B E RW YN POLICE D E PARTMENT
Neighborhood Watch NEWSLETTER spring 2016
What’s Inside Mayor Visits With the Junior Cadets Calling All Past Police Explorers! Berwyn Post to Host 50th Anniversary Celebration Be Your Own Block Captain page 2
Chief of Police James Ritz
I would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy spring season. In the past few months, our city has seen increases in thefts of catalytic converters. Catalytic converters are a part of your exhaust system that filters out harmful emissions. The process of stealing these parts can be done within 1 to 3 minutes, so the Berwyn Police Department is requesting your vigilance, particularly in the early morning hours between 4 and 6 am, for suspicious activity. The offenders typically stop their vehicle in the middle of the street next to their target, and utilize a cordless electric saw to remove the catalytic converter from the victim vehicle. If you observe this type of activity, please call 9-1-1 immediately and try to provide as much information about the offenders and their vehicle as possible. DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN HARMS WAY! If you are the victim of a catalytic converter theft, you will notice a loud, constant noise coming from your vehicle’s exhaust system. Please contact the Berwyn Police Department as soon as possible to report the incident. We have also seen an increase in reports of graffiti on garages. Paying close attention in your alley when you leave or return from the garage is the key to narrowing down the times when these incidents occur. The Berwyn Police Department works diligently to try to prevent and investigate these incidents, but they rely on us as residents to keep an eye on our blocks, and to advise them at the first sign of danger. Some of our residents may have questions about what suspicious activity actually is, so we have dedicated a good portion of this newsletter to explaining it. Lastly, the spring season brings with it many opportunities for hazardous weather, and the first way to be prepared is to be informed. This is why we would like to invite you to our first city-wide meeting of 2016 on Wednesday, May 11th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Berwyn Police Department, 6401 W. 31st Street. Our guest presenters from the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have a helpful presentation on severe weather events and the National Weather Service Storm Spotter program. Additionally, they will be discussing the disaster assistance process and the requirement for individual assistance after a disaster declaration. I look forward to seeing you at this informative event. Respectfully,
Suspicious Activity pages 3 & 4 Keep Your Teens Safe for Prom and Graduation pages 5 Upcoming Events page 6 Single Family Rehab No Interest Loan Program Community Wide Event Prevention through Education page 7
Special Olympics page 8
Me gustaría desearle a usted y su familia una feliz y segura temporada de primavera. En los últimos meses, nuestra ciudad ha visto un aumento en los robos de convertidores catalíticos. Los convertidores catalíticos forman parte de su sistema de escape que filtra las emisiones nocivas. El proceso de robo de estas piezas puede tomar de 1 a 3 minutos, por lo que el Departamento de Policía de Berwyn le pide que este alerta a cualquier actividad sospechosa, sobre todo en las primeras horas de la mañana entre las 4 y las 6 am. Los delincuentes típicamente detienen su vehículo en el medio de la calle junto a su objetivo, y utilizan una sierra eléctrica inalámbrica para remover el catalizador. Si usted presencia este tipo de actividad, por favor llame al 911 inmediatamente y trate de proporcionar cuanta más información le sea posible sobre los delincuentes y su vehículo. ¡NO PONGA SU VIDA EN PELIGRO! Si usted es víctima de un robo de convertidor catalítico, va a notar un ruido fuerte y constante, procedente del sistema de escape de su vehículo. Por favor, póngase en contacto con el Departamento de Policía de Be
