“This
is a good example of community‑based policing at its
best,” said District 1 Councilman Dave Siebert, who chairs
the Public Safety Subcommittee. He expects summit attendees
to share what they learned with their neighborhood groups.
District
2 resident and leader of the Desert Ridge Block Watch group
Wayne George is poised to do exactly that. He plans to share
with his group how to prevent identity theft at ATMs.
Police
officer Jennifer Todd, citywide coordinator for the Phoenix
Neighborhood Patrol, noted identity theft as one of the more
prevalent topics at this year’s summit. Nationally, Arizona
ranks number one in identity theft, according to postal inspector
Jacqueline Cross. She shared common methods used by impostors
to steal an identity including through mail theft, burglary,
dumpster diving, credit card skimming and online fraud, and
she suggested ways to minimize such opportunities.
Another
session informed residents about fire and water safety at
home.
Drug
Enforcement Sergeant Don Sherrard educated residents about
the five common types of drugs found in neighborhoods and
presented photos that pointed out the characteristics of a
drug house. He also identified signs of potential meth labs.
“That’s
what makes it difficult. It’s common household chemicals–the
common stuff that is just more than a neighborhood would generate,”
Sherrard explained, citing antifreeze as an example.
The
mayor and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas spoke at
the summit to emphasize the importance of block watch activity.
Gordon called neighbors looking out for neighbors “a beautiful
and simple concept.” He even gave away two benches to help
neighbors patrol their streets from their front porches.
“We
have to be vigilant,” Thomas said.
To
further assist neighbors in this endeavor, the city council
recently approved a recommendation from the Neighborhood Block
Watch Grant Program’s oversight committee to award $1.2 million
in funding to173 groups for specific crime prevention projects.
Recipients included 16 groups in District 2 such as the Tramonto
Block Watch, who will use its $4,750 to improve the program.
Fourteen groups in District 1 also received grants.
For
information on a Block Watch group in your area, call (602)
534‑2424.
Reach
the reporter at ambria@thedesertadvocate.com.
