News Details (Posted: April 2, 2008):

Spring Crime Prevention Update - from Commissioner Stuart

Full Description:

Dear Neighbor,
It’s spring in the City of Orlando! Last week, we enjoyed the official end of winter, Traditional Easter and, of course, the early onset of Daylight Savings Time. In the next few days, we will celebrate Passover and Orthodox Easter. And, for many of our students, Spring Break started today!

With many students out of school this week, I am asking for your help to keep our community safe. Let me explain…

Whenever our school system closes for a few days, we see an increase in criminal activity in our neighborhoods. It seems that with an increase in juvenile crime, along with a growing number of working families, neighborhood “crimes of opportunity” are on the rise. As I review the crime logs throughout Orlando, I have also noticed that many home and vehicle burglaries occur when certain precautions, such as locking doors and securing valuables, are not taken. Here are a few Spring Break Tips from our Orlando Police Department that will help make this well-deserved time off worth the effort.

First, lock and secure your vehicles. It is certainly still a crime to go into an open vehicle and steal personal belongings from it. However, why invite criminal behavior? If we all just simply double-checked our vehicles to make sure they are locked, it will cut down greatly on crime. While we're at it, we should try to always take our valuables from our cars into our homes. If that can't happen, remove them from plain sight by putting things like garage door openers, Ipods, cell phones, and such in the glove box or trunk.

Second, keep your eyes open. During this time of year, we see an increase in suspicious persons walking through our neighborhoods. Don’t be embarrassed by calling your Orlando Police Department and letting them know that something is unusual. You can call OPD’s Non-Emergency phone number at 321-235-5300.

Third, let your neighbors know if you’re leaving home for a few days. This is the core of our Neighborhood Watch Program…looking out for each other is the first line of defense in crime prevention. The increasing trend is for family vacations to occur during Spring Break. If you plan on leaving home for a few days, just let your neighbors know. And, while you’re at it, give a call to OPD’s Non-Emergency Line and let them know, too!

Last, for more tips, check out Orlando Police Department’s website available at http://www.cityoforlando.net/p­olice/. Also on their website, OPD now offers online reporting services for certain crimes, i.e. lost property, harrassing phone calls, pettit theft, vehicle burglary, and vandalisim (when there is no suspect information).

It’s a great time to be with family…enjoy yourselves and as they used to say on Hill Street Blues, “Be safe out there!”

Robert

Robert F. Stuart, Commissioner, District 3
City of Orlando
400 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
407-246-2003
Robert.Stuart@CityofOrlando.ne­t

Note: Florida has a very broad public records law. As a result, any written communication created or received by City of Orlando officials and employees will be made available to the public and media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Furthermore, under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this office. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.