Preston North Crime Watch

February 2010 Newsletter

Preston North Crime Watch Association

Crime Watch Newsletter

February, 2010

 

North Dallas Resident Assaulted in Whole Foods Parking Lot

 

 On January 25, 2010 a North Dallas resident was assaulted in the parking lot of the Whole Foods store at Preston and Forest.  The individual was thrown to the ground, beaten and robbed of valuable jewelry before the assailant was picked up in a vehicle which sped from the scene.  The following is a message distributed by Sergeant Mike Nonnenmacher of the Dallas Police Department on January 28th:

Hello Everyone,

I'm sure everyone is aware of the robbery offense that occurred outside the Whole Foods Store located at Preston/Forest on January 25, 2010.  The primary suspect in this offense is a white male in his 20's, he was clean cut.  There was another unknown suspect, who drove a white colored vehicle which they left the location in.  As of now, these suspects are not wanted for any other offenses in this area.  At this time our detectives are following up on some very good leads in this case.  There is no further information that I can release at this time.

Please remind your members of the following safety tips when shopping:

Prevent purse snatches. Wear a fanny pack, for work and everyday use.  If you carry handbags do not lay it on the counter or leave it in your shopping cart.  AND if you do leave it in the shopping cart use the baby seat strap to buckle it to the shopping cart.  Do not put a shoulder strap bag over your head.

·        Stash your money in different places in your wallet or keep it on your person in a pocket.
·        Try not to carry large sums of money.
·        Teach children how to identify store clerks and ask them for help but never leave the store with anyone.
·        Shop with a friend and put packages in the trunk. Be cautious if you take packages out to your car and go back in.
·        Avoid wearing valuable loose fitting jewelry.
·        After you make a purchase, make sure you have your credit card, correct change, checkbook wallet, identification and handbag before you leave the checkout counter.

PARKING LOTS - remember that the criminals work in the parking lots.  Try to take advantage of valet parking.
·        Always lock your doors and close the windows of your vehicle.
·        It is a violation of a Dallas City Ordinance to leave your vehicle unattended and running.
·        Shopping at night, park under the light poles.

·        Do not walk to your car alone if  parked in a dark area; call for security to watch as you go to your car and park close to the shopping center.
·        Do not leave visible items in your car

 

A police tower has now been placed in the parking lot of Whole Foods for surveillance purposes.

 

 

1/26/10 Volunteers in Patrol Meeting Summary 

A meeting of the Preston North Crime Watch Association Volunteers in Patrol was held on January 26.  

All patrollers were encouraged to “be on patrol” whenever driving through the neighborhood OR when out walking, and to take their cell phones in order to call 911.  This is good advice for residents as well, as this can be done by all of us even without VIP training.   Always watch for suspicious cars and get license plate numbers.  The county constables are doing a good job of following up on our calls.  

It has been observed that many drug drops occur between 9:30 and 11:30 am, rarely in the afternoons. Crime seems to occur when there is construction underway, so those areas should be particularly scrutinized.  PNCWA has extended patrols to Northwood Country Club, which appreciates the patrols and has been very accommodating of the meetings. 

Residents should be reminded to be careful when observing suspicious activity.  Rather than going outside and taking pictures it might be better to get in your car and drive around the suspicious person or car.  We don’t want vigilantes, but do want the reports.

Also, it was noted that if you park your car outside and have a garage door opener in it, you must pull the cord on your door so the door opener cannot be used by thieves.  That is how the recent burglary on Hughes south of Alpha occurred.

We have 5 video cameras installed.  One is a license reader. More training is scheduled for the neighbors who have these on their homes. A large video surveillance sign has been installed at the corner of Preston and Prestondell and 4 more signs will be installed soon.  We are also investigating “auxiliary” cameras.  

A neighborhood website is under review by Sue Schildt and Rick Lane.  Apparently many neighborhoods have these and we may be able to secure a site for no ongoing cost.  

 

Danvers and Preston Creek Drive Road Bumps

The Public Works and Transportation Department of Dallas has completed a summary of traffic studies and determined that neither street qualifies for road bumps.  This is contrary to what Rick Lane was told by city officials last fall.  We are working to gain more information on this but for now this issue is tabled.  

 

Private Patrol Service

Last month’s Bulletin asked for those who might be interested in private patrol service to please contact Rick Lane. A total of two residents have responded.   There is not sufficient interest to pursue this at this time.

 

Keyless Entry Scam

The e-mail below has been distributed related to a reported scam.  The incidents have not been verified but we are communicating it so that you may be aware.

Subject: PLEASE BE AWARE, keyless entry scam!

Max Cline & wife went to movies at THE HARBOR (in Rockwall, TX) on a Tues afternoon at 5:30 pm...Came out and truck was gone. Cell phones and lots of things were lost. The thief stole their car by 6pm.  Because that is when the thief started calling Matamoras Mexico on the Cline's cell phone...Made 19 calls to Mexico within 1 hour. 

The Rockwall police told them about the car key clicker and to always lock your car manually. Rockwall had 19 cars stolen at the Rockwall Harbor in Sept.
 
How to Lock Your Car and Why I locked my car. As I walked away, I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!! Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation. I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away.   I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars
 
Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening. While traveling, my friend's son stopped at a
roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase....you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic. There is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device. They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run.  The police officer said to manually lock your car door - by hitting the lock button inside the car. That way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you. When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on
your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen. 

  

This is very real. Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on. Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them – and bingo, someone has our code...and whatever was in our car.

 

Area Crime, December, 2009

Beat 635, Reporting Area 1014, PNCWA Only:

 

Unfortunately, one of our residents reported an attempted break-in last month. Apparently, glass was broken, but no entry was made. 

Beat 635, Reporting Area 1014, Outside PNCWA Area:

 

        Disorderly Conduct     1

       Criminal Mischief        1

 

Beat 635, Reporting Area 1013, West of Preston Rd.:

        Aggravated Assault 1

        Murder                           1

        Assault                                     7

        Criminal Mischief               6

        Theft                                9

       Car Theft                                           4

       Disorderly Conduct                           1

        Robbery                                            1

       Burglary                                       2

       Sexual Assault                                  1

 

        Total                                          33

 

Prestonview Boulevard continues to be a leading hotspot for crime. Unfortunately, it is very close to our Prestondell entrance:

 

      November Offenses:                          9

      December Offenses:                           3

 

 

To be added to the PNCWO e-mail alert list, please send an e-mail to Vard Moore at vardm@mac.com