Burglary Prevention Each year in the U.S, there are more than five million home burglaries. Nine out of ten of these crimes are preventable. In the month of December, there was an increase in burglaries in the Patterson Park and Butcher's Hill neighborhoods. The risk of being burglarized can be greatly reduced by taking simple steps to make your home more difficult to enter and less enticing to would-be burglars. Remember, your greatest weapons in the fight to prevent burglaries are LIGHT, TIME and NOISE. LIGHT Make sure that exterior lights are mounted out of reach, so that burglars can't easily unscrew bulbs. Consider buying motion-sensitive lights, which are now available at relatively low prices. Use a variable light timer to activate lights inside your home. TIME Make it time-consuming for a burglar to break into your home. Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Secure basement windows with bars and/or locks and consider alarm sensors on windows if you have an alarm system. Install double key locks in doors which contain glass. This will keep a burglar from being able to open the door simply by breaking the glass and reaching through. (Note: so that everyone in the house can get out in the event of a fire, be sure to keep the key in designated place! Do not install double key locks on solid exterior doors!). Ensure there are locks on all windows and patio doors. NOISE Install an alarm system that will alert neighbors of a burglar's presence. Most systems can even summon local police directly. A barking dog inside your home can be an effective deterrent for a burglar. But they aren't foolproof - most dogs tend to be too friendly. Remember to license and vaccinate it. Consider having someone care for your dog(s) in your home while you're away, instead of boarding them. Other tips to prevent break-ins: Think like a burglar. "Case" your home the way a burglar would and look for easy ways to enter your home. Be sure valuables such as electronic devices and artwork are not visible from the street. Be sure to lock up ladders and tools which could be used to break into your home. Don't keep valuables in your bedroom. Crooks normally make a beeline for the bedroom because they know that people tend to keep cash and jewelry there. Work together with your neighbors. Organize a Neighborhood Watch and let your neighbors know when you will be away for an extended period. While on vacation, have someone pick up your newspapers and mail, so that they do not accumulate and alert burglars of your absence. Display your house number conspicuously - in front and in rear - and have it well illuminated. This will help police and emergency personnel find your home quickly whether in front or in back of your house. Thanks to Arch McKown from the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association Safety Committee for putting this together.

Samples of Community Impact Statements
Baltimore City • Community Law Center

Animal Control does take calls.  
If it has been called into 311 and there hasn‚t been a response,
you can call the Animal Enforcement Office (410) 396-4688 and ask for a Supervisor or Robert Anderson who is the Chief for Animal Control.  
If the situation is one where drug activity is occurring along with dog fights or other animal cruelty, the police and Animal Control should be working together.

Patterson Park Neighborhood Association ( PPNA) has received emails from several frustrated residents regarding an increase in crime, some nuisance, some more serious. The PPNA's role in addressing crime in the neighborhood is to remain in constant communication with the police about our problems and complaints. We need your help to make such communication more effective such that it leads to a safer, healthier neighborhood. What you can do: Call 311. Every time you have a complaint about safety or crime, call 311. Ask for a confirmation number. Once you have done so, send an email to the PPNA with the confirmation number and a description of your complaint. We will be compiling these on a monthly basis and submitting a formal written summary to the police. Attend SEPD meetings. High attendance by Patterson Park neighborhood residents should have an impact on getting increased attention from the police department. Meetings are the first Monday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Southeastern District Police Station 5710 Eastern Avenue - Baltimore, MD 21224. The next meeting is Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:00 PM. If you're interested in attending as a group or carpooling, email safety@pattersonparkneighbors.org. Attend COP walks. Citizens on Patrol meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the park entrance at Baltimore and Linwood. Walks are less than 1 hour. Dogs are welcome. Join Operation Crime Watch. The police department has an anonymous, verified crime reporting system known as "Operation Crime Watch." To learn more, visit Operation Crime Watch. Join the Safety Committee. Email safety@pattersonparkneighbors.org to find out how. With your help, we can achieve the increased attention of the police department necessary to address the safety and crime issues in our neighborhood. Thanks, PPNA Board

To report email phishing.
http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/report_phishing.html

CrimeAlert!!
This message is from the Butchers Hill Association:
A resident of our neighborhood is knocking on doors asking for money with different stories. I have talked to three people who had this experience last week and three others who have the experience prior to last week. The man is described as white, about 5'8", 170 lb, dark curly hair, round face, glasses, mid thirties. The police have been informed and will follow up. In the meantime, do not give money to anyone who knocks on your door or money. Please report any panhandling to the police and to secretary@pattersonparkneighbors.org.

Red Alert!!
"There is no evidence of any type of serial rapist in Canton.  
There has beenone reported rape this year in Canton.  
Please let the community know that there is no serial rapist running around." - Major Bergeron

Identity Theft Prevention (pdf)

LATEST SCAM: GIFT CARD ALERT!!! ...

FRAUDULENT SPAM E-MAIL CLAIMING TO BE FROM FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER

South East Baltimore Crime Watch Blog

Leaving Unsolicited Advertising Circulars on Houses and Cars is Illegal:
How To Report Unwanted Fliers
Click here to see the law in the Baltimore City Code. [pp. 1-2]