Contributed by the Kent Police Department

Are you interested in starting a neighborhood blockwatch?

The Kent Police Department is hosting a city wide informational meeting on the benefits of starting and maintaining a neighborhood block watch.

Neighborhood Block Watch 101
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Kent City Hall Council Chambers

Why Attend?

• interested in starting a neighborhood block watch
• interested in re-starting an already formed block watch
• needing a refresher on maintaining a neighborhood block watch
• interested in hearing from other block watch captains and what has worked and what hasn’t
• interested in hearing about Kent crime trends and what residents can do to help prevent crime in their neighborhoods

What You Can Do Ahead of Time:

• find a neighbor or two to attend with you
• notify neighbors that you will be attending and bringing back information
• start mapping the neighborhood and forming a phone tree for each block watch (a block watch is 10-20 homes)

Please RSVP by April 8th to your Neighborhood Sector contact:

East Hill/Panther Lake Area: Stacy Judd at (253) 856-5883

Valley Area/West Hill: Sara Wood at (253) 856-5851

*This format is replacing individual neighborhood meetings. However, public education specialists will continue to visit block watches when crime trend concerns occur.

Last Friday Sara Wood, public education specialist for the City of Kent Police Department sent out an email notifying Kent businesses that metal theft from local businesses is growing.In particular, copper seems to be the most frequently targeted metal, even going so far as removing it from air conditioners and pipes. Her suggestions:

• If you have a surveillance system, make sure it is working.
• Secure any metal used or sold as a part of your business.
• Inventory your supply of metal to be sure everything is accounted for.

If you see anything unusual or suspicious, please call 9-1-1 to report the incident.

Questions? Call Sara Wood at 253-856-5851.

Kent businesses and employees, the Kent Police Department has identified a new trend to gain entry to businesses for unlawful purposes. Here is the information provided by Sara Wood, Public Education Specialist, for the Kent PD.

“Kent Police have identified a trend targeting businesses. Suspects are gaining access through the peep holes of doors and are drilling a hole in the door and using some type of device to pull the “push bar” and open the door. The suspects are targeting businesses and accessing rear doors that have no exterior handles, meaning the interior of the door is a push bar style.

One attempted burglary occurred on the East Hill last night. The suspects were unsuccessful gaining access to the door due to it being secured from the inside with an additional lock.

If you have a business with a door that has no exterior handles but a push bar on the inside, please consider utilizing a secondary locking device, ie. padlock, door frame lock, dowels, etc. Also, if you have an alarm system on your doors, make sure they are activated. If you have a surveillance system, be sure it is working properly and recording.”

Please share it with anyone you know who might be affected. Thank you!

Are you tired of seeing graffiti and tags around the City of Kent? If so, you can help.

Join us for Community Graffiti Clean-Up Day on Saturday, September 18 from 8 am to 12 pm. Volunteers are needed in teams of 6 to 10 to help rid our city of this blight. Meet at 8 a.m. at Town Square Plaza (corner of 2nd and Smith St. – across from the Kent Library) to pick up your assignment, paint and supplies.

This is an ideal project for Key clubs, teens needing service hours, neighborhood councils, and individuals and companies who want to make a difference in Kent.

To sign up, contact Sara Wood with the City of Kent.

The Kent Police Department released the crime stats for last week, July 20-26, 2010, along with some helpful crime prevention tips to keep you and your family safe this summer.

Punched door lock and smashed windows:  According to Kent PD, these are two popular methods for thieves to use to gain access to your vehicle. To prevent this, always lock your car doors and remove valuables from your vehicle. These items are the most appealing to would-be thieves:  GPS units, tools, computers, spare change, sunglasses and cell phone charges.

Full-time DUI patrols are in force:  This summer special full-time DUI patrols are patrolling local streets and highways to keep drunk drivers off the road. Kent PD recommends that you be safe and be smart by finding alternative transportation if you’ve been drinking:  (1) take public transit; (2) designate a driver to remain sober; and (3) take a taxi.

Never leave children unattended in a vehicle: Did you know that it is illegal to leave your vehicle running with a child in it? In addition, running cars with kids in them are easy targets to thieves, and it is unsafe to leave your child or pet in the car during the summer time. When outdoor temps are 80 or above, the inside temp of your vehicle can escalate to as high as 130 degrees in just an hour!

For more tips like these or to learn more about crime prevention, contact one of the Kent PD’s public education specials:

West Hill – Cesi Velez, 253-856-5884

East Hill – Stacy Judd, 253-856-5883

Valley – Sara Wood, 253-856-5851

Here are Kent PD’s crime stats for the week of 10/20 – 10/26. Thanks to Sara Wood from Kent PD for providing these!

Crime Stats – 10/20 – 10/26

Follow the Kent PD on Twitter

From Sara Wood, Kent PD

Here are the crime stats from 9/15 – 9/21/09. Don’t forget to review the tips and post these for employees and residents!