Breckenridge Estates Neighborhood Association

If you would like to receive e-mail updates regarding Neighborhood Watch related items, please e-mail Debbie at mckastle@yahoo.com and let her know.

Officer Leonard offers a free home safety survey that will point out areas in your home that need to be secured to prevent intrusion. He will give you a check list and offer ideas on ways to make your home secure. If you would like Officer Leonard to come to your home and perform a home safety survey send me an email with your name address and phone number and I am compiling a list and will forward the information to Officer Leonard to set up a time and day.

I know that all of you know about the sexual assaults in the Highgate, Bon Air and Regis Park area. Officer Leonard stressed that while we have not had any problems in our neighborhood, the person of interest is still at large and mobile and when one area "gets hot" he may move to another area, so we should remain vigilant. They are looking for a black male between 5'8" and 6'2" around 170-175 pounds. He has been described as clean shaven and having a slender build. The attacks have been occurring between the hours of 1:00 am and 10:00 am and began in September 2007 and have been increasing in January and February of this year.

Officer Leonard's tips for securing your home, car and self.

1. Lock your doors. While this may seem as a no-brainer, most of the home intrusions have occurred because the door, or windows were not locked.

2. Lock your windows - check your basement windows.

3. Dog doors - people can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces if they want to enter your home. You may want to secure the dog door.

4. When you enter your home shut and lock your door behind you. Criminals can lie in wait and follow you into your home. (make sure to keep your shrubbery trimmed and home well lit - it helps to prevent the criminal to find a place to hide)

5. If you have a security system... use it. It does no good to pay for a security system if you do not turn it on. Alarms with noise can scare off an intruder.

6. Dogs are a good deterrent. Criminals do not like things that make noise.

7. Iron storm doors are good security, make sure you get the ones with the hinges on the inside. Thieves can break the hinges off and gain entry if they are on the outside. (I checked mine, if anyone sees someone banging on our front doors with a hammer call 911....we bought the wrong ones...)

8. Shut your garage doors and make sure that you do not have things blocking visibility to the garage doors. A lot of people put the trash cans or other things in front of the garage doors, this gives the criminal cover if he wants to break in.

9. Lock your car doors. Almost all of the car break ins the cars are unlocked. The few where the windows were busted out had something of value visible in the car...(lap top, purse, ipod). Put valuables out of sight in the trunk, etc. Officers are going around and checking car doors. They put a slip in your car talking about needing to secure your vehicle. At a recent Highgate Springs block watch meeting the officers found many vehicles in the parking lot were unlocked.

10. If you are out walking be aware of your surroundings. If you are carrying a purse make sure you use your shoulder strap. Carry a cell phone. Take your dog. Make eye contact with people. One of our neighbors pointed out that the dollar store sells a flashlight alarm combo that sounds when you pull the alarm.

11. Do not leave your car warming with the keys in it. There have been cars stolen because of this and it is illegal. If you do this make sure you at least lock the car with a second set of keys.

12. If you spot something suspicious call dispatch at 574-2111. If you see someone in trouble or a crime being committed call 911. Be careful not to put yourself in danger. If you think there is a drug deal do not go out on the street and take pictures or stand behind the car and write down the license number. Be discreet call a neighbor if you think that they have a better view of the license from their home.

Be sure to mark your calendars for National Night Out on August 7, 2007. District 6 LMPD will be at the Lowes on Bardstown Road in the evening and neighbors are planning small get togethers on their streets to show we are united against crime.

There have been some break ins into cars recently in the area. There have also been some youth spotted on bright red bikes that are really too small for them riding around at about the same times as the break ins. Please keep your eyes out for these individuals and call the police if you see them or anyone else acting suspiciously.

LMPD Offense Report Definitions

Click here for the Kentucky Revised Statues (KRS).

