Officer Alex Recio
Patrol South Community Policing
321 N. Mead, Wichita KS
Work: 316-219-9358
Last updated June 17th, 2008
Seasonal Information to Remember:
It is finally nice outside, and this means people will be spending more time outdoors. This includes doing yard work. It also means thieves will be out, and they will have their eyes on your power tools. You can help keep yourself from becoming a victim. First, do not leave your garage door open. This is a quick way for a thief to steal items and get away before you even notice what has happened, this is true even if you are at home. It is a good idea to close and lock your garage even if you are in the backyard doing work. Second, if you keep tools and items in a yard shed, keep it locked at all times. Many thefts occur from these structures, both day and night. Finally, take an inventory of the items you have. You may be surprised to realize your tool collection has grown over time. When doing your inventory take some time to write down Make/Model/Serial Numbers of your tools, even if they are old, or out of warranty. This is our best chance of recovering items if you do end up being a victim.
Suspicious Activity
What is suspicious?
People looking into cars or checking to see if the car is unlocked
People looking into windows of a house
People walking through yards or where they don’t belong
Cars that are not familiar in your neighborhood driving back and forth down the street
If you believe it is suspicious, it probably is!
Watch and take note of anything you see.
Start with clothing: color, patterns, numbers, and don’t forget hats and gloves.
Are they carrying anything with them? Bags, tools, etc.
Do you see any weapons? Guns, knives, bats, etc.
What is the last direction of travel before you lost sight of them.
Did they get in a car? If so, what color, model, or even how many doors, and a license tag is great, too!
Did they go in a house? If so, do you know the address, or what the house looks like and what vehicles are in front of it?
Look for others around them; they may be participants or witnesses too!
When you call 911, the dispatcher will ask you these questions, now you can be prepared!
Beat Team News
We are working on several drug complaints on the beat. Sometimes these complaints take time to investigate. I want to assure we will work each drug complaint we receive from you and try to take the appropriate action necessary to reduce or resolve the complaint.
If you know of a drug house or a possible drug house,
please contact me with as much information as you can about the location.
You can remain anonymous!
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Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle!
Thieves often target vehicles with valuables in plain sight.
Every year the Wichita Police Department notices a large increase in preventable auto thefts in neighborhoods like yours. Most of these incidents occur during the early morning hours; however it is not uncommon for this type of crime to occur during throughout the day. Kansas State Law prohibits a person from leaving their vehicle running unattended for any amount of time. The Police Department is notifying you of this crime trend as a type of education and not taking criminal action at this time. Your awareness and help in combating this criminal activity is greatly appreciated.
Please consider the following tips to prevent YOU from becoming a victim.
- Do not leave your vehicle unattended and running with the keys in the ignition.
- Always lock your doors and roll up your windows
- Never leave valuable items in your vehicle
- Store packages in the trunk of your vehicle while shopping
- Remove items such as telephones, ipods, purses, briefcase, backpack, cash, GPS and even loose change each time you leave your vehicle.
- Park in well lit areas at night
- Park vehicle in the driveway rather than the street (NOT IN YOUR FRONT YARD)
- Consider a car alarm for added protection
- Call 911 if you see any suspicious activity
SAFETY TIPS AND CRIME PREVENTION
Top 10 tips for building safe and connected neighborhoods:
1. Get to know your neighbors and learn their names.
2. Be aware of what's normal in your neighborhood and what's unusual.
3. Meet your neighbors' kids and introduce them to yours.
4. While away, ask a neighbor to pick up your newspaper and mail.
5. Regularly change your walking route and times.
6. Get to know the police and fire personnel working in your neighborhood.
7. Help out elderly neighbors on your block.
8. Report suspicious activities.
9. Trust your instincts.
10. Work together to get your neighborhood clean, and keep it clean.
GANG AWARENESS
Do you know if your child is involved with gang activity?
Do you know what to look for to help identify gang membership or association?
What are gang colors and gang signs?
