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Crime prevention makes it harder for crime to happen. It means reducing chances for criminals to victimize you and your neighbors. It means protecting people and property, and increasing community safety and well being. Most of all, it means people like you taking responsibility for your own and your neighbors security, and knowing and working with the Lynwood Police Depart met and your neighbors to protect your homes, neighborhoods, and your children. Crime prevention is securing your home and property, watching for any suspicious or criminal activity and reporting such activity to the Lynwood Police Department. Crime prevention activities are practical and direct approaches to reducing crime and fear in your neighborhoods. Crime Prevention is working in neighborhoods all around the country. It can and will work in ours. The time to begin is now before you, your family, or your neighbors are victimized by crime. PLEASE HELP THE LYNWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT HELP YOU. Lets combine our efforts and continue to make the Village of Lynwood a safe and secure place to live, work and play.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
Signs have been placed throughout the village identifying Lynwood as a Neighborhood Watch Community. Neighborhood Watch is a mutual protection program where neighbors look out for each others safety and property by reporting to the police any suspicious or criminal activity.
HOUSEWATCH PROGRAM
The Housewatch Program consists of your friends, relatives, neighbors, and the police watching your home while your are away. NO ONE can guarantee that a crime will not take place at your home while you are away. But the Housewatch Program can be a deterrent to crime during your absence. To arrange for a police Housewatch, you must first obtain the form from the police department and submit it prior to you leaving your residence.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Officers are available by appointment to address groups on topics such as: Con Games, Drugs, Public Safety, Residential or Commercial Security, or any other topic you request.
CRIME PREVENTION CARDS
While on patrol, police officers notice bikes left out, garage doors left open, or other situations which could be considered an invitation to crime. The police officer will try to correct the situation and leave a yellow Crime Prevention Card advising what was noticed, and what action was taken or could be taken to correct the problem. These cards are also used to warn residents that they are violating a village ordinance.
OPERATION IDENTIFICATION
Operation Identification is engraving a predetermined number known only to you on all your valuables such as: TV's, radio's, stereo's appliances, tools or any other item that might be stolen. Photographs should also be taken of the items. You can borrow an engraving tool from the police department, or purchase an engraving tool or other permanent marking device from your local hardware store. A log should be kept of all items marked.
FINGERPRINTING PROGRAM
The Fingerprinting Program consists of officers printing groups of children in an attempt to prevent child abduction and provide a means of identification if the child is found. The fingerprints are only taken with parental consent and are retained by the parents, not the police. Children may also be fingerprinted at the station on a daily basis provided prior arrangements are made. parents or groups wishing to have their children fingerprinted should contact the police department.
NO PARKING 2 - 6 A.M.
Village ordinance prohibits parking on any village street from 2-6 a.m.. Doing this allows police officers to easily spot a car that is out of place and does not provide an abundance of areas for the criminals to park. Residents needing to temporarily park their cars on the street must notify the police.
IDENTITY THEFT
For extra protection, we recommend that you:
Carefully review all account statements and immediately report any discrepancies.
If you think your identity has been stolen:
Contact the fraud department of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts. Once the alert is placed, you may order a free copy of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus.
• Equifax - www.equifax.com - Fraud Alerts, call: 1-800-525-6285 or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241. Hearing impaired calls 1-866-478-0030 and ask the operator to call the Auto Disclosure Line at 1-800-685-1111 to request a copy of your report.
• Experian - www.experian.com - Fraud Alerts, call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) or write: P.O. Box 9530, Alien, TX 750 13.
• Trans Union - www.transunion.com - Fraud Alerts, call: 1-800-680-7289 or write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.
If applicable, notify the major check verification companies to ask retailers who use their service not to accept checks written on the compromised checking account.
• TeleCheck 1-800-710-9898
• Certegy Inc. 1 -800-437-5120
For further in-depth information regarding identity theft, visit www.ftc.gov or http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html. This informational piece was created to help raise awareness and provide assistance in identity theft situations. The information provided is from the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft website.
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