Officer Alex Recio
Patrol South Community Policing
321 N. Mead, Wichita KS
Work: 316-219-9358
Last updated April 03, 2008
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month!
It’s time to STOP Sexual Violence!
Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center
invites the public to attend its
22nd Annual "Take Back the Night"
Activities include:
Very Special Guest Speakers
Stephen N. Six
Attorney General for the state of Kansas
Sandy Barnett
Executive Director of Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
Dorthy Stucky-Halley, LMSW
Director of Victim Services with the Office of the Attorney General
Also: Survivor of sexual violence
All events are free and open to the public .
When : Friday, April 25th at 6:00 P.M.
Where: Old Town Plaza (outside the Warren Theatre)
…all human beings have the right to be free from violence, the right to be heard, and the right to reclaim those rights if they are violated… (Unifying theme from Take Back The Night)
Wichita, Kan.—According to national statistics one in every three women will experience sexual violence in her lifetime. Additionally, one in four girls will experience sexual violence before she is 18, one in 6 boys before he is 18 and one in 10 men in his lifetime.
The fact that this happens everywhere, including our neighborhoods, makes sexual violence more than a woman’s issue. Sexual violence is a community issue.
Beat Team News
Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle!
Thieves often target vehicles with valuables in plain sight.
Every year the Wichita Police Department notices a large increase in preventable auto thefts in neighborhoods like yours. Most of these incidents occur during the early morning hours; however it is not uncommon for this type of crime to occur during throughout the day. Kansas State Law prohibits a person from leaving their vehicle running unattended for any amount of time. The Police Department is notifying you of this crime trend as a type of education and not taking criminal action at this time. Your awareness and help in combating this criminal activity is greatly appreciated.
Please consider the following tips to prevent YOU from becoming a victim.
- Do not leave your vehicle unattended and running with the keys in the ignition.
- Always lock your doors and roll up your windows
- Never leave valuable items in your vehicle
- Store packages in the trunk of your vehicle while shopping
- Remove items such as telephones, ipods, purses, briefcase, backpack, cash, GPS and even loose change each time you leave your vehicle.
- Park in well lit areas at night
- Park vehicle in the driveway rather than the street (NOT IN YOUR FRONT YARD)
- Consider a car alarm for added protection
- Call 911 if you see any suspicious activity
SAFETY TIPS AND CRIME PREVENTION
Top 10 tips for building safe and connected neighborhoods:
1. Get to know your neighbors and learn their names.
2. Be aware of what's normal in your neighborhood and what's unusual.
3. Meet your neighbors' kids and introduce them to yours.
4. While away, ask a neighbor to pick up your newspaper and mail.
5. Regularly change your walking route and times.
6. Get to know the police and fire personnel working in your neighborhood.
7. Help out elderly neighbors on your block.
8. Report suspicious activities.
9. Trust your instincts.
10. Work together to get your neighborhood clean, and keep it clean.
Organizing Neighborhood Watch
Block by block community mobilization is the most powerful weapon in the war on drugs. A neighborhood watch is the fastest, safest, and most effective way to rid your neighborhood of a drug house and prevent it from coming back. Why? Your neighbors and you coming together gives you power and power gives you results to take back your neighborhood block. For information on starting a neighborhood watch you can call me at (316) 337-9200 or email me at arecio@wichita.gov.
Fight Blight
As The City of Wichita and your Beat Officers begin their fight on blight in your neighborhood, there are a number of ordinances that you should be aware of. One of the most common ordinances violated on an individual property is the possession of abandoned, wrecked, scrapped, partially dismantled, junked or inoperable vehicles and prohibiting the storage, parking or leaving of the same on private property.
City Ordinance states that “No person shall park, store, leave or permit the parking, storing or leaving of any vehicle which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperable, rusted, junked, or partially dismantled condition upon any private property within the city for a period in excess of two days. The presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperable, rusted, junked or partially dismantled vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property is declared a public nuisance, which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Any one (1) of the following conditions shall be deemed prima facie evidence that a vehicle is inoperable:
(1) The absence of an effective registration plate upon such vehicle;
(2) The placement of the vehicle or parts thereof upon jacks, blocks, chains or other supports;
(3) The absence or condition of disrepair of one (1) or more parts of the vehicle necessary for the lawful operation of the vehicle upon the streets and highways, including properly inflated tires; and
(3) The placement of materials or property within the vehicle which would preclude the lawful operation of the vehicle upon the streets or highways.”
Please report any vehicles meeting this criteria to the Health Department at 268-3851. The City will provide no more than ten (10) calendar days before the vehicle could be towed and fines will be assessed.
Who Can I Call?
The Police Department often receives calls about neighborhood problems such as animals being left in poor conditions, abandoned houses or inoperable cars left on private property. The city has several sections to deal with these problems. Below is a list of those departments and a sample of the types of issues they handle.
Animal Control 268-8473 - Leash laws, animal bites, animal care and conditions and issued animal license.
Environmental Health 268-8351 - Improper or no household trash collection, trash on premises, tall grass and weeds, animal hoarding, run down buildings and illegal dumping.
Fire Department Prevention 268-4441 - Fire safety education, juvenile fire starter counseling.
Office Of Central Inspection 268-4460 - Illegal parking in front yard, RV's, boats etc. improperly stored, signs in public right of way, emergency board up of vacant houses.
