December 24, 2009

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December Safety Updates

By Deputy Sam Shirley

Safety Recap

Our Thanks
I would like to say thank you for all the support and well wishes we have received here at the Sheriff’s Office in the wake of the recent shootings.  It has been a difficult month in the law enforcement community.  It has been easier to work through the tragedy knowing that we have the support of the communities we serve. 

November Crime Re-cap
In the month of November we had seven residential and zero commercial burglaries.  The most significant change in reported crimes was that we had no car prowls, down from 12.  We had 10 larcenies, most were shoplifters at local stores.  There were three larcenies at the library.  People who left valuables unattended would find them missing.  The one reported robbery was a strong arm robbery of a citizen.

Robber Arrested
On November 12, a taxi cab driver was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of the ARCO.  A man approached on foot and told the driver to give him ten dollars or he would be killed.  The taxi driver complied, and the robber ran away.  The taxi driver called 911 to report the incident. 

The responding Deputy thought the description of the suspect might be one of our usual customers here in Fairwood and showed the victim a photo montage.  The victim identified the suspect, who was later arrested and charged for the robbery.

Holiday Season Safety Tips    
The holiday season is a great time of year for us to get out, do some shopping and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. Unfortunately, it is also the time of the year when criminals become very active looking for crimes of opportunity. 

• Do not leave your vehicle unattended while it is warming up.  This is one of the most common ways to have a vehicle stolen in the winter.
• When you are heading out to your car, have your key ready.  Spend as little time as possible outside of your vehicle.  When you get in your vehicle lock your doors.
• If you are heading out into the parking garage be very aware of your surroundings.  If no one else is around consider waiting until other groups of shoppers are also leaving.  Statistically, parking garages are among the most dangerous places to be.
• Do not leave your purse in a shopping cart, even if you are standing right next to it.  Teams of criminals will cause a distraction and be off with your purse before you know what happened.
• Protect your credit card information.  When shopping in person be careful to protect your pin number.  If you give your card to a retailer to swipe through a card reader, watch to be certain that it is only done on a single machine.  Disreputable cashiers can input your card info into their personal reader to steal your information.  A cashier should not have to leave the cash register area with your card in hand.
• If you are using a debit card and are given the choice between using it as “credit” or “debit,” consider using “credit.”  It comes out of the bank the same way, you just sign instead of using your pin number.  It is more difficult for a criminal to use your card without the pin number. 
• If you are shopping online, do not respond to pop up banner ads by clicking on them.  If it a company you are comfortable with and want to do business with them, close the banner, and then input the company www address yourself.  This will ensure that you are actually at the address of the intended retailer.
• Trust your instincts!  If you are uncomfortable about the situation you are in use caution.   If your alarm bells are going off, do not worry about offending people; your safety comes first.

Cold Weather Safety Tips
With temperatures this month having already been down into the teens, I thought some cold weather safety tips might be in order.  Being prepared is more than half the battle to stay safe when Mother Nature is on the offensive. 

Power Outages

• Don’t run generator inside house or garage
• Don’t run generator near doors or windows or intake vents
• Don’t heat your house with your barbeque grill
• Keep food on hand, extra blankets, batteries, flashlights, etc…
• Be careful using candles.  Keep them away from combustibles
• Keep a week’s supply of your medications
• Check batteries, smoke detectors / carbon monoxide detectors

Cold Weather Vehicle Tips

• Keep vehicles gas tanks full
• Keep food and water in vehicles
• Keep extra clothes and blankets in vehicles
• Bring Cell Phone and charger in vehicles
• Four Wheel drive vehicles are not exempt from the laws of physics.  Please drive safely.

Sex Offender Website - OffenderWatch®
Provided below is a link to the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website.
http://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54473

Blockwatch Captains List
I am currently attempting to establish a list of Blockwatch Captains in the Fairwood area.  If you are a Blockwatch Captain, or know one, please email me with the information at Samuel.shirley@kingcounty.gov 

Take a Stand Against Crime – Join a Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Building Watch, Crime Watch— Whatever the name, it’s one of the most effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents, helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations between police and the communities they serve.  If you are interested in starting a neighborhood watch please contact me (Sam Shirley) at the Fairwood Storefront Office.  The number is (206) 296-3846.   

Washington Statewide Victim Information & Notification Service
The Washington Statewide Victim Information & Notification Service will tell you if an offender is in custody and will give you other important custody information.  This service will also let you leave a phone number where you want to be called automatically when that offender is released, transferred, escapes or dies.

You can register for this service from a touch-tone phone at 1-877-846-3492 or go to www.vinelink.com and follow the directions.
*Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

Happy Holidays to everyone!