Franklin Park Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit
The Franklin Park Borough Police are currently
investigating two residential burglaries that occurred on
weekdays during daytime hours. In both incidents entry was
gained by prying open a window or door. In one of the
burglaries the actors fled when interrupted by the
homeowner arriving home. The actors fled in a dark
colored, possibly green or gray, 4-door sedan.
Daylight is the
prevalent time for residential burglaries because the
expectation is that homeowners will be at work. Residents
are asked to call 911 to report any suspicious activity.
What you can do:
-
Please be alert to
suspicious activity and don't hesitate to call 911 to
report it.
-
Never leave your home or
personal property unsecured. Always lock all doors and
windows when you leave your home. Always keep your garage
secured and locked.
-
If you have an alarm
system, please activate it while your not home.
-
Alert your neighbors and
homeowners association to the problem and be sure to watch
out for each other. Remember, the majority of burglars who
are caught in the act are so because a neighbor reported
seeing something suspicious.
-
Call 911 to report
suspicious activity. This includes strangers walking down
the street or vehicles lingering in the area with
occupants that are unfamiliar to you.
If you are the victim of
a burglary or arrive home to find an open door or window,
please follow these tips:
-
Do NOT enter -
the individual(s) may still be inside
-
Use a neighbor's
phone/cell phone to immediately call 911 before anyone
else
-
Do NOT touch
anything or clean-up until police respond and process the
scene for evidence.
-
Record the make, model
and license plate of any suspicious vehicles in the area
-
Note the descriptions of
any suspicious persons in the area
Anyone with information
regarding these burglaries or any other crime is asked to
contact the Franklin Park Borough Police at (412)
364-1227.
Detective Aron Leach
Investigations
Franklin Park Borough Police Department
SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM
The
Franklin Park Police Department Crime Prevention Unit has
created the ‘Email Safety Alert System’ to communicate
with our community. We have an email account specifically
designed to send and receive information with our
residents. We continue to receive email addresses of
residents who are interested in being added to our
program. Once the email address is added to our list, the
resident then receives notice of any new Safety Alert
posted on the website; any specific Safety Alert
information relating to their neighborhood; any
informational letters regarding relevant safety issues.
IMPORTANT: This email list is not used for any
other purposes.
This email system will be used like a phone chain in the
event of incident that may require quick dissemination of
information to our community. It is also available for
any resident who may have any questions and/or concerns
regarding crime prevention in their neighborhood.
Anyone wishing to be added to this list, please send an
email to:
crimeprevention@fppd.biz and be sure to include the
following: your name, your email address
and your neighborhood or street name.
If
you have any questions about this or any other item on our
web page, please contact me at the above listed email
address or by phone, 412-364-1227, ext. 342.
Sincerely,
Officer Kim Boucek
Crime Prevention Unit
Franklin Park Police Department
New Laws
PA Vehicle Code
Every year there are changes to the laws governing
vehicles and traffic in the state of Pennsylvania. Here
are a few more of the laws passed:
-
You
must always use your headlights anytime you are using your
windshield wipers while driving.
-
You must clear your
vehicle of all snow and ice before driving on the roadway.
$200-$1,000 fine.
-
You
must always use your headlights in ANY work area on any
roadway.
-
Whenever you
approach an emergency vehicle with its overhead lights
activated, you must pass in a lane NOT adjacent to that of
the emergency response area; you must also slow your speed
and use caution. $250 fine
Ordinance 202-13 Parking Prohibited
During Certain Hours
*This Ordinance states: "No
person shall park a vehicle upon any Borough
street between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00
AM prevailing local time, and/or during snow
removal times." Residents who violate this
Ordinance are subject to the fines and
penalties according to the Code of the
Borough of Franklin Park.
For the safety and convenience of our
residents, we ask all motorists to strictly
comply with the requirements of Ordinance
202-13.
Phone Scam
The
Franklin Park Police Department has received reports of
people attempting to gain personal information from
individuals by utilizing profanity and intimidation during
phone conversations. This
is how the scam works:
à The ‘bad
guys’ phone an individual, posing as an employee of a
bank, health insurance company or government agency.
‘This is Miss Smith
from National City Bank . . . ‘
à
They attempt to gain the victim’s confidence by lying
about a situation or event. They state that they are
calling as a courtesy or part of an assistance program.
‘There has been some unusual activity on your account, a
check for
$5,000 was cashed. . . I am calling as a Bank courtesy
to make
sure your account has not been compromised . .
. ‘
à They then ask the victim to verify their identity by
providing personal information; account information,
social security information, account passwords.
‘Okay, I just need to verify
who I am talking to. Could you please give me
your
social security number for safety purposes . . . ‘
à
If the
victim hesitates or questions them, the ‘bad guys’ become
irate, begin yelling and try to intimidate the victim with
threats of ‘bad things’ happening if they do not
cooperate.
‘If you do not give me the
security information that I need, National City Bank will not be held responsible when criminals
empty the funds from your account . . . ‘
à Once
the ‘bad guys’ gain the personal information from the
victim, numerous crimes are then committed against the
victim by stealing their identity.
These ‘bad guys’ like to target the elderly. There is
also a similar scam being operated via emails. They
commonly appear as though they are sent from your own bank
or frequently Internet services, like eBay.
Helpful Tips to
Remember
*
* * NEVER NEVER NEVER * * * give ANY of
your personal information to an individual who has
contacted you – either via phone or email.
-- No date of
birth -- No social security number -- No
account number -- No passwords
* * *
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS
* * *
question a caller who is trying to gain information from
you. Get their name, the company name and a phone
number – with extension – where you can reach them.
If
a caller becomes irate, disrespectful or intimidating,
hang-up the phone.
Immediately dial * 5 7 on your phone to begin
a tracing process for the Police Department.
Call the company that the caller states that he or she
works for. Look up the contact information on your
own. DO NOT use a number provided by the caller or
email.
Report any such incidents to your local police
department and contact the Better Business Bureau to
file a report. |
