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Last update: Thursday May 17, 2012 0543 Hrs

Citizens on Patrol by Jim Long


     We have a sutiation where some mailboxes are being pilfered. According to the Post Office, only those boxes with the flag up were bothered. Apparently, someone was looking for envelopes that may have checks inside. We recommend that you mail your checks at the post office or one of the nearby community mailboxes.
Monday, November 21, 2011; I received a telephone call saying a one block area of Temple Hill had some "Burglary-Of-Vehicles" the previous Sunday night. The police investigation found nothing to indicate who may have done it. Remember even leaving a CD (which might give a thief a dollar) will give reason to break into a vehicle.
      Be especially watchful of the our area and do not be afraid to call the non-emergency dispatcher (2074.74273) if you see anything suspicious.
     The 2012 COP training schedule has been released. We definitely could use some new members. Remember, all we ask is that you attent the four hour class and give us two 2-hour patrols a month. Evening or daytime patrols are available...hours of your choice.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING ENFORCEMENT

Perhaps you’ve heard from family or friends in other neighborhoods or viewed the recent news coverage of the San Antonio City Marshal’s Office initiative to enforce parking regulations within the neighborhoods.

The City Marshal’s charter is to run the detention center, enforce arrest warrants, enforce illegal dumping and code compliance ordinances, transfer prisoners and provide for civil process. The Marshal Unit is comprised of law enforcement officers certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Deputy City marshals wear uniforms and badges and drive marked vehicles with a San Antonio Marshal logo. The unit began operations on January 2, 2007.

Parking violations are civil rather than criminal offenses but expensive nonetheless. A drive through of our neighborhoods nearly anytime reveals vehicles parked opposite to the direction of traffic, vehicles parked or extending over sidewalks, vehicles parked head-in in cul-de-sacs, vehicles stored on the streets (not moved for extended periods—24 hours by ordinance), oversized vehicles parked on the streets or in driveways within 15’ of the street (includes RVs and any vehicle with a trailer attached not engaged in loading/unloading), etc.

Once started, the violations become “acceptable” to some eyes and the practice expands. The City Marshals are responding to neighborhood complaints and a problem the SAPD doesn’t have the manpower to address. Forewarned is forearmed. Spread the word.

FAULTY BREAKER BOXES

The following information was provided by Steve Jones, owner of the home on Hilton Head which recently suffered substantial fire damage.

The cause of the fire was a faulty breaker in the garage. If the breaker was working properly there would have been no fire. The inspector from Houston who found the cause of the fire is W. David Pratt. He works for Unified Investigations & Sciences Inc. You can email him in Houston by clicking here.

The name of the breaker box and breaker is Federal Pacific Electric . Their logo sometimes has a lightening bolt in the logo. The breakers are usually very thin and some have a red handle. If anyone has this box or breaker they need to know that it may be faulty. If anyone has a question, they can take a picture of the breaker box and send it to David and he will be glad to let them know what they have. David will also answer any questions anyone might have about this problem. His phone number is 832.644.6559.

Hope this is helpful for the neighborhood.

STOLEN MAIL

A number of residents have reported to the Association that their out-going mail may have been stolen last week. Items taken were from mailboxes which had their flags raised for pick-up.

We asked post office officials what we should do about this problem. They suggested our first action should be to contact the place where you were sending the mail and find out if it had arrived. Our nearest post office where you can report a theft is the one on Broadway (north of 410).

They also recommended that valuable mail, such as written checks, official documents, etc. be placed in nearby community postal boxes and the blue postal boxes at shopping centers and the post office.

We need to find and report the individuals who may be stealing the mail. PLEASE be on the look out for anyone driving up to mailboxes on your street. You know who lives there. If the car is not familiar, get a description and immediately call Police Non Emergency at 207-7273.

CITIZENS ON PATROL by Jim Long

Remember how I have always emphasized that you should always call the non-emergency dispatcher any time you see something suspicious? HERE IS A TRUE STORY.

One Friday morning in early June, I received a phone call from one of our COP members asking if I had heard the police helicopter the previous night. I said no. He then told me the story. The previous night about 10 PM a lady up the street from him saw a white Ford pickup park and 3 people walk away. She got the license number and called him. He immediately called the non-emergency dispatcher at 207-7273. About 15 minutes later there were several police cars plus the helicopter in the area. A little later a stolen pickup was in hands of the police plus 3 suspects...

