Current Police Info

Deception Robberies - Be Aware

Please read this attached memo from Baltimore County Police - Click Here

Also, prior to the Halloween weekend there was a mugging incident on Deaconbrook Circle. Please keep your eyes open and call 911 should you see anything suspicious, keep your outside lights on so the COP volunteers who patrol the streets will have a clear view of your property and burglars will be deterred from approaching your property

BE ALERT - UPCOMING CENSUS TAKERS - POSSIBLE CRIME POSSIBILITIES

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ALERT TO POSSIBLE CENSUS SCAMS

In April, U.S. Census workers began verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 Census representatives will count each person in the United States. They will gather information about every person living at every address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.

Most people know not to give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors. However, the Census process is an exception to the rule, because representatives do collect information by visiting households. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are using this as an opportunity to impersonate Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers.

Although law enforcement in several states issued warnings that scammers are posing as Census Bureau representatives, your BBB encourages caution.

The big question is, how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? Your BBB offers the following advice:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. Remember, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home. They will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year, as well as determine a state’s number of Congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau’s request for information.

CRIME ALERT CONTINUES IN CHARTLEY

September 2009 - We have been advised by the Baltimore County Police that a number of burglaries have taken place in and around the Chartley area, including one in Chartley, during the past week. Apparently several of these burglaries have taken place while the resident(s) were working in their yard. The police are asking us to alert our residents to the situation and are urging that all residents keep their doors and windows locked whenever they are working outside their home. If you do leave a door open while outside, make sure it is in your direct line of sight. The police are also asking us to be particularly observant of strange vehicles cruising down the streets and, if possible, to note the license number and description of the vehicle. Apparantly the burglars are using this method to determine when residents are not at home or who are working outside their homes but have failed to secure a door or window. When possible, use the "buddy system" by notifying a neighbor if you are going to be away from your home.

April 7, 2009 - This past weekend brought another crime spree through Chartley. Over 15 homeowners have reported vandalism to either their properties or their vehicles. Houses were spray painted, as were cars, tires were slashed and car windows were smashed. A full report from our COP Chairman, Dave Powers follows below:

We have been asked to notify you of 3 situations that have occurred, or are occuring, in Chartley. The three situations are as follows:

SITUATION 1

On Friday 4/3, sometime after 11 PM., "at least 15 reports" were file with the police regarding vandalism throughout Chartley. The reports were for numerous instances of tire slashing, cars and homes being spray painted, and vehicle windows being smashed. All instances took place after 11 PM on the 3rd. As of this morning, the police report that 1 suspect has been arrested, another is being investigated as a probable suspect, and a third is being investigated as a possible suspect. If you were a victim of this vandalism, and have not yet filed a complaint, we are encouraging you to do so immediately. Please remember to keep outside illumination on after dark which will help deter this type of crime. Further, always call 911 immediately if you see or hear anything suspicious.

SITUATION 2

The police are reporting that theft from automobiles is increasing both within Chartley as well as in the surrounding areas. Residents are being asked to make sure their vehicles are kept locked and to remove all valuables from vehciles when not in use. In addition, try to park your vehicle in illuminated areas after dark.

SITUATION 3

The police have advised that there is a "theft by deception" scam being perpetrated throughout the Reisterstown area, including Chartley. This scam involves several indivuduals offering their services for lawn care (including leaf/stick removal and shrub triming etc), as well as sealing driveways. The police state that the indivuals operate in teams with one person distracting the home owner while the other enters the residence and steals whatever he can find. Residents are being asked to always keep their doors and windows locked even when working outside. If you are approached by anyone offering their services or attempting to sell anything door to door, we recommend that you do not answer the door, but that, if you do, keep the individuals outside your locked door while you call the company they claim to represent to verify their employment. You are also encouraged to call 911 immediately if you are not satisfied with the authenticity of any person who comes to your home offering any services or attempting to sell anything.

Please see the Crime In Chartley article on page 23 of the recent issue of the Chartley Chatter, or visit our website and click on Crime Prevention Tips, for more information on how to avoid becoming a crime victim. Our website address is as follows:

http://www.marylandtowns.com/cha/

Enough is Enough. We urge all residents to try and get involved. We can use more COP members. If you have a few minutes that you can donate your time to drive through the community, either day or evening, Please call Dave Powers at 410-833-3734. Help protect your community and your home. If you were not victimized this time, you could be the next time. Lets stop this crime and let these vandals know we will not tolerate this in our neighborhood.

As a home owner remember to keep your outside lights on at night or install a motion detector light plus report suspicious activity. Most importantly, DO NOT take action on your own, call 911.

Click on the Crime Alert Info link below for more helpful hints.

Baltimore County Police are using an automated call to alert our community to increased crime. Be alert and be careful. If you need additional information on how to protect yourself, click here for useful information - CRIME ALERT INFO

To All Community Leaders, Citizen on Patrol Leaders, and Residents of the
Chartley and Reisterstown/Glyndon Area

Over the past week, there have been three robberies in the area. Two were on Main Street and one was in the area of Valley Meadow Circle. In two of these robberies, women in their 60's were targeted and their purses were taken. The other robbery was a commercial robbery of a gas station/convenience store. The suspects in one of the purse snatchings was a black male juvenile (no further decription), the suspect in the attempted purse snatching was mid to late twenties black male about 5-10 200 lbs, but we believe the purse snatchings were done by the same suspect. The gas station robbery is not related to the purse snatchings Those suspects are black males in their twenties.Please be alert to your surroundings and always keep personal safety in mind during your daily travels. Whether you are walking, walking a dog, going shopping, or running errands, always try to play it safe by being familiar with your surroundings, not making yourself an easy target, remembering that there is usually safety in numbers. Park in well lit areas and as close to your destination as possible, ensure proper maintenance on your vehicle, and follow good home safety practices.If you would like further information on anything personal or home safety related, or if you would like me to speak about it at a future community meeting please do not hesitate to call me.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT I AM AVAILABLE TO PERFORM RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECURITY SURVEYS AT YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS (single family homes, townhomes, apartments and condominiums) THIS IS A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REQUEST THE SERVICE IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOME.

Officer Andrew Kauffman
Baltimore County Police Department
Franklin Station -03

410-887-6985

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Click Here for Crime Prevention Tips From Baltimore County

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Current Important Crime Information From Baltimore County Police

NEWS RELEASE: Four Sex Offenders Sought

Arrest warrants have been obtained for four sex offenders who have violated their probation or who have not kept their addresses current. One of the offenders is being sought again after a previous arrest for the same offense.

http://www.socem.info/