16 December, 2008

MPD Posts Pictures of Stolen Goods Online

MPD Posts Pictures of $200,000 in Stolen Goods Online

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today that hundreds of items of stolen property will be posted online for owners to view and retrieve.

In January 2008, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Burglary & Pawn Unit worked jointly with members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and discovered a large-scale fencing operation at Rosemar Liquors in the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE. The stolen merchandise is valued at more than $200,000.

In an effort to return the property to its rightful owners, the members of the MPD Burglary & Pawn Unit have coordinated with the DC Armory for owners to physically view the stolen property. The property will be displayed at the DC Armory from January 5, 2009 to January 7, 2009. The Armory is located at 2001 East Capital Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. The hours for the public viewing will be from 12 pm to 7 pm on January 5th and 6th, and 10 am to 5 pm on January 7th.

To help expedite the retrieval of the items, the MPD will post the items on the MPD website at http://mpdc.dc.gov/stolenproperty for online viewing starting today until December 31, 2008. Individuals who have been the victims of crimes where property has been stolen can go to the MPD website and click on the link for the property viewing.

Once the property is viewed online and owners wish to claim it, they must use the links on the website to email the MPD Burglary & Pawn Unit and provide their name, address, contact telephone numbers, and the report number(s) for the stolen property. MPD detectives will then contact the owners and arrange to meet and physically inspect the property. At that time, owners must submit proof that they are the rightful owners.

If owners of the stolen items cannot view the items online, they may come to the DC Armory to recover their property. Report numbers taken at the time the items were stolen must be provided to enter the DC Armory to view the property. MPD officers and detectives will be on site to assist residents in identifying and retrieving their property.

To claim property, an individual must have:

* A Government Issued Identification Card and one of the following:
o The serial numbers of property stolen
o Insurance appraisals for stolen property
o Photographs of stolen property with copy of receipt and Police Report number

Any other proof of ownership will be considered on a case by case basis by the MPD investigators. Any property not claimed during this operation will be released to the Federal Government after 30 days to be sold at auction.

* View stolen property http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1242,q,566772.asp

09 December, 2008

Neighborhood Public Safety Meeting

REMINDER - PSA 102 MEETING - DECEMBER 9TH- SHERWOOD REC CENTER

PSA 102 Public Safety Meeting
Sherwood Recreation Center - 10th and G Streets NE
Tuesday 9 December 2008 7:00pm

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

- Community Updates on Pending Juvenile Justice Legislation and
Recent Prostitution Hearing
- Discussion and comments on DC Crime Omnibus Act
- Crime Statistics
- Community Safety Walk Announcements
- Your Comments and Concerns

FBI WARNS OF HOLIDAY SEASON CYBER-SCAMMERS

The FBI is reminding people this holiday season that cyber criminals continue to
aggressively seek ways to steal money and personal information. Scammers are using
several techniques to fool potential victims including sending unsolicited e-mails that contain attachments such as electronic greeting cards containing malware (malicious software), setting up spoofing websites that look like legitimate commercial sites, and unleashing phishing and vishing attacks where individuals receive e-mails asking for personal data.

In the greeting card scam, the cards are being sent via email. Like many other
Internet fraud schemes, the criminals use social engineering tactics to entice the victim, claiming the card is from a family member or friend. Upon clicking the link, the recipient is unknowingly taken to a malicious webpage.
Spoofing scams are when criminals create a false or shadow copy of a real website or
e-mail in a way that misleads the recipient. All network traffic between the victim’s browser and the shadow page are sent through the spoofer’s machine. This allows the spoofer to acquire personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and account numbers. Even though the e-mail looks like the real thing, complete with authentic logos and working web links, it’s a fake; the website where you’re told to enter your account information is also fake. The information entered does not go to the legitimate site, but rather to the spoofer’s account. The information you entered will most likely be sold to criminals, who’ll use it to ruin your credit and drain your account.
In phishing and vishing attacks, individuals receive e-mails or text messages indicating a problem with their account. They are directed to follow the link provided in the message to update their account or correct the problem. The link actually directs the individuals to a fraudulent website that looks legitimate where their personal information, such as account number and PIN, is compromised.
Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:
• Do not respond to unsolicited (spam) email.
• Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited email.
• Be cautious of email claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
• Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal information.
• Always compare the link in the email to the link that you are actually directed to.
• Log on to the official website, instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited email.
• Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the email to verify if the email is genuine.

VIOLENT, PROPERTY CRIME DOWN IN NOVEMBER

Reported property crime was down 12% and violent crime was down 10% in DC compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary statistics from the MPD. For the month of November, property crime decreased in five of the seven police districts, with significant decreases in the First (-36%), Fourth (-29%), Fifth (-22%), and Seventh Districts (-28%). Violent crime also decreased in five of the seven police districts, with significant decreases in the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Districts.
Citywide, there have been two fewer Homicides compared to December 5, 2007. Year to date, as of December 1, there has been a five percent decrease in the number of Sexual Assaults. Robberies have remained statistically unchanged and Assaults are down 11 percent. Burglary was down by five percent, and Theft has remained statistically unchanged compared to the same time last year. Thefts from Vehicles increased 15 percent and Arsons were down 15 percent. Compared to the same time last year, property crimes decreased in the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Districts. Violent crime decreased in six of the seven police districts; it increased in the Sixth District.

08 December, 2008

PSA 102 Public Safety Committee Meeting

REMINDER - PSA 102 MEETING - DECEMBER 9TH- SHERWOOD REC CENTER

PSA 102 Public Safety Meeting
Sherwood Recreation Center - 10th and G Streets NE
Tuesday 9 December 2008 7:00pm

DISCUSSION TOPICS:

- Community Updates on Pending Juvenile Justice Legislation and
Recent Prostitution Hearing
- Discussion and comments on DC Crime Omnibus Act
- Crime Statistics
- Community Safety Walk Announcements
- Your Comments and Concerns