Summers in Minnesota are precious in length. It is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy all of our fabulous parks and lakes, and to reconnect with individuals in your area. It is also a time to take simple steps to address safety – both for your home, yourself and your loved ones.
The following is submitted with permission from the St. Louis Park Police Department.
For media questions ONLY – please contact:
Jamie Zwilling, City of St. Louis Park
952-924-2632 office
952-292-1659 cell
Email: jzwilling@stlouispark.org
Website: www.stlouispark.org
For immediate Release: April 6, 2011
News Release
St. Louis Park Police Offering Crime Prevention Tips as Temperatures Increase
St. Louis Park, Minn. – The St. Louis Park Police Department is encouraging residents to educate themselves about ways to prevent burglaries and other crimes as the temperatures rise this spring.
In the first quarter of 2011, reported residential burglaries remain at the city’s five-year average of 31 incidents, however, 58 percent have occurred at apartment complexes. While these trends are consistent with the entire metropolitan area, the St. Louis Park Police department wants to make sure its residents have the tools and tips to help them prevent such crimes.
Overall apartment burglary information from the first quarter of 2011:
¨ 61 percent were reported on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Sundays
¨ 56 percent were reported between noon and 6 p.m.
¨ 33 percent occurred in community rooms of apartment complexes
¨ Entry was made by damaging the front door in the majority of the cases
¨ Electronics (TVs, DVD players, computers or gaming equipment) were taken in all reported burglaries
¨ Only one burglary occurred in an occupied apartment
¨ 72 percent were reported in one of four neighborhoods (Shelard Park, Eliot, Lenox and Birchwood)
¨ As most incidents have occurred in unoccupied units, no suspect information is available
Tips to prevent home burglaries
There are several things you can do to secure your home.
¨ Install deadbolt locks that have at least a one inch bolt. Screws fastening the strike plate should be four inches long.
¨ Have strong quality doors with sturdy frames
¨ Make sure all accessible windows have secure locks
¨ Don’t hide an extra house key outside under the door mat or in a fake rock or flower pot
¨ Always lock the doors to your home and garage. Don’t forget to lock the doors between your house and attached garage
¨ Leave exterior lights on during the evening or install motion-sensing exterior flood lights
¨ Place Neighborhood Watch stickers on your doors and windows.
Premise Surveys
A police officer can advise you on how to reduce the likelihood of vandalism, burglary, shoplifting or employee theft (for business owners). To learn more, contact the Community Outreach Officer at (952) 924-2661.
Additional crime prevention tips useful during the summer months and other times of the year include:
Garage Burglaries
¨ Do not leave your garage door open
¨ Do not leave valuables unsecured
¨ Do not leave doors or windows unsecured or unattended
¨ Update your doors and locks. Replace single cylinder locks with double deadbolts. Be sure door hinges are exposed from the inside only.
¨ Improve exterior elements, such as lighting. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed
¨ If leaving town, please notify your neighbors so they can watch your property
Theft from automobiles
Thieves target vehicles with ANY personal items visible inside, including personal electronics,
checkbooks, credit cards, CDs etc. Follow these tips to help reduce the chance of becoming a victim:
¨ Always lock your vehicle
¨ Never leave personal items in your car
¨ If you must leave valuables in your car, lock them in the trunk before arriving at your destination
¨ Look around before you get out of your car. Be aware of surroundings. Report any suspicious activity immediately to the police.
¨ Do not leave your car running
¨ Lock your garage. Unlocked cars in unlocked garages are also targets of auto theft.
¨ If you use an underground garage, wait for the door to close before driving away, so unwanted guests can’t enter
¨ Be especially alert to suspicious persons in or near underground garages. Report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
Unwanted door-to-door solicitors and panhandlers
Every year the St. Louis Park Police Department responds to numerous calls regarding door-to-door solicitors. All solicitors including non-profit organizations are required to register with the city. There are many legitimate organizations that solicit door-to-door, either to sell products or services or to promote a religious, political, or charitable cause. However, there are also a growing number of individuals who illegally solicit with the purpose of committing fraud.
If a solicitor knocks at your door, that person must display a City issued ID card that contains their photo, name, company, ID number and expiration date before they even start their “pitch.”
First and most importantly, IF you feel uncomfortable opening your door to a solicitor for any reason, DON’T.
¨ A solicitor should not knock or ring your doorbell for the purpose of selling a product or service if the property is posted with a “No Solicitors” sign. You may obtain a sign from the police department or from the city’s website.
¨ A solicitor must leave when asked by the homeowner or apartment dweller.
¨ A solicitor cannot make any statements that misrepresent the activity for which they have been authorized by their certificate of registration to solicit.
While the city does require solicitors, peddlers or transient merchants to carry a city-issued ID card, the city does not endorse any of these companies or the products they sell. It is up to you the buyer to beware of the product you support or purchase from any of these companies.
If you suspect that a solicitor is not legitimate, or the solicitor is acting in an aggressive manner, please contact the St. Louis Park Police Department by dialing 9-1-1.
Panhandling is legal on most public right-of-ways, however, if you encounter a panhandler or are approached by one, we encourage you to contact the Police Department which will then be able to assist the individual in finding social service organizations that could provide aid to him or her.
Visit www.stlouispark.org/crime-prevention.html or call (952)924-2661 for more crime prevention tips, videos and other information.