Sheriff’s deputies provide crime prevention tips

As population increases, so does criminal activity. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice reports that Arizona is no exception. Nationwide, violent crime has declined, but property crime – motor vehicle theft, burglary and property theft — has increased in the western portion of the country.

Maricopa, with its growing population, parallels this trend with additional incidences of property crime each month. To a large extent, thefts are occurring in homes under construction.

Block Watch is one method of stopping crime in neighborhoods before it occurs. It is a proactive approach to partnering with the local sheriff’s office to prevent crime (see related story). The contact person for Block Watch is Sergeant Lupe Ybarra. A Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy will meet with local residents to help them organize a Block Watch in their neighborhood.

Residents of the Villages at El Dorado meet to form a Block Watch organized by Rebecca Molus (left).

One of the neighborhoods in the Villages at El Dorado recently met with Ybarra and other representatives of the PCSO to form a Block Watch, organized by resident Rebecca Molus.

PCSO deputies provide residents with crime prevention tips.

Whether your neighborhood has or is planning to form a Block Watch, the information presented by the deputies is important for everyone to know. The PCSO asks that residents be vigilant, not vigilantes. Never put yourself in danger, but do practice the following crime prevention tips:

Home Security
Unlocked doors, open garages and property left unattended outside account for 80% of all burglaries. Make sure your home is well lit and vegetation is well maintained so you aren’t giving a criminal a place to hide. Motion detectors are a good investment.

Photograph valuables, particularly jewelry. Such records aid law enforcement in recovering stolen items. Engrave electronics and larger items with a sequence of numbers, possibly a birth date or an old phone number. A nationwide database exists to track property through serial numbers.

If you are going on vacation, stop your newspapers and mail. Left in the driveway, these items draw attention to the fact that no one is at home. The local PCSO has a house watch list. You can put your name on that list along with a local contact. When you return, simply advise the sheriff’s office that you are home.

Reporting Suspicious or Criminal Activity
Know what vehicles the people in your neighborhood drive. If you see a suspicious vehicle, try to get a license number. Even if you are unable to get that information, try to describe the car in detail. For example, does it have a loud muffler, dents or bumper stickers, tinted windows, a broken headlight or any other distinguishing characteristics?

Be the best witness you can be. If you hear a noise or witness something suspicious, call the sheriff’s office. Monday through Friday, the local PCSO office can be reached at either (520) 866-7451 or (520) 568-2339 during the day or at (520) 866-5111 in the evenings.

The emergency number is 911; however, when you call that number from a landline phone, your name and address will appear to the recipient of the call. Calling from a cell phone requires that you wait to give that information to the deputy.

When calling in a complaint to the local sheriff’s office, please give your name. Do not remain anonymous. You can ask the deputy to phone you with follow-up information rather than having them come to your door, thus alerting everyone to the fact that you were the one who complained about the loud music or the big party.

Maricopa’s sheriff’s office is shorthanded right now with five deputies, two sergeants, two corporals and one lieutenant answering 120 to 160 calls per week. After the first of the year six additional deputies will be added, but the department is still hoping to add more, thus bringing the ratio to one officer per every 1,000 residents. As much as the deputies would like to stay on the phone or at the crime scene to listen and comfort a resident, they have to prioritize calls.

Sergeant Jason Villegas explained, “The city has been very good to us in regard to public intervention with law enforcement.” The department has a ride along program, and it encourages citizens to sign up to participate, according to Villegas.

Keep your home, your neighbors and the City of Maricopa safe. Consider organizing a Block Watch in your neighborhood, and, above all, follow the guidelines provided by the local sheriff’s office.