We held our 17th COP anniversary dinner at Grady’s BBQ on Wednesday June 19th. We had 65 COP members and spouses. Also attending was our Councilman Carlton Soules and Police Chief William McManus and 5 policemen from the North Substation.

Again I am asking for some more volunteers for our COP program. We need to add some younger blood to the group. Remember I only ask for two - 2 hour patrols a month on the day and time of your choice.


COP Classes for 2012 - All Classes at the Northeast Substation 13030 Jones Maltsburger

  • Monday, January 9 - 6 PM - 10 PM
  • Saturday, February 4 - 9 AM - 1 PM
  • Monday, March 5 - 6 PM - 10 PM
  • Saturday, April 14 - 9 AM - 1 PM
  • Monday, May 7 - 6 PM - 10 PM
  • June, July and August - No classes scheduled
  • Saturday, September 8 - 9 AM - 1 PM
  • Monday, October 1 - 6 PM - 10 PM
  • Saturday, November 3 - 9 AM - 1 PM
  • Monday, December 3 - 6 PM - 10 PM

    • Neighborhood recommendation from City Councilman Soles Consider putting a "NO SOLICITING" sign at your front door to make it illegal for advertisers to walk the area and put their solicitations on our homes. This would reduce the number of strangers in our neighborhood and encourage advertisers to buy space in our newsletter and website. Fewer strangers will reduce crime.

    AREA ALERT from Jim Long, Security Call police
    Have you seen this man?

    We have a Scam Artist going through our neighborhood. He was active last week on Beltway Street. He always needs 19 or 20 dollars to help his daughter with her car. He will promise to pay you back after his wife gets off work later in the day. No one gets paid back.

    He is 6 ft to 6 ft 2 inches tall, Medium build, 45-50 years old, Wears a white shirt and blue jeans, Wears a striped cap or hat He has been in our neighborhood mostly on the East side closer to Nacogdoches. He has been seen walking toward Nacogdoches.

    The man in the picture has been approaching people and knocking on doors in and around El Chaparral/Fertile Valley. Officer Bishop thinks it's the same guy that visited us in Northern Hills.

    If/when you see him call the non-emergency dispatcher 207-7273.



    Home Safety Patrol     Patrol Requests - Click here

    As many of our residents may be on vacation from their primary home or businesses during spring break, the PCT 3 Constable-Bexar County Police still offers vacation checks as part of our normal services.

    Any resident in PCT 3 who needs this service may complete and return the attached Patrol Request to Lt. James Roberts jroberts@bexar.org who will add them to our vacation checklist.

    Our services are provided by your property taxes and we encourage you to take advantage of these services to further increase your home or business security during times you will be absent.

    Sincerely,
    Mark S. Vojvodich
    Constable, Pct 3 Bexar County Police
    8918 Tesoro Drive Suite 301
    San Antonio, TX 78217

    For questions or comments on the level or quality of service you received by the Constable’s Office PCT 3 / Bexar County Police,

    Please contact Constable Mark Vojvodich at 210.335.4750, Fax 210.335.4789 Or by email at mvojvodich@bexar.org
    We are a public service organization and your views, critiques or comments are valued.

    June 2, 2010 - Message from Mike Bishop, SAFE Officer, SAPD:
    There is a spike in burglary of vehicles during C-Shift (10:00 PM to 6AM) “Dogwatch Hours” in your general area (Wetmore/Naco/Classen Area) just south of Loop 1604. Please advise your neighborhood residents to please remove any valuables such as GPS’s, purses, DVD’s, etc from their vehicles. Remember, “out of sight out of mind”

    Message from Jim Long, our Security chairman:

    Please remember that a curfew is in effect for children 10 thru 16. The curfew time is 11:00 p.m.
    Keep garage doors closed.
    Remove valuables from vehicles.
    Call police to report any suspicious activity, persons or vehicles.
    Please volunteer for Cellular on Patrol (COP) - Call me soon at 655-0217.

    Help protect the environment, report lawbreakers dumping motor oil, Call 311

    Saturday Feb 20, 2010
    Subject: Dumping motor oil behind homes in drainage easement.

    I interrupted my neighbor today pouring out his motor oil in the drainage easement between the rear of our properties. I asked him not to do that since it was toxic to the environment and offered the information that any service station that does oil changes will accept it for recycling since they are compensated for this service. My neighbor continued pouring out the oil while his son and I watched him do it. I immediately reported it to the proper authorities and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same. We do not want motor oil in our drinking water.

    If you see or know about oil dumping and don't want to report it, then email the webmaster with the address and location, etc.