Colors refers to a gang member representing his/her membership by wearing a specific gang logo, particular colors of clothing, a specific brand name of clothing or clothing worn in a predefined manner. This may also include hairstyles, jewelry, or even the way a person stands, walks or folds arms and hands. Colors identify the gang member and show member pride and affiliation.
Hand signals and gang slang are a means of communication. Symbols formed and flashed with the fingers, hands, and body have very specific meaning to the gang. The same goes for buzz words or phrases. Remember all of these may be area or geographic region specific and meanings may vary.
Why do gangs use graffiti and what does it mean?
As gang activity increases so does their graffiti. Graffiti has been called the "newspaper of the streets." Each gang has its unique symbols and cryptic types of writing. Graffiti is not artwork; it is sophisticated communication that publicizes the gang's power, status, delineates territory, sends messages, and warns intruders. Graffiti upside down or crossed out is generally a 'put down' or threat to a rival gang or person. 'Death warrants' for police officers are known to have been posted with graffiti.
What are some typical pre-gang behaviors?
Gang involvement does not happen overnight. It is a gradual process and if you are alert you will see the signs.
· Poor progress or achievement in school.
· Truancy from school.
· Lack of hobbies or too much leisure time.
· Frequent contact with authority figures or police.
· Draws gang insignias/symbols.
· Problems at home.
· Lives in neighborhood where a gang exists.
· Friends are gang members or "dressing down" of "sagging and bagging" in gang attire.
These items are characteristic of gang involvement. However, some people who join or associate with gangs do not dress in the traditional attire and do not exhibit conspicuous behavior to show gang involvement. Parents must be aware of the behavior and activities of their children. Continual monitoring of behavior and positive verbal communication between parents and young people is a must for gang membership prevention.
How do you deal with gangs?
· Be decisive, firm, and fair. Lenient treatment is viewed as weakness and they will take advantage of you.
· Intimidation will not work; it will most likely lead to confrontation. Lectures do not work either. Gang members are looking for respect.
· Giving any public or media attention to a gang only feeds their egos and escalates gang activity.
· It is bad news to negotiate with terrorist or criminals so don't do it with gangs or their members. All it does is give them more recognition and power.
· Remember the four "R’s" about graffiti: Read, Record, Report, Remove.
· Prevent conflict whenever possible and look for common ground.
What can parents do?
· Know your children's friends.
· Know about who and what influences your kids.
· Know what your children are doing at all times.
· Become involved with them and occupy their time.
· Strive for good communication between you and your youngsters.
· Again, spend time with them.
· Do not allow gang dress or attire.
· Do not allow hanging in the streets or mall.
· Be very suspicious of gang writing, graffiti, or tattoos.
· Encourage anti-gang attitudes at home.
· Learn about gangs and drugs.
· Participate in your child's education and find out what's happening at school.
· Get involved in community affairs.
· Set the example for your kids, they will do what you do.
· Believe in your young kids.
What are some parental strategies to combat gangs?
· More recreational and leisure-time activities for youngsters.
· A crackdown and tougher law enforcement against gang activities in the community.
· Stepped up effort to dry up the chief source of gang money and DRUGS.
· Increased parental supervision of children, their activities, and their friends.
· Collaborative efforts between police, community residents, and young people.
What are some community anti-gang strategies?
· Build methods of disseminating advice/information on dealing with gangs to youths and parents.
· Enact ordinances for school board, city, and state that make it a felony for gangs to recruit in school or intimidate youngsters to join a gang.
· Support initiatives that provide for a rich assortment of extracurricular programs for kids and the incentives for them to participate in them.
· Organize/support workshops on street gangs to be taught to parents, grandparents, and guardians of school-age children.
· Provide public seminars on "street gangs" throughout the year.
· Run media series on street gangs, stripping them of their mystique and exposing them for what they are.
· Encourage service clubs and church groups to sponsor a battery of community speak-outs during the year on street gangs, with the help of the police departments, courts, youth services agencies, correctional institutions, and schools.
· Organize a citizen patrol to patrol through their community and erase gang graffiti whenever it appears.
