Fairmount Beat – June 2014

by Sergio L. Guadarrama, Neighborhood Patrol Officer

“I was constantly amazed by how many people talked me into arresting them.” –- Edward Conlan, Blue Blood.

This quote is from the book Blue Blood which was written by a retired NYPD detective. It chronicles his career in the NYPD as he dealt with every kind of crime known to man as he patrolled the South Bronx. I highly recommend it and the quote is so true. I’ve found myself at times amazed at how people talk themselves into going to jail. That’s what we call job security though. Anyway, I know it’s been a couple months since I’ve written an article, but I, along with my detectives, have been somewhat obsessed with identifying and capturing the Doggie Door Burglar. Since I came over at the end of December, the trend of houses being broken into by way of doggie doors has been both intriguing and frustrating.

Everyone worked and worked on trying to get this burglar identified, and it wasn’t until we got his face on camera that we were finally able to find out who he was and where he lived.

On May 27 everything came together and we were able to track him down and capture him. It was the epitome of teamwork. Everyone from the detectives, patrol officers, my fellow NPOs, AirOne, and the residents in my neighborhoods had a hand in tracking down this very talented and determined burglar. As I write this he is still sitting in jail reflecting on his actions. However, he will be out eventually. His days of burglarizing and thieving may not be over, but now that we know who he is, where he lives and how he operates, he won’t be able to sneeze without us being right there wiping his nose. That being said I still need everyone to be as vigilant as they were when we had no idea who this guy was and when he was going to hit next. Set your alarms and lock your doors and windows and always be on the lookout for any suspicious persons or activities. It was because of a resident’s security camera that we were able to catch him. Don’t be complacent just because he’s in jail. It’s been my experience that when we catch a burglar there is always someone around to take his place. If a situation needs to be checked out by the police then call us. Paint the picture.

Summer is upon us and the kids are out of school. The sun is out and the temperature is up. People are leaving on vacation and burglars and thieves see opportunity. I want to give everyone some tips about leaving home when you and your family go on vacation. These are only tips and are not 100 percent guaranteed to keep you from being a victim of crime, however, they can work and hopefully increase your piece of mind when traveling.

Before you leave:

-Try not to announce your itinerary on social media like exact dates you leave or when you’re coming back.

-Have a trusted friend or family member house sit for you for the duration of your trip. I know this isn’t always possible, but if you’re able to find someone willing to house sit then take advantage of that.

-If nobody is available to house sit then make sure you keep your yard mowed. That can give the impression that someone is home.

-Purchase timers for your lights to fool burglars and thieves into thinking someone is home.

-Stop your mail and/or newspapers or have someone like a relative or neighbor collect it.

-Set your alarm. I know I know I sound like a broken record but it’s easy to forget to do it.

-Lock up jewelry and small electronic devices before leaving on vacation.

While on vacation:

-Try not to carry large amounts of cash.

-If possible carry a small wallet that holds your ID, credit cards, cash, insurance cards, etc. and put it in your front pocket. Pickpockets prey on wallets stored in your back pocket. Try not to make it easy for them.

-Try not to take shortcuts anywhere. Stay on well traveled streets.

-If you absolutely have to withdraw money from an ATM make sure you do it during the day and preferably in a bank or hotel lobby.

-Don’t leave valuable items in plain sight in your vehicle.

-Most hotels provide a safe for you to store valuable items such as cash, jewelry, etc. Take advantage of those.

-Before you leave for your destination write down serial numbers for electronics, credit cards, and descriptions of any expensive jewelry. Leave those numbers and descriptions with a family member, house sitter, or neighbor so if anything happens to those valuables you will have those handy if needed.

-Always have a plan of action in case of any emergency. Go over the plan with your family. Always be prepared.

These are just a few tips that I always follow when I travel and they’ve been successful for me and my family. Most importantly, have fun on your vacations and make great memories. Just remember that being safe and aware of your surroundings is just as important while you’re on vacation as it is when you’re at home. I hope everyone has a great summer. Have fun wherever you may go whether it’s just a short road trip or a two week excursion. Job security will be keeping me here for the summer so I’ll be hunting bad guys with my teammates and patrol officers.

Be safe. Watch your six. That is all. Carry on…….