Alger Park / Ash Creek Neighborhood Association

Crime Watch 1153

V.I.P., or Volunteers In Patrol, is a crime watch tool used by neighborhoods to provide eyes and ears to the police. This is a non-confrontational activity and is done by volunteers after receiving police training on what to do. It has been shown to reduce crime when the bad guys see good guys on patrol. For more information and applications for this activity in Dallas please go to VIP Information. A training schedule will appear on the home page as it becomes available. The next session is in January 2009.

V.I.P. Observations and Practices

Suspects Head To Toe Description

• Age, sex and skin color of suspect (height & weight)

• Color, style, length of hair

• Facial features including eyes, glasses, beard, sideburns, pimples, hood, hat, etc.

• Clothing color, style, coats, insignia, sleeveless or long sleeved, pants, shoes

• Special features like tattoos, scars, injuries, limp if any, bad breath or weird speech, body odor etc.

• Guns, knives, clubs, etc.

Vehicle Descriptions Front To Back

• Year, make and model

• Color

• Tinted windows or clear

• Hardtop, convertible, T-top, etc.

• Wheel rims normal, chrome, spinning or fancy

• Special features like antennas, chrome or racing stripes, decals, broken lights, dents or rust spots

• License tag if at all possible

Home Security Tips

• Keep radio or TV on while away, talk/news format, different stations in 2 rooms

• Have a timer on lights for after dark while away

• Neighbor to pick up mail or get paper while away

• Water yard on a timer

• Use bump proof dead bolt locks on solid doors

• Motion detecting lights for night time use around car port and back yard

• Grow thorny plants around windows and fences

• Use 2" or longer steel screws for mounting striker plates and hinge plates on doors

• Keep a vehicle in driveway at all times if possible, let neighbor park there if out of town

• Post an "electronic surveillance" or "dog warning" signs/stickers.

• Use fake soup cans or electrical outlets for hiding valuables; let your imagination work with this.

• Keep all valuable out of vehicles overnight; including door remotes, wallets, computers, cell phones, etc.

• Barking dogs

Internet Security Tips

• Never converse with strangers or give out personal information.

• Never answer unsolicited emails with personal information.

• Delete all suspected spam, trolling and unknown emails.

• Know what your kids are doing, be involved in their game or internet activities.

• Never use your legal name or birthday for screen names or password data.

• Do not use the "save your information" on any public computer or if others use your computer.

• Be mindful of the data you store on computer, especially portable laptops.

• Destroy or reformat old hard drives if selling or junking your computer.

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