Capt. Sandra Tong: Police Beat

Greetings to all! November marks the beginning of the holiday season and besides planning family celebrations, holiday shopping begins.

In November and December, there is an increase of theft reports. To decrease your chances of being a victim, review the following safety tips:

Personal Safety Tips: á
• Shop with a friend or family member;

• Bring only the cash and credit cards you will need while shopping;

• Avoid overloading yourself with packages to maintain clear visibility and freedom of motion;

• Be more cautious in crowded areas (bus, stores, etc) in order to avoid pickpocket activity;

• Do not resist if any person demands your valuables. Call 9-1-1 immediately and attempt to describe the suspect to the dispatcher. Your personal safety is more important than material items.

Vehicle Safety Tips: á
• Do not leave anything of value in plain view, even clothing;

• Keep packages locked in the car trunk;

• Have your keys in hand while approaching your car or home;

• Remove your keys from the ignition after every use;

• Keep your car keys separate from your house keys;

• Always park your car in a secure lot that is well lit and well traveled;

• Check the back seat of your vehicle before entering and immediately lock the door.

Stolen Vehicles:
During the month of October, Richmond Officers conducted 17 investigations involving stolen vehicles.

Upon review of the cases, I noticed that six of them could have been easily avoided. These cases occurred in the early morning hours when, due to cold mornings during these winter months, the vehicle was left unattended while the engine was running. These incidents are usually crimes of opportunity.

The next Community/Police Forum meeting will be held on Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., the at Richmond Police Station. The guest speaker will be Sarah Tyler from the Office of Emergency Services and Homeland Security. Tyler will give an overview of OES plans in the event of a major incident or disaster.

I wish all of you a happy and safe Thanksgiving! With all that is taking place in our city, country and around the world, we have much to be thankful for. I thank the residents and merchants for making our community safe and building partnerships with the police, and I am grateful for the dedication and service my officers give to our community each day.

Capt. Sandra Tong is the commanding officer at the Richmond District Police Station.