    We also do not want pet waste in our drinking water so if you walk your dog, you are required by law to pick up the droppings for the same reason. The fine is up to $2,000.00 for this offense

    May 24, 2010 - Personal information online     Click here
    I thought you might find the article from snopes.com interesting (but not always correct). There is likely personal information about you online, maybe even a picture. It's nothing that most people don't know, and a fair amount of it is incorrect. You will probably get more personal information by typing your name into Google.

    Advice from www.snopes.com - Email safety

    Any time you see an e-mail that says forward this on to '10' of your friends, sign this petition, or you'll get bad luck, good luck, or whatever, it almost always has an e-mail tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and e-mails of those forwarded addresses. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' e-mail addresses to use in SPAM e-mails or sell to other spammers.

    Almost all e-mails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of e-mail is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers - - to validate active e-mail accounts for their own profitable purposes.

    You can do your friends and family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them; you will be providing a service to your friends, and will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam e-mails in the future..

    If you have been sending out (FORWARDING) the above kinds of e-mail, now you know why you get so much SPAM!

    Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listings, regardless of how inviting they might sound.

    You may think you are supporting a great cause, but you are NOT. Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later. Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich. Let's not make it easy for them.

    Also: e-mail petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress or any other organization. To be acceptable, petitions must have a signed signature and full address of the person signing the petition. 0A

    ALSO: PLEASE REMOVE ALL EMAIL ADDRESSES STILL ATTACHED BEFORE YOU FORWARD A MESSAGE. IT IS PUTTING EVERYONE'S NAME OUT THERE.

    Most people use a nickname for their email just so their real name is not out there on the Internet. BUT........if YOU have listed their real name in your contacts, it will also show up next to their email address. Be a friend and delete all the names before forwarding. Even better, delete names and send everything by BCC. That's BLIND CARBON COPY. That way NO names will ever show up on an email.

    Things your burglar won't tell you:

    1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

    2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

    3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste. And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

    4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

    5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

    6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

    7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

    8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door; understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

    9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

    10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

    11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

    12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

    13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com .)

    Eight more things a burglar won't tell you:

    1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

    2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosey neighbors.

    3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

    4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

    5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

    6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

    7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

    8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

    Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com ; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

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    Credit/Credit Card Safety Information

    Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate Attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

    1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
    2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card Accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
    3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home Phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
    4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to Call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a Photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
      Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my Wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(S) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
    5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
    6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).
      But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
    7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks. Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

      1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
      2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
      3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
      4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

      If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

    Crime Prevention information

    Officer Mark Bishop is our SAPD Safety Officer. His email address is mbishop at sanantonio.gov

    I heard there were 7,997 violent crimes in this city in the last 12 months. That's about 22 per day or about one each hour of the day! Learn how to best avoid becoming a victim. Be alert of your surroundings. Learn to practice safer habit patterns.

    Safety Tips by Coletta Galloway

    • Keep your garage door down when not in use or you are away from the location.
    • Lock the door from you house to the attached garage at night and when away from home.
    • Cut the "red knob" from your garage door opener to prevent a thief from using it to open the garage door from the outside.
    • Some people raise the garage door slightly in hot weather to keep the temperature down. Remember if it is high enough for a small child to crawl under, so can a thief.
    • Use your outside lights at night to make your house visible.
    • Trim bushes around your doors and windows so your neighbors can see anyone hanging around your house. Don't give criminals a hiding place.
    • Don't leave garage door openers in vehicles that are parked outside. These can be stolen and later used to enter your garage and home.
    • Lock your vehicles. Don't leave valuables plainly visible in your vehicles.
    • Get to know you neighbors on easch side and across the street. Have contact information for your neighbors. If you go away, tell a trusted neighbor. Some people leave a baby monitor on when they are away from for for multiple days. The other one is in a neighbor's house.
    • If you see anything suspicious, call the police. In emergencies, use 911. The non-emergency number is 207-7273.