If you have questions, or are not sure who to contact you may contact your Community Police Officer who should be able to direct you to the proper department.
Neighborhood Traffic News
The Beat Team is addressing a problem with speeding on S. Broadway between Kellogg and Lincoln Streets. Officers will be conducting radar assignments for the next several weeks.
Neighborhood Meetings
District Advisory Board I
Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of the month at The Atwater City Hall, 2755 E. 19th at 7:00 pm.
South Central Improvement Alliance (SCIA)
Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Main at 11:45 a.m. For additional information contact Vickie Adamson at 655-2564.
South Central Neighborhood Association (SCNA)
Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Main at 6:30 p.m. For additional information contact Bill Davis at 262-3158.
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Wichita Police Department
Identity Theft Checklist
What should I do if my Purse, Wallet or Checkbook is Lost or Stolen?
If your property was taken by force or threat, or you need immediate assistance, please call 911.
For non-emergencies, you can make a police report by calling the Wichita Police Department, Police Case Desk at (316) 268-4221.
You will need to make a police report to document lost or stolen items. The police report will assist us in the event your property is recovered. Your bank or financial institution may require a police report if you report unauthorized checks and/or credit card transactions.
Credit Cards
If your credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, immediately contact your bank or credit card issuer to cancel the card. Prompt reporting can help prevent unauthorized use of your card. If the credit card number has been compromised while you still have possession of the plastic card, immediately notify your bank or credit card issuer to cancel the card. Your bank or credit card issuer may require you to complete a dispute form for any unauthorized charges. The credit card company may issue you a temporary credit and issue a “charge back” to business that accepted the card number without viewing the card. The business, which then suffers the loss, may make a police report if it chooses to do so.
Checks
If your checks or account numbers are stolen, notify your bank or financial institution. Work with your financial institution to close any affected accounts. If your checks are lost or stolen and is being used in Wichita by someone forging your signature, call your bank or financial institution to close your account. Ask your financial institution to notify its check verification service. Your bank may require you to complete an Affidavit of Forgery for any forged check that clears. Your bank may credit your account once you complete the Affidavit of Forgery. The business accepting the forged check may file a police report since they may have lost cash or merchandise as a result of fraud.
If you are reimbursed by a business or financial institution for a monetary loss to you, the business becomes the victim of the forgery or fraud. You are a victim of the theft of your credit card, check or identity. The financial institution or business will be responsible for following up on their loss.
Identity Theft
Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information with the intent defraud for any benefit. For example, someone pretends to be you by using your personal information to create and open new credit card accounts to make purchases and loans for financial gain. The theft or loss of personal information in wallets, purses and on checks can be used by criminals to commit Identity Theft. If someone has used you personal information such as your name along with your social security number, Driver’s License number, bank account number or other identifying information report the fraud to the following organizations:
Contact the nationwide consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. Ask for a copy of your credit report to review.
Equifax: 1-800-525-5285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289: www.transunion.com
You can obtain one free credit report per year from each of the three consumer reporting companies by contacting: annualcreditreport.com
;) Contact the fraud department for each company where your account was tampered with or the fraudulent account was opened. Close the accounts and follow up in writing along with sending copies (not originals) of supporting documents.
Make a police report in the community where the identity theft occurred. You can make a police report in Wichita by calling the Police Case Desk at 268-4221.
Make an Identity Theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC’S Identity Theft Hotline: (toll-free) 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)Or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
Helpful Tips
Avoid leaving wallets, purses, credit cards, checkbooks and other valuables in your vehicle, unattended or unsecured. Carry only credit cards and documents containing personal information that you need.
Keep a copy contact numbers of your credit cards in the event they are lost or stolen.Shred unwanted bank statements, bills and other documents containing personal information.
Below are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of a car thief, or having a theft from your vehicle:
1. The best and only way to prevent thefts from motor vehicles is never to leave valuables in your car unattended – particularly electronic goods such as cellular phones and laptop computers. Preventing the theft of car radios is more difficult. Some car stereo manufacturers make detachable faceplates or stereos that pull easily from the dashboard, allowing you to take it with you or lock it in the trunk.
2. Many thieves now break into cars if there are signs that checkbooks, personal documents, purses, mail or personal items, which would assist in the crime of identity theft, may be inside.
3. Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle ownership titles, or credit cards in your vehicle.
4. Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight.
5. If you have a button inside your car that opens the trunk when no key is in the ignition, valuables in your trunk are not secure.
6. Thieves may break into your vehicle if a garage door opener is visible, if they know where you live, or if your car is parked in front of your house. This gives them access to at least your garage and possibly your home.
7. Never leave your car running unattended, even to dash into a business, store, etc.
8. Never leave any keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes.
9. Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home.
10. Always park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas, when possible;
11. Install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes. These devices will deter some criminals.
12. Investigate the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking/security system, especially if you own one of the frequently stolen model vehicles.
13. If you must leave your key with a valet, attendant, or mechanic leave only the ignition key. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm.
14. Copy your license plate and vehicle information (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with you. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information to take a report; and,
15. Many vehicles today come with some type of security system from the factory. Normally there are upgraded systems available if you ask. The best choices are systems that shut off the fuel supply so that a car can't be started or driven.
16. If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police immediately.
*The Wichita Police Department has worked with homeless organizations to produce a brochure full of available resources. The link below will give you a PDF file to print off as many as you like!
Wichita Homeless Resources
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