From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has created a card with safety tips designed to help citizens prevent becoming the victim of a robbery. The 10 tips are listed below.
The card encourages residents to always be aware of their surroundings and to pay attention to activity happening around them. Avoiding distractions from electronic devices is particularly important.
Trying to multitask while walking can lead to victimization — MPD stresses it is best to walk with a purpose and with confidence and not try to text, take phone calls, listen to music, or check email while walking. If possible, do not walk alone and only walk through well-lit and well-traveled areas.
MPD also recommends only using ATMs in well-populated areas when it is light outside. Do not display large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry or electronic items.
To prevent pickpocketing, men should avoid carrying their wallet in a back pocket and instead carry it in a front pocket or an inside jacket pocket. Women are encouraged to carry a small purse that can be held in their hand.
Tips for Reducing Your Chances of Being a Crime Victim
- Always be aware of your surroundings, vigilant of activity around you and attentive to individuals approaching, walking purposely and with confidence.
- Do not allow yourself to be distracted by activity such as talking on your cell phone, listening to music or reading.
- Try to travel with others, walk in well-traveled areas, and at night in well-lighted areas.
- Protect your electronics by not displaying them.
- Resist the urge to multi-task while walking; wait to make phone calls, check your email and listen to music at your destination.
- If you purchase an electronic device check on the availability of a tracking system for the device (usually free at time of purchase).
- Do not use ATMs that are located in remote areas, use ATMs during the daylight hours in well-populated areas.
- Do not display large amounts of cash when paying for items, and do not display excessive jewelry.
- Men: if you carry wallet, place the wallet in your front hip pocket or inside jacket pocket- do not carry in your back pant pocket.
- Women: when you will be walking in public spaces carry a small handbag or purse that you can grasp with a hand.
This story originally ran on December 20, 2012.
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From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has created a card with safety tips designed to help citizens prevent becoming the victim of a robbery.
The card encourages residents to always be aware of their surroundings and to pay attention to activity happening around them. Avoiding distractions from electronic devices is particularly important.
Trying to multi-task while walking can lead to victimization– MPD stresses it is best to walk with a purpose and with confidence and not try to text, take phone calls, listen to music, or check email while walking. Many of the recent robberies in Borderstan involved the snatching of iPhones from distracted victims. If possible, do not walk alone and only walk through well-lit and well-traveled areas.
MPD also recommends only using ATMs in well-populated areas when it is light outside. Do not display large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry or electronic items.
To prevent pickpocketing, men should avoid carrying their wallet in a back pocket and instead carry it in a front pocket or an inside jacket pocket. Women are encouraged to carry a small purse that can held in their hand.
MPD also announced on Monday that citywide crime data updated daily would now be available on the Statistics and Data page. The DC Police Crime Mapping application remains down as MPD continues to work on integrating the new records management system with the mapping software.
While data for just the Borderstan area remain unavailable, citywide data suggest that robbery numbers for the year are almost identical to 2011. Violent crime is up 3 percent on the year, because of increases in aggravated assaults and sex abuse incidents. Total property crime is up 4 percent citywide, driven by increases in thefts.
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Borderstan Crime Statistics Report: 10-day period from August 5 through August 14. The second column is for the period in 2007 and the third column is for 2008. The final column shows the percentage change between 2007 and 2008. These stats are from the D.C. MPD Web site. The address used for the stats is 15th and Corcoran Streets NW (around 1620 15th Street), which is the geographic center of Borderstan.
| Crimes that occurred within 1,000 feet of 1620 15TH STREET NW between August 5 and August 14, 2007 and 2008. |
| Number of Crimes that Occurred Between | ||||||
| Crime Type | 8/5/2007 to 8/14/2007 | 08/05/2008 to 08/14/2008 | % Change | |||
| Homicide | 0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| Sex Abuse | 0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| Robbery Excluding Gun | 1 | 0 |
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| Robbery With Gun | 2 | 0 |
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| Assault Dangerous Weapon (ADW) Excluding Gun |
0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| Assault Dangerous Weapon (ADW) Gun | 0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| Total Violent Crime | 3 | 0 |
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| Burglary | 1 | 1 | No Change | |||
| Theft | 3 | 2 |
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| Theft From Auto | 1 | 0 |
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| Stolen Auto | 1 | 0 |
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| Arson | 0 | 0 | N/A | |||
| Total Property Crime | 6 | 3 |
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| Total Crime | 9 | 3 |
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| How the results are calculated:
Percent change = Number of crimes that occurred within search period minus number of crimes that occurred between the same dates the previous year divided by number of crimes that occurred between the same dates the previous year.
If the number of crimes that occurred between the same dates the previous year is 0, the percent change cannot be calculated and N/A is displayed. |
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| Note: This report and accompanying maps only include offenses where MPD has provided map coordinates that can be displayed. Since January 1st, 2006, this limitation excludes 752 out of 89466 total crimes (approximately 0.84%of the data). The ability to view the map is removed if there are more than 750 offenses.Data Disclaimer: All statistics presented here are based on preliminary DC Index crime data reported at least two business days before today’s date. The data do not represent official statistics submitted to the FBI under the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. All preliminary offenses are classified based on DC criminal code and not the FBI offense classifications. Because the data is preliminary, all statistics are subject to change. |
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