    Eazy Tips to stay safe in your home

    • Replace or re-key all locks when you move into a new home or apartment.
    • Install 1-inch case hardened steel deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
    • Keep windows and doors locked at all times
    • Have curtains or blinds on all windows and keep them drawn.
    • Install a 190-degree door viewer or door scope in your front door.
    • Look before opening your door to anyone.
    • Require identification from all repair persons or public service individuals BEFORE opening the door.
    • Hang Up on frighteneing or obscene phone calls. Invest in an answering maching to screen your calls.
    • On your answering machine message, never say you are not home, just say you are not by the phone right now.
    • If a stranger enters your home, GET OUT!! Go to a neighbor and call 911 for police to respond.
    • If you come home and you think someone is in your home, DO NOT ENTER!! Go to a neighbor and call 911.
    • File a police report for any incident you experience.
    • Report suspicious persons or vehicles to 207-SAPD

    Phone 207-7273 to contact SAPD Crime Prevention Specialist (SAFFE officer) at your substation and schedule a free home security survey. See the San Antonio Police Department's website for more crime prevention programs and tips.

    Help stop vehicle accidents

    Driver distraction causes four of five accidents. It is no surprise that cellphone and PDA use causes driver inattention and results in accidents.
    Let's be careful out there and watch out for others that may cause us to get into their accidents!

    Advertise your business and support NHHA by mailing your business info to the webmaster.

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    Filing online reports with SAPD

    For your convenience SAPD now allows you to file certain reports online. This time saving deature allows you to report offenses without known suspects such as minor thefts, burglary-vehicle, vandalism, and lost property without having to wait for an officer to make your location.

    To file your report, go to http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapd

    Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.)

    We need volunteers to join our COP patrols. Please talk to your neighbors about joining and give them Jim Long's phone number, 655-0217. We need candidates for the COP class to be scheduled soon.

    Do you know someone that may be a victim of Domestic Violence?

    For help, go to http://mysa.com/ Use keywords "Domestic Violence".

    Remember be smart, be aware, be safe!!! Visit   America's Most Wanted.

    Make your laptop less valuable to thieves

    If you have a laptop, help protect personal information by doing regular backups, using a complex password and record any unique numbers on the device. If stolen, report these numbers to the manufacturer. These records are referenced in the event they require repair or password reset service. Update this owner information if you purchase preowned.
    As you know, it is also a good practice to engrave your state driver's license on laptops and other valuable items to provide law enforcement a way to trace these items back to you if stolen.

    The Police Non Emergency Number 207-7273.


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    Join Graffiti Fighters  Graffiti Day is Sep 29.

    Nothing hurts a beautiful neighborhood more than the ugly remnants of graffiti markings on public and private property. You can join the fight against those harming our neighborhood by calling 911 when you see graffiti in progress. Call the City's Customer Service line at 311 to report graffiti that needs to be painted over. You can also fight back by organizing a graffiti removal project on your street. The Northern Hills Homeowners Association will help you collect paint brushes, rollers and other materials that can be used to clean up a damaged area. The City has free paint to help support a clean up program. Also, remember to talk to your kids about the negative effects graffiti has on the community.

    It was reported that our entry stone at the corner of Bell and Bohill had some graffiti sprayed on it. Volunteers used some paint remover and a wire brush to clean it up right away. By attacking the problem immediately, the paint came off without too much effort.

    PLEASE be on the look out for children attempting to damage our neighborhood. Some youngsters in the area believe they can identify the culprit(s). We need to have everyone on the look out, especially at the end of the school day.

    Did you know that it is a Third Degree Felony to provide teenagers with spray paint?

    SAFFE Program information update from Colletta

    Several years ago the SAFFE program was cut in half. Except for our resident members of SAPD we only see SAPD in Redland Woods if they are here on a call. There are no neighborhood patrols in Redland Woods by SAPD. The exception is our SAFFE officer who responds to our issues and visits on a regular basis. Every year SAFFE is targeted by the budget folks in the city manager's office for elimination or reduction. We've heard the same rumors again this year. Councilmen Clamp (District 10) and Wolfe (District 9) met with the City Manager recently. She assured them that the program would not be cut. It still leaves the question of what type of program will remain. District 10 community leaders along with those from District 9 will be contacting their counterparts in the other districts asking them to support the program. As we know, the squeaky wheel gets the attention. Supporters of SAFFE need to start squeaking. Do not contact Councilmen Clamp or Wolfe. You can contact the mayor and other council people. The easiest way to do this is by e-mail. Go to: sanantonio.gov. This is the city web page and will give you e-mail links to every city council member and the mayor. I've also been told that the mayor is on a radio program on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. I was told it was KSAT, but have been unable to confirm it. This is a call in program. If you support our SAFFE program, share this message with those who do not receive this e-mail. Those without e-mail can also call the city hall offices of the mayor and council members to leave a message.

    Our SAFFE Officer is Jason.

    Dear Residents: Please call police 207-7273 if you see any suspicious vehicle or persons

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