Assault – an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury (KRS Chapter 508)

Auto Theft (Unauthorized Use of Vehicle) – the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle (KRS Chapter 514)

Burglary – the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft (KRS Chapter 511)

Homicide (Criminal) – the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another (KRS Chapter 507)

Robbery – the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear (KRS Chapter 515)

Theft – includes the below crimes: (KRS Chapter 514)

Purse Snatch – the grabbing or snatching of a purse, handbag, etc., from the custody of an individual

Shoplifting – the theft by a person (other than an employee) of goods or merchandise exposed for sale (also KRS Chapter 433)

Theft from Building – a theft from within a building that is open to the general public and where the offender has legal access

Theft from Vending Machine – theft from a device or machine which is operated or activated by the use of a coin

Theft Other – all thefts which do not fit the definition of the specific categories of Theft

Stolen Property – the buying, receiving, possessing, selling, concealing, or transporting any property with the knowledge that it has been unlawfully taken

Theft from Vehicle – (a) the theft of articles from a motor vehicle, whether locked or unlocked; (b) the theft of any part or accessory attached to the interior or exterior of a motor vehicle (KRS Chapter 514)

Vandalism (Criminal Mischief) – to willfully or maliciously destroy, injure, disfigure, or deface any public or private property, real or personal, without consent of the owner (KRS Chapter 512)

Auto Theft Prevention Tips

1. Lock your car doors and close your windows.

2. Don't leave valuables in your car. If you do, make sure they are kept out of plain sight -- hide them under a blanket, or better yet, lock them in your trunk.

3. When transporting valuables, place them in the trunk before you get to the location where you intend to park. Don't transfer them at the parking place in open view of other people.

4. If you have a garage, use it.

5. Don't leave your garage door opener on the dashboard or front seat. Put it in your glove box, hide it or take it with you.

6. Always park in a well-lighted area.

7. Use slide or portable mounts on add-on radios, citizens' band radios (CBs), tape decks and telephones. When you leave your car, put them in the trunk or take them with you.

8. Mark radios, CBs, tape decks, telephones, batteries, wheel covers and tires with an Operation Identification number. If the stolen item is found later, the number can be traced back to you. To enroll in Operation ID, contact Community Crime Prevention/SAFE at 673-3204.

9. Remember: briefcases, sunglasses, clothing, keys, gyms bags and small change are all tempting to a thief.

10. Leave only the ignition key with the parking attendant in a commercial parking lot.

11. Keep your driver's license and vehicle registration with you. Left with the car, the documents can be used by a thief to impersonate you when transferring the car's ownership.

12. Car keys left at home (or at your business) should always be hidden. This will help prevent the theft of your vehicle if you are burglarized.

13. There are locks made for various marketable parts of cars. Battery locks, wheel locks and special tape deck lock mounts can save these items plus any damage that may occur in the process of stealing them.

14. Install a locking gas tank cap to help prevent gasoline theft and limit a thief's driving range to one tank.

15. Park the front wheel turned sharply to the right or left, making it difficult for the professional thief to tow your car away backwards.

16. With front wheel drive cars: When you park, pull on the emergency brake and place your vehicle in Park. If you have a stick shift, pull on the emergency brake and shift into forward or reverse gear. All four wheels will be locked, making it difficult for a thief to tow your car.

17. Call 911 as soon as theft occurs.

Convenience Device

Credit Card Key: This is a special plastic card that holds two keys (also plastic) which you can have cut to fit your door and ignition system. Carry it with you in case you lose your regular set of keys. Available at any lock and key shop

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As the weather warms up, remember to keep your garage doors closed. Last year several neighbors lost items out of their garage while they were mowing the lawn, or stepping inside for a cool drink. Engrave your valuables, including lawn equipment with a readily identifiable name or number of your choosing, starting with KY. Take pictures of all valuables and record all serial numbers. Keep this information in a safe place (outside of your home) such as a safe deposit box or with a friend or relative.

Vacation Tips

1) Secure your home and leave some lights on timers

2) Leave a key with a trusted neighbor

3) Make arrangements to have your lawn mowed

4) Stop mail and paper delivery

5) contact district 6 police at 574-2187 and ask for a house watch

6) ask a neighbor to sometimes park a car in your drive while you are gone

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These are tips from the 8th division....but it would not hurt for us to be aware of them.

