National Crime
Prevention Council
www.ncpc.org

McGruff
www.mcgruff.org

ID Theft
www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Safe Streets Now
http://www.ncpc.org/ncpc/ncpc/?pg=2088-13168

Established in 1974, the purpose of the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit is to develop and maintain programs that educate citizens in the most current methods of deterring and preventing crime in their communities. President George Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft have encouraged the public to direct its energies toward community involvement, specifically the Neighborhood Watch Program.

Why Crime Prevention?

Crime Prevention is everyone's business! Whether you are personally victimized, or the neighbor down the street is, crime affects everyone!

Burglary, the most common and widespread crime, has an impact on the quality of life in our community. Studies demonstrate that burglary can be greatly deterred by the collective effort of law enforcement, and you, the concerned and conscientious citizen.

You can enhance this deterrence with a few pro-active, inexpensive, and cost-effective measures.

It is for this reason that programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Operation Identification, and Residential and Business Security Checks have been established through the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit.

McGruff, the internationally known crime dog, makes public appearances at schools and public events. McGruff delivers tips on safety and promotes crime prevention in entertaining ways. McGruff offers information to young children about what to do if they are lost, how and when to dial 9-1-1, and stranger danger issues. A uniformed deputy sheriff frequently attends to answer questions from curious and enthusiastic youngsters, often bringing his "Talking Patrol Car" with him to educate and entertain. Crime Prevention Specialists provide children's ID kits and fingerprint services at these events.

Crime affects seniors financially, physically, and emotionally, affecting both sense of security and well-being. Additionally, criminals may perceive seniors as more vulnerable. However, through awareness, seniors can help deter burglary, become less of a target for street crimes, and avoid bunco schemes.

Cons, frauds, and swindles can affect any age group. Estimates of just the direct costs of fraud are in excess of $40 billion annually. Consumers face bait-and-switch, home improvement inspection, door-to-door sales, charitable solicitations, and service & repair frauds. Your group can learn to identify such schemes and avoid being victimized by these crimes through our educational presentations.

Anyone or any business can become a victim of crime. Awareness is the best preventative measure against robbery. A special program for businesses promotes awareness and introduces other specific precautions that can be taken. Especially important are discussions relating to behavior during and after a robbery. The Crime Prevention Specialists can help to provide you with the knowledge and tools to make your business and commercial areas a safer and more secure place to work and conduct business. This program offers several training options, after the basic orientation, including prevention of burglary, robbery, shoplifting, internal theft, and bad checks and fraud.

Additionally, group presentations are available on a wide variety of topics. The unit gives presentations to schools, senior citizen groups, churches, youth organizations, and civic groups. Please contact us if you would like presentations to your group on such topics as:

• Personal Safety
• Vehicle Theft
• Identity Theft
• Robbery
• Crime Prevention for Senior Citizens
• Cons and Frauds
• Crime Prevention for Children
• Keeping Illegal Activity Out of Rental Properties
  

Remember Sir Robert Peel's observation in 1829 that "the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence".