Hello Everyone,
While a lot of this is from last year’s Holiday Safety message…..I thought it bared repeating. Help spread the word!!
SANTA’S RIDE 2013
As Christmas approaches, children everywhere will be watching the skies for Santa Claus. In Fairfax County some very special children won’t have to wait until Christmas Eve. Santa and his elves will be rumbling down the streets of Fairfax County on motorcycles to gather presents donated by our wonderful citizens.
The toys will be delivered by Santa and his helpers to children at INOVA Fairfax Hospital Child Life Center, Georgetown Hospital and the Lombardi Cancer Center. Toys will also go to various local charities including the Ronald McDonald House and the Reston F.I.S.H. (For Immediate Sympathetic Help).
Toy collection boxes should be delivered to Police District Stations Monday (11/25/2013) and Santa and his helpers will be by to collect all of these generous donations on 12/09/13. Anyone wishing to make a donation should bring a new, unwrapped toy, game, book, or other gift to the Mount Vernon Police station. All donations should be made before 9 a.m. Monday, December 9. You do not have to wait until the boxes are here….just drop off at the front desk and tell them they are for Santa’s Ride.
Location – Mount Vernon Governmental Center – 2511 Parkers Ln, Alexandria, VA 22306 http://binged.it/WioDDi (Lobby is open 24 hrs. a day)
Thank you all so much for your continued support of this program!
With the weather outside becoming frightening…..the criminals, they are delighting….in all the easy gifts and goodies they can steal! It’s that time of year again……the time to reiterate the importance of practicing good security habits to friends, family and neighbors.
At Home:
1. Always keep home and car doors locked at all times.
2. Keep everything merry and bright – Remember to keep you exterior home lights on all night. (Make sure they are off during the day)
3. Consider using timers on interior lights so you don’t come home to a dark house.
4. Do Not leave valuables in your vehicle – take them inside with you.
5. Keep garage doors closed and be sure the door from the garage into the home is locked. Don’t leave the garage door opener in the car parked in the driveway.
6. Always keep home and car doors locked at all times.
7. If you order gifts to be delivered to your home, ensure someone is there to accept the package. Have a trusted neighbor keep a lookout for the packages left by delivery companies. (See more on this below)
8. If you go out of town for the holidays, make sure you ask a trusted neighbor, friend or family member to check the house at least once a day and pick up mail and newspapers. Provide your contact number in case of emergency.
9. When trash time comes, do not advertise all the newest gadgets and gizmos which have recently arrived at your domicile. Make sure to break down boxes and conceal them from view – this includes computers, phone boxes, tablet and E-reader boxes, TV’s, DVD players, stereo systems, other electronics….and on and on.
10. Do not open your door to strangers.
11. Always keep home and car doors locked at all times.
12. Make sure to report suspicious or criminal behavior immediately to the appropriate police number
Emergency/Crime in Progress – 911 Suspicious Activity/Make a Crime Report – 703-691-2131
Safety When Out/Shopping
1. Shop during daylight hours whenever possible
2. Make a mental note of exactly where you park your car.
3. If shopping at night, park in well-lit areas. If parking during daytime to return at night, make sure the area will be lit when you return.
4. Carry keys, cash and credit cards separate from each other and be constantly paying attention to your surroundings.
5. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. If possible, avoid carrying a purse. Use a fanny pack or deep pockets in clothing to carry what you need.
6. Limit the number of credit cards that you carry.
7. If you have to carry a purse, carry it close to your body and always zipped or snapped.
8. Be aware of strangers “accidentally” bumping into you. Pick-pockets use this as a diversion.
9. Avoid shopping until you are exhausted. You are more likely to sense trouble if alert.
10. When hurried or in a crowded shop, make sure you get all forms of identification and credit cards returned to you before you leave.
11. Leave the mall/store well before closing time. This way, there is a greater assurance you will walk out with other people. (safety in numbers)
12. If you are shopping outside your home city or county, make sure you have the non-emergency police contact numbers for that jurisdiction
Here are some of our local jurisdiction non-emergency numbers:
· Alexandria City, (VA) – 703-838-4444
· Arlington County Police (VA) – 703-558-2222
· Fairfax City (VA) – 703-385-7924
· Loudon County Sheriff’s Office (VA) – 703-777-0445
· Manassas City Police (VA) – 703-257-8000
· Montgomery County Police (MD) – 301-279-8000
· Prince George’s County Police (MD) – 301-336-8800
· Prince William County Police (VA) – 703-792-6500
· Stafford County Sheriff’s Office (VA) – 540-658-4450
Package Delivery – Protect from purloiners
Back in the day, if you got a package delivered to your home, it required the driver to leave the package with an actual person, unless they received permission in writing from the addressee to leave the package on the porch. With the advent of Internet shopping and other shipping increases, packages now just get left on doorsteps throughout the day.
I have seen hundreds even thousands of dollars of merchandise just sitting on front porches……these items are, more and more, becoming juicy targets of opportunity.
CD’s, DVD’s, TV’s, computers, furniture, iPods, iPhones, iPads…the list goes on and on, just sitting out there. I encourage anyone ordering items to be shipped to your home, make a plan to secure these items. The more success these thieves have in our community, the more they will return time and time again.
With most sellers sending shipping notification and tracking numbers, this makes planning for your deliveries much easier.
· You can make arraignments with a neighbor to be on the lookout for the delivery – give them the date and approximate time of delivery….this still leave the package exposed for a time however.
· Set up a or notification request with the shipper on their website and get real-time tracking information on your goodies (see below)
· You can contact the shipper and have them hold your package at their local shipping hub for personal pickup.
· Select an alternate shipping location (office/work) where it can be delivered directly to you or a staff member.
· Create a secure box or area in which your regular delivery person can place your package and lock it up.
I know this seems like a lot of effort, but it will pay off, not only in preventing a loss to yourself, but also protecting the entire community by making us a harder target to victimize.
Please help the Police Department and the Mount Vernon area to reduce this type of opportunity crime!!
Be Safe,
Greg
MPO Greg Kottemann
Crime Prevention Office
Mount Vernon District Station
Fairfax County Police Department
703-360-8928
gregory.kottemann@fairfaxcounty.gov