[Summit] crime activity & searching trash for ID theft

[hennypenny at cox.net]

I totally agree with Elianna that community vigilance is needed.  Never be afraid (unless you see a weapon!) to approach and greet someone who seems to be casing the neighborhood, and ask in a friendly way, "Hi, are you looking for someone in particular? Can I help you?" or whatever. Once potential burglars know that a resident of the block is watching and monitoring, they may avoid that block.

Also, do notify the community police of anyone who seems to be staring up into windows (I noticed this happening a lot to multifamily homes in particular) or making repeated, ambling trips up and down the street. We should never be embarrassed to "call for back-up."  

- Anne


---- Bresler E <breslerfamily at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Ouch. Sorry to hear that. That was an expensive theft, and it really feels
> invasive when someone comes on your property and "helps themselves."
> 
> The fact that grill disappeared so quickly, once left unchained briefly,
> unfortunately makes it likely it was a local job.  The odds are small that
> someone just happened by while it happened to be unchained.
> My across the street neighbor was robbed of a few specific items a couple
> years ago, and later realized, but couldn't prove, that it was pretty likely
> an acquaintance who he had had in his home shortly before. Greed and/or drug
> addiction make otherwise reasonable-seeming people do ugly things.
> 
> Maybe we need to talk to those people wandering around. I saw a couple in a
> car acting a little strangely last week. We can do it nicely, saying "Hi-
> are you new here? I haven't met you before."  Maybe it IS a new neighbor we
> can welcome- or maybe it will put somebody on notice they've been spotted
> and should split.
> 
> AS FOR IDENTITY THEFT FROM RECYCLING, privacy, etc., well nothing is fool
> proof and we can all make mistakes, but I am trying to be safer by doing the
> following-
> 
> 1) I bought a cheap shredder. I set aside papers with ss#s or bank or credit
> card numbers also MEDICAL RECORD NUMBERS and business contracts to be
> discarded- in a fat envelope until I have a bunch, and then I shred them
> into a brown shopping bag, and stir the scraps up into an annoying muddle,
> so the strips aren't easily reconstructed. To save the amount of shredding I
> often tear off just the top third or half of the page with the confidential
> info. (Less than a third won't go straight through the shredder so the
> numbers don't get separated)
> 
> 2) I also keep another brown paper bag in the house to collect all the other
> recycling of semi-personal papers, anything mailed specifically to us,
> business papers, old household stuff, medical bills minus the account
> numbers, etc. When it's pretty full I tape it shut.  I began doing this
> after, on numerous occasions, finding different neighbor's medical bills and
> personal papers and collection agency letters blowing around the street
> because the wind blew when the trash guys were emptying the bin into the
> truck, or some similar problem.  We don't have anything "to hide," but I
> still would rather not have my business blowing all over the neighborhood.
> 
> 3) I tape these bags shut with masking tape (I figure that shouldn't gum up
> their machinery) and only put them out in the morning ~ 8AM, after people
> are up and about, and most of the trash pickers are gone. And I pile the
> magazines and regular cardboard junk on top. Occasionally I come out and 8
> AM is too late, but recycling doesn't smell so I can just keep it inside
> till next week.
> 
> It's a small amount of annoying extra work, but now it is a habit I barely
> notice, and I'd rather be safer. Repairing identity theft is A LOT MORE
> work.
> 
> Elianna