Patrol North Bureau \ 41 Beat
3015 E. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67214
688-9500
Last modified: June 24, 2008
E-mail: pmallard@wichita.gov
NEWS
Recently there has been a flare up of gang activity on 41 beat. This includes drive-bys, batteries, and weapon violations.
To help reduce these types of incidents, please keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity such as:
· People walking up to a house while trying to keep hidden
· Anyone going through back yards or jumping fences late at night.
· Arguments with threats made involving weapons.
· Arguments with people drinking or that are violent.
· Arguments with individuals possibly involved in gang activity.
· A car circling the block several times.
· A car driving slow with its lights off.
· An argument or hand gestures (gang signs) between people at a residence and people in a car or walking.
If you see any of these things or other suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately and report it.
You can help deter and solve crimes by being
our eyes and ears in your neighborhood.
_____________________________________________
Here is this month's tip from community affairs:
Crime Prevention Tip of the Month
July 2008
Home Security: A Look at Ways to Secure Doors Using Strike Plates and Key Control
Doors
There are many sizes, shapes and types of exterior doors. The security of any door depends on its construction.
The Hollow Core Door is the most commonly used. It is also the least secure. It consists of a wood frame covered with a thin veneer; it is supported by cardboard arranged in a honeycomb fashion, to keep the veneer from collapsing. This type of door should be used as an interior door only.
The Solid Wood Door provides good security. It is constructed entirely of heavy wood. Some doors have decorative wooden panel inserts that greatly reduce its security.
The Solid Core Door provides good security. It is constructed much the same way as the hollow core door; however, the center is filled with compressed particle-type material that provides strength.
The Metal Door is becoming a favorite exterior door and it provides good security. It consists of a frame covered in a 16 to 20 gauge steel covering. The center of the door is filled with compressed hard foam.
Strike Plates
The weakest area of many doors and locking devices is the strike plate. High security strike plates mounted with three-inch screws will strengthen the doorframe where the throw of the dead bolt meets. The three-inch screws will extend through the doorframe and secure into the stud or existing frame structure of the home. With shorter screws, the strike plate is only secured into the doorframe, which is usually constructed of soft wood that splinters easily.
Deadbolt Locks
The Spring Latch, key in the knob lockset, offers zero security. Known as the "credit card" or "ten second" model, is found on many homes. On exterior doors, this lock set should be an addition to the deadbolt lock. Doors leading into the home from an attached garage or from the basement should be considered an exterior door.
A Single Cylinder Deadbolt lock functions with a key from the outside and thumb turn from the inside. Single cylinder deadbolts are intended to be used on solid doors with no glass within 40 inches of the lock.
Crime Prevention Tip of the Month Brought to you by the Wichita Police Department Crime Prevention Unit
Call 268-4101 or go online to www.wichita.gov
____________________________________
Prostitution
If you notice strange activity that you feel is related to Prostitution, please call 911. You do not have to be contacted in person, but I would implore you to ask the dispatcher to have responding Officers contact you by phone. There can be a world of difference in our response to these type of calls if we can actually speak to the person that has observed the activity versus just calling 911 and saying "There's a Hooker at 11th and Broadway."
Please feel free to visit the City of Wichita's Prostitution Website so that you may recognize criminals that may be near your homes or places of business.
Graffiti
Please call The Office of Central Inspection at 268-4481 for graffiti complaints and removals.
I you have any information about the identity of anyone painting any graffiti on property that is not theirs, please report it to the Wichita Police Department.
Graffiti destroys the sense of safety and ownership of your neighborhood and gives the criminals the impression that the people that live there don't care.
Here's what you can do to help:
Keep an eye out for suspicious behavior, paying special attention to individuals or groups who are loitering.
Improve lighting on your property, consider installing motion detector lights in order to discourage vandalism and thefts.
IF YOU WITNESS AN ACT OF GRAFFITI-VANDALISM IN PROGRESS, CALL 911 AND PLEASE GIVE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCATION, SUSPECTS AND VEHICLES.