In mid-March, the Crime Tracker 3 team was first to report on a series of robberies in the western part of the Las Vegas valley, mostly west of I-15. Last week, Metro caught five suspects they've connected to some of those robberies. In many of those cases, citizens had left doors or windows unlocked, and the crooks took advantage. Now, with the weather getting warmer, history shows that crimes of all types will rise. Metro hopes the news of the arrest in the high-profile robbery string does not lead to people putting their guard down. Crime Tracker 3 spoke with Lt. Chris Jones of the Northwest Area Command.
Showing posts with label Crime Prevention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime Prevention. Show all posts
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Southwest Business Crime Watch Quarterly Meeting
This is a news release CrimeTracker 3 received from Metro Police.
Enterprise Area Command would like to invite business representatives to the Southwest Business Crime Watch Quarterly meeting.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Orleans Hotel, Conference Area Salon “J”
4500 W. Tropicana
This meeting is an opportunity for businesses in the Southwest to exchange information on criminal and suspicious activity with each other and with law enforcement. It is also an opportunity for business and security personnel to receive free training on crime prevention methods.
This group’s initial goal was to improve security in and around the Tropicana Corridor by reducing business crime through networking business owners, managers, and staff. Since then the membership has grown and expands over the entire Enterprise Area Command jurisdiction.
The Business Crime Watch program offers the opportunity to share information and increase awareness in the business community. It provides an easy way for businesses to report suspicious activity observed by watchful staff and the potential to provide cost-effective solutions on a shared basis.
Attendance is limited to commercial and retail businesses and their security staff. This is free to attend, however a RSVP is required.
For more information, or to sign up, please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Carol Ferranti at 828-5804; C7859F@lvmpd.com.
Enterprise Area Command would like to invite business representatives to the Southwest Business Crime Watch Quarterly meeting.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Orleans Hotel, Conference Area Salon “J”
4500 W. Tropicana
This meeting is an opportunity for businesses in the Southwest to exchange information on criminal and suspicious activity with each other and with law enforcement. It is also an opportunity for business and security personnel to receive free training on crime prevention methods.
This group’s initial goal was to improve security in and around the Tropicana Corridor by reducing business crime through networking business owners, managers, and staff. Since then the membership has grown and expands over the entire Enterprise Area Command jurisdiction.
The Business Crime Watch program offers the opportunity to share information and increase awareness in the business community. It provides an easy way for businesses to report suspicious activity observed by watchful staff and the potential to provide cost-effective solutions on a shared basis.
Attendance is limited to commercial and retail businesses and their security staff. This is free to attend, however a RSVP is required.
For more information, or to sign up, please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Carol Ferranti at 828-5804; C7859F@lvmpd.com.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Classifieds Crime List Part 2
Critics say Craigslist doesn't do everything it could or should to prevent crimes that are happening through connections made on the site. Friday at 5pm on News 3, you'll hear from Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto, who says an agreement Craigslist made with Attorneys-General from several states last year is not having all of the desired outcomes. A blogger who specializes in Craigslist crime says the site should entirely close parts of its operation.
If you misssed it, here is part one of our report.
We wanted Craigslist to respond to the critics. We wrote to a "press" email address on the site, and contacted their public relations firm. We wanted to interview someone over the phone. After several attempts, Susan MacTavish Best from Best Public Relations asked CrimeTracker 3 to send an email. Here is the entire email:
If you misssed it, here is part one of our report.
We wanted Craigslist to respond to the critics. We wrote to a "press" email address on the site, and contacted their public relations firm. We wanted to interview someone over the phone. After several attempts, Susan MacTavish Best from Best Public Relations asked CrimeTracker 3 to send an email. Here is the entire email:
Ms. MacTavish Best:After CrimeTracker 3's Sophia Choi sent that email, Susan MacTavish Best replied to an earlier email from producer Eric Wiener:
We are still interested in speaking with you via telephone this week, so we can air it with our story. However, if you prefer to answer our questions via email, we are grateful for your time. We are well aware of the posting on Craigslist to help customers avoid scams and trouble when meeting face to face.
Here are some of our questions.
Last year, Craigslist entered into an agreement with the Attorneys General from 38 states to strengthen security measures on the site pertaining to adult and erotic services. What steps has Craigslist taken to that end and are they working?
Critics say the adult erotic services section, and perhaps even the casual encounters section from Craigslist should be taken down altogether. What is the response from Craigslist?
The Nevada Attorney General still feels more needs to be done to protect people, especially children, from gaining access to/falling victim to possible predators in these sections. Can Craigslist do anything more to make sure those posting can be identified?
Ebay tracks users via credit card numbers. Would Craigslist ever consider doing the same? Those who want to post, buy or sell must give valid credit card information so they can be tracked if a crime occurs.
Does Craigslist get too much blame for crimes occurring on online classifieds?
