Patrol North Bureau \ 41 Beat
3015 E. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67214
688-9500
Last modified: June 2, 2008
E-mail: pmallard@wichita.gov
NEWS
Recently there has been a flare up of gang activity on 41 beat. This includes drive-bys, batteries, and weapon violations.
To help reduce these types of incidents, please keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity such as:
· People walking up to a house while trying to keep hidden
· Anyone going through back yards or jumping fences late at night.
· Arguments with threats made involving weapons.
· Arguments with people drinking or that are violent.
· Arguments with individuals possibly involved in gang activity.
· A car circling the block several times.
· A car driving slow with its lights off.
· An argument or hand gestures (gang signs) between people at a residence and people in a car or walking.
If you see any of these things or other suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately and report it.
You can help deter and solve crimes by being
our eyes and ears in your neighborhood.
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Here is this month's tip from community affairs:
Crime Prevention Tip of the Month
June 2008
Keeping Your Home Safer by Using Landscape and Lighting
Landscaping
Bushes, trees and shrubbery can conceal an intruder attempting entry into a window or door; or worse yet, waiting in hiding for the homeowner! A few alterations to the home’s landscaping can be enough to discourage intruders. To avoid being seen or caught, intruders look for property they can get enter and exit quickly. The ideal target is a home surrounded by large hedges or shrubs, which hamper visibility from the street and neighboring homes. Trim shrubbery and trees so doors and windows are visible to neighbors and from the street. Ground plants near sidewalks should be trimmed at a height of 2-4 feet. Ground plants that are under windows should be below the window sill. Trees should be trimmed so the lower branched are more than 6 feet off the ground. If the home has a second floor, prune trees so they can’t help a thief climb in second floor windows. Place trellises where they can’t be used as ladders to gain entry to upper floors. Plant spiny (thorny) plants along fences and under windows. Such plants will discourage the possible burglar. Protecting with spiny plants can be almost as effective as using barbed wire, and a lot more attractive. Another way to keep potential criminals away is to place large gauge gravel on the ground near windows. The noise caused by an intruder walking on it can be a psychological barrier. Do not place large rocks or other items near glass windows or doors. These could provide the burglar with his tools.
Lighting
It is a recognized fact that good lighting is a deterrent to crime. Effective lighting allows the homeowner see the pathway they take from their vehicle to the house. It permits them to see as they stop at the door to use their house keys. Effective lighting also forces the intruder to work in an area where he may be exposed and reported to the police.
Around the House- security lighting should be located high out of reach and vandal resistant to protect all sides of the home. The best possible location for exterior residential lighting is under the eaves of the house. Such lighting should ideally be controlled by photoelectric cells that will activate them during times of darkness.
Over Entry Doors- Each door should be equipped with a light that provides quality illumination in the vicinity of the door, including both sides of the door and porch.
Carports and Garages- Lighting in carports and garages is critical. For garages, an automatic garage door opener is the best choice. Almost every garage door opener made today has a light that comes on when the opener is activated, lighting the interior of the garage. In carports, it is recommended either to leave the light on, or have a light connected to a motion sensor or photoelectric cell.
Motion Lighting- Motion detection lighting is strongly encouraged, particularly in areas where lighting may be considered intrusive to neighbors. Costing less than $50.00, such units are often direct replacements for existing fixtures and can be selectively aimed to detect motion of an approaching intruder and cause the light to activate.
Crime Prevention Tip of the Month Brought to you by the Wichita Police Department Crime Prevention Unit
Call 268-4101 or go online to www.wichita.gov
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Prostitution
If you notice strange activity that you feel is related to Prostitution, please call 911. You do not have to be contacted in person, but I would implore you to ask the dispatcher to have responding Officers contact you by phone. There can be a world of difference in our response to these type of calls if we can actually speak to the person that has observed the activity versus just calling 911 and saying "There's a Hooker at 11th and Broadway."
Please feel free to visit the City of Wichita's Prostitution Website so that you may recognize criminals that may be near your homes or places of business.
Graffiti
Please call The Office of Central Inspection at 268-4481 for graffiti complaints and removals.
I you have any information about the identity of anyone painting any graffiti on property that is not theirs, please report it to the Wichita Police Department.
Graffiti destroys the sense of safety and ownership of your neighborhood and gives the criminals the impression that the people that live there don't care.
Here's what you can do to help:
Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior, paying special attention to individuals or groups who are loitering.
Improve lighting on your property, consider installing motion detector lights in order to discourage vandalism and thefts.
IF YOU WITNESS AN ACT OF GRAFFITI-VANDALISM IN PROGRESS, CALL 911 AND PLEASE GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION, SUSPECTS AND VEHICLES.