1) Thefts from cars occur in driveways and garages. Crime can be greatly reduced if we

1) take out our valuables

2) Lock your door

Last year the police commented on how many people in our neighborhood leave their garage doors open. They asked us to keep them closed to prevent thefts.

2) The second tip involves car accidents. Most occur for the following reasons:

1) Speeding

2) Driving too close

3) Failure to yield

4) Driver inattention

I have had several complaints about speeding in the neighborhood. I am passing these along to officer Leonard and asking him to increase speed patrols. I know that my husband and I have personally been passed on Graf in the past week and recieved an obscene gesture for stopping at the stop sign at Landside and Graf. Both of these cars continued out of the neighborhood, but some of our speeders live right in our neighborhood and many of us are guilty of going a little too fast when we are in a hurry. The speed limit is 25 miles an hour that is supposed to be a maximum not the minimum. So try to be careful I would hate for any of our neighbors to be ticketed.

P.S. Eric got a hot wheels radar gun for Easter. I tried it out while waiting for him to come around the block on his bike so that I could see how fast he was going. I checked out the cars while I was waiting and the average speed was around 30 miles per hour, and that was after they slowed down....upon seeing me point the bright orange object at them.

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Also be careful in the parking lots of stores.

Kroger, 3039 Breckenridge Lane. A shopper had taken her groceries to her vehicle when a woman told her she knew she had some money to give her for gas about 8:30 p.m. April 1. The shopper said she did not have any, and the other woman responded by lifting her shirt to show she had a gun in her waistband. "I think you do," the assailant said. The victim handed her $5.

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Google has implemented a new feature which enables you to type a telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and you will be given the person's name and address. If you then hit MapQuest, you will get a map to the person's house. Everyone should be aware of this! It's a nationwide reverse telephone book.
If a child gives out his/her phone number, someone can now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming.

Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. I tried my number and it came up along with the mapquest and directions straight to our house. I did fill out the removal form for myself, and encourage all of you to do the same. Quite scary.

Please look up your own number.

In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to: google ( http://www.google.com/) Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to

BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on your telephone number and then click on the Removal Form. Removal takes 48-hours.

Check your own number and although this may not apply to you if you have an unlisted number or cell phone as primary contact, but you may know someone who needs to know this.
Please share this information with friends and family.

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What is a Neighborhood Watch? - The Louisville Metro Neighborhood Watch Program is an active partnership between the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and area residents to increase community awareness and crime prevention. The Neighborhood Watch Program is a vital network that provides each resident with the knowledge and resources to fight crime through: Home Security, Property Identification, Public Safety, Neighborhood Awareness, encouraging Getting to Know Your Neighbors, and Partnership with Police.

How do we get started? - The Neighborhood Watch committee is developing, comprising of officers and block captains. The Neighborhood Watch will have meeting separate from the association on a regular basis to plan recruiting members, identifying discussion topics and will post Neighborhood Watch signs throughout the neighborhood.

What are the responsibilities of Members? - Membership in the Neighborhood Watch Program is free and it is encouraged that all residents of Breckenridge Estates join; there is power and information in numbers. Members should: attend meetings, implement security measures suggested by law enforcement for their own homes, participate in Operation Identification, learn neighbors' names and be able to recognize them and their vehicles without hesitation, participate in the phone tree program, watch for and report any suspicious activities to LMPD with as many details as possible. It is important to not try to prevent a crime or hold someone for arrest, focus on being a good witness.

What is the Phone Tree? - The phone tree provides a way to quickly communicate with every participant in the Neighborhood Watch. To learn more and become part of the phone tree, please plan to attend a neighborhood watch meeting.

Who do you call when something happens?

Emergency (life threatening) 911

Dispatch 574-2111 (to report suspicious activity and other law enforcement concerns)

LMPD Crime Tip Line 574-LMPD (anonymous 24 hour tip line)

Division Resource Officer 6th Division 574-2187

Metro Call 311 or 574-5000

Your Block Captain (TBA)

So how secure is your home? Take a moment to take this quick survey and find out! Also includes some great tips. (Thank you LMPD for providing the Survey and tips!)