Do any laws need to be changed so Craigslist can help its customers stay safer?
What is Craigslist’s policy when alerted about a crime or potential scam by a customer?
How long can a customer expect to wait to hear back from Craigslist after the company is alerted about a possible crime/scam?
Our story is set to air Thursday, February 4, 2010. Thank you for a prompt reply and I look forward to receiving your answers soon.
Hi Eric,By email, we confirmed that this response would be the only response to our inquiries, and our specific questions would not be specifically answered.
Here's a comment for you:
Use of craigslist in connection with any crime is unwise and quite rare. It virtually guarantees immediate apprehension and prosecution. An electronic trail to the perpetrator is inevitably left behind, and craigslist actively cooperates with law enforcement.
For tips on safety specifically on craigslist, you'll see that we provide warnings on every page. The #1 rule which I urge you to tell your viewers/readers is to ONLY DEAL WITH PEOPLE YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON LOCALLY. Do that and you'll avoid 99% of all scam attempts.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
http://www.craigslist.org/about/safety
Best,
Susan.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Blog Extra - Classifieds Crime List
Don't forget to watch part one of CrimeTracker 3's investigation into "The Classifieds Crime List" tonight on News 3 at 5. Until then, we have a web extra: some additional safety advice from Metro Lt. Clint Nichols.
Craigslist has it's own safety advice that it offers to all customers. We also asked the company for additional comment for our story, and here's what we received from their public relations firm:
Craigslist has it's own safety advice that it offers to all customers. We also asked the company for additional comment for our story, and here's what we received from their public relations firm:
Use of craigslist in connection with any crime is unwise and quite rare. It virtually guarantees immediate apprehension and prosecution. An electronic trail to the perpetrator is inevitably left behind, and craigslist actively cooperates with law enforcement.
For tips on safety specifically on craigslist, you'll see that we provide warnings on every page. The #1 rule which I urge you to tell your viewers/readers is to ONLY DEAL WITH PEOPLE YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON LOCALLY. Do that and you'll avoid 99% of all scam attempts.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
http://www.craigslist.org/about/safety
Online Classifieds Dangers
Tonight on News 3 at 5, the CrimeTracker 3 team presents "The Classifieds Crime List." A local man shares his story of a deal arranged through online classifieds that turned horribly wrong. We found out what to look for to spot a potentially dangerous deal, and precautions to take when you go to meet someone face-to-face to finish the transaction.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Crime by the Numbers - Bolden Area
The downward crime trend in Metro's jurisdiction looks to continue in the new year, but the Crime Tracker 3 has found out Metro definitly has some areas of concern. This week's focus is on the Bolden Area Command. Overall, violent crime is down 33-percent so far this year, and property crime is down 27-percent.
In the last week, bolden area officers looked at crime data and saw a trend: a rise in burglaries in a neighborhood just west of their substation, between Simmons and Tonopah, south of Lake Mead Boulevard. We spoke with Lt. Rob Lundquist.
The officers who visited that neighborhood found some simple problems, like poor lighting or overgrown bushes. Metro detectives are still working on the harder problem -- finding and arresting the suspects in those burglaries. If you want a crime prevention specialist to check out your home and neighborhood, just call your police station.
In the last week, bolden area officers looked at crime data and saw a trend: a rise in burglaries in a neighborhood just west of their substation, between Simmons and Tonopah, south of Lake Mead Boulevard. We spoke with Lt. Rob Lundquist.
The officers who visited that neighborhood found some simple problems, like poor lighting or overgrown bushes. Metro detectives are still working on the harder problem -- finding and arresting the suspects in those burglaries. If you want a crime prevention specialist to check out your home and neighborhood, just call your police station.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Crime by the Numbers - Convention Center Area
As the Crime Tracker 3 team looks back at crime trends for 2009 and asks about police priorities in 2010, one area of focus that emerges is Sexual Assault. As 2009 ended, there were more than 1,500 sexual assaults in Metro's jurisdiction, an increase of more than 8%.
Last week, we asked the Captain from Enterprise Area about that trend. The trend is different in the Convention Center Area, because of the nature of that area. Convention Center sees fewer cases of incest and more "acquaintance-related" sexual assaults, especially incidents where the two acquaintances only met the night of the incident.
Captain Charles Hank talks about the subject, and what he and his officers are already doing about it.
Auto burglary was also a concern in the Convention Center area in 2009. We also asked Capt. Hank about that subject.
Last week, we asked the Captain from Enterprise Area about that trend. The trend is different in the Convention Center Area, because of the nature of that area. Convention Center sees fewer cases of incest and more "acquaintance-related" sexual assaults, especially incidents where the two acquaintances only met the night of the incident.
Captain Charles Hank talks about the subject, and what he and his officers are already doing about it.