Organizing Neighborhood Watch
Block by block community mobilization is the most powerful weapon in the war on drugs. A neighborhood watch is the fastest, safest, and most effective way to rid your neighborhood of a drug house and prevent it from coming back. Why? Your neighbors and you coming together gives you power and power gives you results to take back your neighborhood block. For information on starting a neighborhood watch you can call me at (316) 337-9200 or email me at arecio@wichita.gov.
Fight Blight
As The City of Wichita and your Beat Officers begin their fight on blight in your neighborhood, there are a number of ordinances that you should be aware of. One of the most common ordinances violated on an individual property is the possession of abandoned, wrecked, scrapped, partially dismantled, junked or inoperable vehicles and prohibiting the storage, parking or leaving of the same on private property.
City Ordinance states that “No person shall park, store, leave or permit the parking, storing or leaving of any vehicle which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperable, rusted, junked, or partially dismantled condition upon any private property within the city for a period in excess of two days. The presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, inoperable, rusted, junked or partially dismantled vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property is declared a public nuisance, which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Any one (1) of the following conditions shall be deemed prima facie evidence that a vehicle is inoperable:
(1) The absence of an effective registration plate upon such vehicle;
(2) The placement of the vehicle or parts thereof upon jacks, blocks, chains or other supports;
(3) The absence or condition of disrepair of one (1) or more parts of the vehicle necessary for the lawful operation of the vehicle upon the streets and highways, including properly inflated tires; and
(3) The placement of materials or property within the vehicle which would preclude the lawful operation of the vehicle upon the streets or highways.”
Please report any vehicles meeting this criteria to the Health Department at 268-3851. The City will provide no more than ten (10) calendar days before the vehicle could be towed and fines will be assessed.
Who Can I Call?
The Police Department often receives calls about neighborhood problems such as animals being left in poor conditions, abandoned houses or inoperable cars left on private property. The city has several sections to deal with these problems. Below is a list of those departments and a sample of the types of issues they handle.
Animal Control 268-8473 - Leash laws, animal bites, animal care and conditions and issued animal license.
Environmental Health 268-8351 - Improper or no household trash collection, trash on premises, tall grass and weeds, animal hoarding, run down buildings and illegal dumping.
Fire Department Prevention 268-4441 - Fire safety education, juvenile fire starter counseling.
Office Of Central Inspection 268-4460 - Illegal parking in front yard, RV's, boats etc. improperly stored, signs in public right of way, emergency board up of vacant houses.
If you have questions, or are not sure who to contact you may contact your Community Police Officer who should be able to direct you to the proper department.
Neighborhood Traffic News
The Beat Team is addressing a problem with speeding on S. Broadway between Kellogg and Lincoln Streets. Officers will be conducting radar assignments for the next several weeks.
Neighborhood Meetings
District Advisory Board I
Meetings are held on the 1st Monday of the month at The Atwater City Hall, 2755 E. 19th at 7:00 pm.
South Central Improvement Alliance (SCIA)
Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Main at 11:45 a.m. For additional information contact Vickie Adamson at 655-2564.
South Central Neighborhood Association (SCNA)
Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1601 S. Main at 6:30 p.m. For additional information contact Bill Davis at 262-3158.
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Wichita Police Department
Identity Theft Checklist
What should I do if my Purse, Wallet or Checkbook is Lost or Stolen?
If your property was taken by force or threat, or you need immediate assistance, please call 911.
For non-emergencies, you can make a police report by calling the Wichita Police Department, Police Case Desk at (316) 268-4221.
You will need to make a police report to document lost or stolen items. The police report will assist us in the event your property is recovered. Your bank or financial institution may require a police report if you report unauthorized checks and/or credit card transactions.
Credit Cards
If your credit/debit cards are lost or stolen, immediately contact your bank or credit card issuer to cancel the card. Prompt reporting can help prevent unauthorized use of your card. If the credit card number has been compromised while you still have possession of the plastic card, immediately notify your bank or credit card issuer to cancel the card. Your bank or credit card issuer may require you to complete a dispute form for any unauthorized charges. The credit card company may issue you a temporary credit and issue a “charge back” to business that accepted the card number without viewing the card. The business, which then suffers the loss, may make a police report if it chooses to do so.
