Calling 911

Calling 911 is very stressful and it's easy to
 feel overwhelmed.

911 call-takers are trained to guide callers through the experience, but knowing what to expect can help make the 911 call

 go smoothly and get emergency help where and when it's needed.

If you live in Wilkes Barre you MUST call 911 in order to

get a Police Officer to respond.

Many people are apprehensive to call because they don’t feel their call is an emergency.. so they don’t call.  If you see something that looks suspicious CALL.

Try to stay calm- Many times while you are talking your call is already being dispatched.

Know the location of the emergency and the number you are calling from.
This may be asked and answered a couple of times but don't get frustrated. Even though many 911 centers have enhanced capabilities -- meaning they are able to see your location on the computer screen -- they are still required to confirm the information. If for some reason you are disconnected, at least emergency crews will know where to go and how to call you back.

Give a good description.

It's important to try and build up a complete picture of a person from head to toe. Write down the details. Try to look at their shoes. Many times criminals will quickly change their clothes/ take shirts and hats off or on but rarely do they change their shoes.  

If a vehicle is involved, write down the registration number, color, make and model. Observe if it was damaged or rusty. Did it have any writing on it? Which way did it leave the area?

Also remember to keep a record of the time and date of your observations. These details can be very useful when giving a statement to Police and can help piece together the chain of events.

Any Cell Phone Will Do- Active or Not

Wireless carriers are required to complete 911 calls, even when the phone is not activated. Any phone that turns on and can receive a signal is capable of making a 911 call.  The problem is: if the phone you're using isn't activated, there isn't a phone number assigned to it. That means if you're disconnected from the dispatch center, you must call 911 back. They will not have a way to call you.

Anonymous calls

The simple truth is that Police do not take Anonymous calls as seriously as they do when you give your name.  Because they might need more information from you or need you to ID someone. Or it just may be a prank call.

I know it can be scary so that is why the Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch offers their members PIN numbers.  You just use your number when you call and they know who you are.

We won't back down !

Got Ya !

It’s been a good week for the good guys ……

Sometimes it is so frustrating. But when people are aware of the crimes occurring in their neighborhoods they will know what to look for and hopefully call 911.

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Thumbs up to Wright Twp. Police.     

After several burglaries in the area the police alerted residents to be wary of a stranger asking for directions.  Police said the man knocked on doors and if anyone answered he would simply say he was lost and ask for directions.  If no one answered, he walked behind the house and forced open a rear door or window. Armed with this information the residents then knew to call 911 if this occurred.  They called and two men were captured!

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The Times Leader Police Blotter  Posted: October 2

Moresse Germany, 34, of Lloyds Lane, was arrested for alleged burglary at 11:32 a.m. Wednesday after members of the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch said they observed him entering a home on Blackman Street.

Police said they caught Germany in the house when they arrived after getting a call from crime watch members.

 His bail has been set at $50,000 and he was lodged at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

**************** KISS A COP ****************

Don’t know much about this .. but I do know our police caught a very suspicious male on Friday afternoon walking around Beech Street. They took him in.

 Thanks, Guys.

  From “Scanner Addict” :

10/30-12:33AM Turkey Hill on High Street male shot in leg. Suspects fled.

9/27-10:56PM - 3RD floor of park n lock, car window smashed.

9/27-7:29PM -166 Jones Street, license plate stolen from a vehicle

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Copper Pipes are being stolen out of homes that

are vacant at an alarming rate !

Just this week 107 Logan Street and 19 Hughes Street got hit.

Sometimes the water is still on and it causes thousands of dollars of damage.

Please.. If you see anything suspicious call 911 !

Get smashed....

             “It’s me, it’s me- It’s Ernest T.!”

What is going on ?

Windows in cars and homes and business are

 being smashed everywhere!

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Reports from Clipboard at Police Station from

9/19 to 9/126

Theft from motor vehicles and smashed windows:

900 Scott St- Tried to pry door opened then smashed window.  Ipod

Park and Lock Central- 2 more cars- Smashed windows- nothing in plain sight.

Lincoln Plaza – Smashed car window

283 High St.- Smashed car window

85 Wyoming St-  5 Smashed car windows !

380 Coal St- purse from car

60 Lanning Lane- Smashed car window

215 S. Washington St. - Smashed car window

146 Sambourne St.-items stolen

Other crimes:

 68 W. Chestnut – theft- purse

5 N. Sherman St- Stolen Mimi Van

63 N. Franklin- Kirby Health Center – Smashed windows

222 S. Main-Verizon- Smashed windows on cars  

R. 21 Pershing St. – Burglary- Laptop

35 S.  Franklin-  Burglary – Victim’s Reach Program

St.  Mary’s Byzantine Church- 695- S. Main- Smashed window

133 N. Franklin- Theft-  2 laptops, video games  and cash

59 Pearl St- Copper Pipes

15 Caffery- 19 mm gun

6/8 Lanning Lane – Copper pipes

247 N. Penn Ave- Burglary

9/22-5:35 - Car broken into at Holiday Inn parking lot on Kidder Street.

9/22-6:28PM - Car broken into at the parking on East Northampton Street.

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Know who is living in your neighborhood..

FAMILY WATCHDOG

Just put in your street address, town and state then click on colored blocks and the person’s name, picture an information will come up.

http://www.familywatchdog.us/

Blow the Whistle on a Thug

Caryn Arnold has offered to speak at all of our Crime Watch meetings.  She has spoken at two of them already and the people have thoroughly enjoyed her wit and unique perspective concerning safety and crime prevention. Caryn is legally blind and she teaches people how to use all their senses to stay safe.