Auto burglary was also a concern in the Convention Center area in 2009. We also asked Capt. Hank about that subject.
Friday, December 4, 2009
More Cyber-shopping advice from Metro
In an effort to keep consumers safe, the LVMPD is offering the following information for Internet shoppers:
• Beware of fraudulent classified ads or auction sales. Internet criminals post classified ads or auctions for products they do not actually have. They then purchase the items with stolen credit cards and have the merchant ship directly to the buyer. Consumers should be suspicious of any items not shipped directly from the auction site.
• Similarly, be careful when purchasing gift cards from auction sites. The card you receive may be stolen and therefore deactivated.
• Always compare the link in an email to the link you are directed to; they should match.
• Be leery of emails or text messages you receive indicating a problem with your financial accounts.
• Beware of spoofed web sites. A spoofed web site is a fake site or copy of a real web site that misleads the recipient into providing personal information that is routed to the criminal’s personal computer.
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) email.
• Log-on directly to an official web site. Don’t use an email link to the web site and then log-on; you may have been redirected without your knowledge.
• Be suspicious of a business that only has a P.O. Box as an address.
• Get everything in writing.
• Verify the identity of the company and/or salesperson. Remember, criminals use false names! You can verify license numbers through the Better Business Bureau.
• Ask yourself, “What guarantee do I have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”
• Beware of fraudulent classified ads or auction sales. Internet criminals post classified ads or auctions for products they do not actually have. They then purchase the items with stolen credit cards and have the merchant ship directly to the buyer. Consumers should be suspicious of any items not shipped directly from the auction site.
• Similarly, be careful when purchasing gift cards from auction sites. The card you receive may be stolen and therefore deactivated.
• Always compare the link in an email to the link you are directed to; they should match.
• Be leery of emails or text messages you receive indicating a problem with your financial accounts.
• Beware of spoofed web sites. A spoofed web site is a fake site or copy of a real web site that misleads the recipient into providing personal information that is routed to the criminal’s personal computer.
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) email.
• Log-on directly to an official web site. Don’t use an email link to the web site and then log-on; you may have been redirected without your knowledge.
• Be suspicious of a business that only has a P.O. Box as an address.
• Get everything in writing.
• Verify the identity of the company and/or salesperson. Remember, criminals use false names! You can verify license numbers through the Better Business Bureau.
• Ask yourself, “What guarantee do I have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Phone book or flag?
The other morning, I found a phone book on my landing outside my door. I'm glad I tripped on it on the way out, because the alternative would have been finding it as I returned home. After doing so many stories with crime prevention specialists, I think of a phone book on my landing as a flag to burglars saying "no one is inside this home" or "they haven't been home for a while."
Tonight at 5pm, Gerard Ramalho finds out how to get off the list and stop receiving a phone book, and answers the question "who uses phone books anymore?"
Tonight at 5pm, Gerard Ramalho finds out how to get off the list and stop receiving a phone book, and answers the question "who uses phone books anymore?"
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
First Tuesday - Crime Prevention
Here's an announcement from Metro about First Tuesday, coming up on Oct. 6.
Metro encourages the public to implement crime prevention measures. On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, the topic for the First Tuesday programs will be Crime Prevention. Each area command will offer safety tips to participants. Topics will vary from area command to area command based on the needs of the local neighborhood. Sample topics include home security, locksmith scams, and tourist safety.
On the first Tuesday of every month, each LVMPD Area Command hosts a “First Tuesday” program for the public. The First Tuesday programs always start at 7:00 p.m. and include a free lecture about a law enforcement topic. Issues pertinent to local neighborhoods are also discussed.
The purpose of the First Tuesday program is to make the police department more accessible to the public, and to encourage citizens to visit their neighborhood area command.
The public and the media are welcome to attend any First Tuesday program; there will be one at each LVMPD area command.
For the exact crime prevention topics that will be discussed at your local area command, please contact the area command and ask for the Crime Prevention Specialist or Community Oriented Police Officer.
Metro encourages the public to implement crime prevention measures. On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, the topic for the First Tuesday programs will be Crime Prevention. Each area command will offer safety tips to participants. Topics will vary from area command to area command based on the needs of the local neighborhood. Sample topics include home security, locksmith scams, and tourist safety.
On the first Tuesday of every month, each LVMPD Area Command hosts a “First Tuesday” program for the public. The First Tuesday programs always start at 7:00 p.m. and include a free lecture about a law enforcement topic. Issues pertinent to local neighborhoods are also discussed.
The purpose of the First Tuesday program is to make the police department more accessible to the public, and to encourage citizens to visit their neighborhood area command.
The public and the media are welcome to attend any First Tuesday program; there will be one at each LVMPD area command.
For the exact crime prevention topics that will be discussed at your local area command, please contact the area command and ask for the Crime Prevention Specialist or Community Oriented Police Officer.
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