visit can expose you to theft, burglary, or worse. Taking simple precautions and preparing for an in home visit is simple.

Whether your furnace or hot water heater needs service, you are having cable, satellite, or telephone service installed, or you are considering a home repair or improvement, there will occasions when you invite a stranger into your home or apartment.

Before considering a company, get to know your contractor:

• Use reputable companies that are established in your community.
• Use references from family, friends, and neighbors
• Research companies through the Better Business Bureau
• Use insured companies who conduct background checks on their workers
• Compile a list of companies before the need arises so you make sound decisions

Calling For Service

• When making the appointment ask the name or names of the employee(s) coming to your home
• Ask the exact time you can expect the employee(s) and if they can call just before arrival
• Get a description of the service vehicle(s)

Prepare Yourself and Your Home

• Hide easy to carry away valuables
• Do not “brag” about or “Show off” valuables or collectables
• Have a family member or friend with you during the visit if you are uneasy being alone

Upon Arrival

• Look for marked company vehicle
• Look for employee uniforms and photo identification
• Keep employee(s) under observation and limit access to unnecessary areas
• Be suspicious of employees who appear more concerned about your belongings than their job


If at anytime during a service visit you become uncomfortable, ask the worker(s) to leave.

If you feel you have been the victim of a crime, call local law enforcement immediately.

Cordless / Cell Phone Safety


Many of us use cordless and / or cell phones in our daily activities. What we don’t think about is the fact that those types of phones are actually mini radio transmitters. This means that everything you say is transmitted over the air and can possibly be intercepted by people who have receiving or listening devices. Although certain FCC rules prohibit monitoring of conversations that take place with these types of phones, anyone with some basic electronic knowledge can build such a device.

With this in mind you are asked to be very cautious about what type of information you are sharing over cordless and cell phones. Never give any information that you would consider confidential or that may relate to your personal identity. If you do need to relay this type of information over the phone please switch to a good old fashioned hard wired telephone to cut down on the chances of that information being intercepted.

Information considered confidential or related to your personal identity includes:

• Social Security Number
• Drivers License Number
• Date of Birth
• Bank Account Numbers
• Credit Card Numbers
• Banking and Credit Card Passwords or PIN’s
• Medicare / Medicaid Identification Numbers

Also, keep in mind that this information should only be shared with well known and trusted individuals. Never share it with telemarketers and be very leery of people posing as your bank or other service providers.

A hit and run accident is an accident in which one of the vehicle operators leaves the scene prior to police arrival on a reportable accident, or the exchange of names and insurance information on a non-reportable accident. In the State of Wisconsin a reportable accident is any accident where one or more of the vehicles has $1,000.00 or more estimated damage or there is personal injury. For example, a two vehicle accident where the estimated damage to one vehicle is $750.00 and the other vehicle is $900.00 without injury does not need to be reported. But given that same accident, if either one or both of the vehicles has sustained more than $1,000.00 in estimated damage, or any passenger in any vehicle is injured, then a State accident report needs to be filed. When in doubt contact the local law enforcement agency.

 

Being aware following an accident will make all the difference. If you are in an accident, but especially a hit and run accident, be sure to get as much identifying information about the other vehicle and driver as possible. Things to look for are the license plate, make, model and color of the vehicle, the type and location of any damage to the vehicle and any other identifying features such as antennas, bumper stickers, extra lighting and anything that would make the vehicle recognizable. Also, try to find anyone who may have been in the area and can provide more information to the police once they respond. If you find other witnesses and they cannot or will not remain, try to solicit their name and phone number so that police can follow up with them.

 

Be suspicious of those drivers that do stop right away but want to give you money or ask for money in an effort to leave the police out of the incident. If they want to give you money, there is an underlying reason why they don’t want the police involved. If they are trying to get money from you on the scene, that may be an initial indication that they are trying to take advantage of you or even that the accident wasn’t “Accidental” at all.

 

The thing to keep in mind following any accident is make sure you assess to see if there are any injuries. If there are injuries, take the appropriate steps which will include contacting police and fire personnel; render first aid if you are qualified. Whether there are injuries or not, keep your wits about you and use your common sense. Having a cell phone along with you while you travel is clearly an asset. And again, when in doubt as to whether an accident is reportable or not, contact local law enforcement.

I was reading over some of the postings on the Town Square bulletin board associated with WauwatosaNOW.com. I am pleased to see some of the posters sharing information about crimes taking place in their neighborhood and what can be done to prevent future crimes. Based on what I read I would like to address some issues as to what is suspicious and when it is appropriate to call the police.

 

First of all “Suspicious” is not a stranger walking up our street. But that same stranger walking back and forth, hanging around, looking up and down driveways, looking into cars or looking into homes; now that is suspicious. A vehicle that is unknown to our neighborhood that drives up our street is not suspicious. But if that same vehicle is continually driving up and down the street, or through the alley or parked in the driveway of an unoccupied house; now that is suspicious. How about the movers,  plumber or cable guy at your neighbor’s house while they are away on vacation? Suspicious? I would think so. Now of course, this small paragraph does not identify all the possible activities that can be suspicious; you will have to be the judge in most circumstances, trust your intuition.

 

If it is suspicious, it does warrant a call to the police department. That is an immediate call, do not hesitate. The sooner you call the sooner we can respond and hopefully contact the person or persons involved in the suspicious activity. As a police officer there is nothing more frustrating than receiving the call about suspicious activity 10 -20 minutes after it was observed. And worse than that is talking to the neighbors after a burglary or other such crime and finding out that a clearly suspicious person or vehicle was observed in the area, but that person did not want to bother the police.

 

I hope this post helps sort out some confusion. Alert neighbors are a great crime prevention tool. If we look out for each other our neighborhoods will continue to hold their value and charm as well as remain a safe place to live and raise a family.

 
As usual, questions or comments can be directed to me by clicking on the email link shown at the top of this blog.