Checks
If your checks or account numbers are stolen, notify your bank or financial institution. Work with your financial institution to close any affected accounts. If your checks are lost or stolen and is being used in Wichita by someone forging your signature, call your bank or financial institution to close your account. Ask your financial institution to notify its check verification service. Your bank may require you to complete an Affidavit of Forgery for any forged check that clears. Your bank may credit your account once you complete the Affidavit of Forgery. The business accepting the forged check may file a police report since they may have lost cash or merchandise as a result of fraud.
If you are reimbursed by a business or financial institution for a monetary loss to you, the business becomes the victim of the forgery or fraud. You are a victim of the theft of your credit card, check or identity. The financial institution or business will be responsible for following up on their loss.
Identity Theft
Identity Theft occurs when someone uses your personal information with the intent defraud for any benefit. For example, someone pretends to be you by using your personal information to create and open new credit card accounts to make purchases and loans for financial gain. The theft or loss of personal information in wallets, purses and on checks can be used by criminals to commit Identity Theft. If someone has used you personal information such as your name along with your social security number, Driver’s License number, bank account number or other identifying information report the fraud to the following organizations:
Contact the nationwide consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert can help prevent an identity thief from opening additional accounts in your name. Ask for a copy of your credit report to review.
Equifax: 1-800-525-5285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289: www.transunion.com
You can obtain one free credit report per year from each of the three consumer reporting companies by contacting: annualcreditreport.com
;) Contact the fraud department for each company where your account was tampered with or the fraudulent account was opened. Close the accounts and follow up in writing along with sending copies (not originals) of supporting documents.
Make a police report in the community where the identity theft occurred. You can make a police report in Wichita by calling the Police Case Desk at 268-4221.
Make an Identity Theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC’S Identity Theft Hotline: (toll-free) 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)Or write: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580.
Helpful Tips
Avoid leaving wallets, purses, credit cards, checkbooks and other valuables in your vehicle, unattended or unsecured. Carry only credit cards and documents containing personal information that you need.
Keep a copy contact numbers of your credit cards in the event they are lost or stolen.Shred unwanted bank statements, bills and other documents containing personal information.
Below are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of a car thief, or having a theft from your vehicle:
1. The best and only way to prevent thefts from motor vehicles is never to leave valuables in your car unattended – particularly electronic goods such as cellular phones and laptop computers. Preventing the theft of car radios is more difficult. Some car stereo manufacturers make detachable faceplates or stereos that pull easily from the dashboard, allowing you to take it with you or lock it in the trunk.
2. Many thieves now break into cars if there are signs that checkbooks, personal documents, purses, mail or personal items, which would assist in the crime of identity theft, may be inside.
3. Never leave personal identification documents, vehicle ownership titles, or credit cards in your vehicle.
4. Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk out of sight.
5. If you have a button inside your car that opens the trunk when no key is in the ignition, valuables in your trunk are not secure.
6. Thieves may break into your vehicle if a garage door opener is visible, if they know where you live, or if your car is parked in front of your house. This gives them access to at least your garage and possibly your home.
7. Never leave your car running unattended, even to dash into a business, store, etc.
8. Never leave any keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes.
9. Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home.
10. Always park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas, when possible;
11. Install a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes. These devices will deter some criminals.
12. Investigate the purchase of a vehicle theft tracking/security system, especially if you own one of the frequently stolen model vehicles.
13. If you must leave your key with a valet, attendant, or mechanic leave only the ignition key. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm.
14. Copy your license plate and vehicle information (VIN) numbers on a card and keep them with you. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information to take a report; and,
15. Many vehicles today come with some type of security system from the factory. Normally there are upgraded systems available if you ask. The best choices are systems that shut off the fuel supply so that a car can't be started or driven.
16. If your vehicle is stolen, report it to the police immediately.
*The Wichita Police Department has worked with homeless organizations to produce a brochure full of available resources. The link below will give you a PDF file to print off as many as you like!
Wichita Homeless Resources
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