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Blow the Whistle on a Thug

Now here's a thought. . . blow the whistle on a thug! No mugger or any other nefarious character wants to have the whistle blown on him, and that is precisely what you can do with a Fox 40 Referee's Whistle. These whistles have a very loud sound that travels up to a mile. Don't carry it in your purse or pocket; carry it around your neck!

Charlotte has kindly invited me to attend Crime Watch Meetings to share some information about how to keep yourself safer within your environment. Carrying one of these whistles is a first line of defense and discouragement to any would-be attacker. I'm convinced that if everyone carried one of these noise-makers all of us would be much safer. I'll be demonstrating these little wonders at the Crime Watch Meetings where I give my little spiel about safety.

I've ordered thirty of these whistles from an online website. Walmart simply doesn't carry enough of them to supply all of the high-rise residents within Charlotte's area of operation. They should arrive by the end of this week. This is rather amusing. . . I bought out all of these whistles that were available at three different Walmart stores within a 20 mile radius. I found a total of eight and passed them out at the first Crime Watch Meeting where I shared this information. So, don't go to Walmart to buy one. Funnier yet, I also ordered more of these whistles than the refereescall.com site had available. But, they have assured me that my order will be filled within a few days.

The cost is $6.00. I purchased the black whistle with a plastic mouth guard that will make it more comfortable to use. These  DO NOT come with the lanyards (the cloth necklace.) I looked at these lanyards and thought the attachment appeared to be pretty cheaply made, so I'm going to suggest purchasing a fairly decent neck chain at Walmart. They aren't expensive and it will be money well spent.

I will be bringing a supply of these whistles to the various Crime Watch Meetings. If you would like to purchase one, have your money ready. I will continue reordering until everyone who wants one, has one. Or, if you prefer to order directly from the company, the name of the website is: www.refereescall.com. Their telephone number is 1-800-259-4733. Tell 'em Caryn sent you!  Just kidding.

Ciao,
Caryn Arnold

Have it and they will come....

Full House at the free seminar for rental property owners.

 We had 46 people in attendance. Many more called but had to be turned away. We are planning to have another in the near future.

Thank you Detective Chaz  Balogh.  As always .. Your presentation was enjoyable and extremely informative.

Thank you to District Attorney Jackie Carroll, Councilmen Mike Merritt and Bill Barrett for attending our Seminar.

                                                                           

It is a lot easier to do criminal background checks on potential tenants and get the right people in your rental than it is to try and get the bad ones out!

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This is the handout that was given out to the participants at the seminar.

It is a list of web sites useful to look up criminal history …

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BACKGROUND CHECK SEMINAR     

                    

    Sponsored by the Wilkes- Barre Crime Watch Coalition

          and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s office

Web Addresses

Ø The Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web Application Portal

                                 http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/

Ø Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law Website

                                 http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/

Ø Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History

                    (PATCH) System.

PATCH Help Line toll-free at 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972)

                            https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp

When advertising a rental property

 ALWAYS include

 “Background checks required”.

 Thank you Mr. Merritt

 

 Thank you Mr. Barrett 

We all need to work together to keep our neighborhoods safe and crime free.

I could see it all now…

CNN REPORTS -  

THE CITY OF WILKES-BARRE IS UNDER ATTACK BY INVISIBLE ALIENS THIEVES FROM OUTER SPACE!

Being a science fiction fan, I have seen hundreds of movies with aliens from outer space coming to earth for various reasons.  But, not one of them ever even remotely suggested that the aliens would be invisible thieves that smash windows and  break into cars; striking in the  light of day, around crowds of people and loads of cameras and not being seen at all.

What, oh what, could they be doing with our purses, IPods, stereos, CD’s and GPS systems in these far off galaxies ?

Sounds crazy?  It is the only plausible answer I can come with. How could all this be happening over and over right under our noses?  Public Square, Park and Lock Central, Wilkes and Kings parking lot, Main Street, etc. and no one sees them?

Well, here it is… If you have a better idea.. let me know.

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Reports from Clipboard at Police Station from

9/13 to 9/19

Theft from motor vehicles:

On Saturday afternoon 5 cars had windows smashed and items taken right on PUBLIC SQUARE!

On Sunday afternoon 3 cars had their windows smashed on the 2^nd floor of the Park and Lock.  2 of them had nothing stolen. (Now they are just smashing them to look in the glove box!)

176 N. Washington- Gloves, Jacket and IPod

 3 cars - Park and Lock – S. Main - Mp3 player, IPod, Books and book bag

River and Ross- Cds and Stereo

N. Washington and North – cash

226 S. Washington- CD, Backpack and books

3 vehicles in Wilkes- Parking lot- windows smashed- IPod, stereo, shoes

Please…. if you know anyone who attends either college alert them about this.

Other crimes:

95-97 Station St.  – The house was shot up at night.  Innocent owners were unaware until morning.

207 Bowman St.- Burglary- 40 inch T.V.

R.255 Bowman St.- Two motorcycles were reported stolen.

704 N. Main St.- Burglary- Jewelry

190 Bowman St. - Burglary- T.V.

62 Sullivan St.- Burglary- Laptop and hard drive

8 Laning Lane- copper pipes

42 E. Chestnut St.- Burglary- Jewelry

38 E. Chestnut St.- Burglary- Shotgun

96 Hickory St- Burglary- video games and Laptop

*********** KISS A COP *********

155 Wood St.- Burglary –caught them in the act.

Dewey lane- Juveniles shooting paint balls at cars- caught them.

Other crimes around town:

Windows smashed in cars behind the Height/ Murray School

Car stolen from Barney St- Lady dropped it off to get fixed and put keys in slot. Wham.. Car is gone.

  Report from “Scanner Addict”:

9/20- 4:04PM Hispanic or black male, smashed a vehicle window in the 3rd level of the Intermortal parking garage, then fled the scene.

9/20-5:34-PM South Washington Street vehicle broken into.