Bicycle Registration Program

The following is from Officer Keith Mason, regarding the City of Naples’ new Bicycle Registration Program:

The Naples Police and Fire Department wants to remind you to always lock up your bicycle when you leave it unattended. Each year we receive several bicycle thefts reports. Many times the bicycles were left unlocked and unattended in front of a store or other location where the owner figured they would be quickly in and out. Other times they are on the victim’s property but left in the front yard or visible from the road way. These are often crimes of opportunity. The unattended property is often viewed as an easy target so we ask that you remove the opportunity whenever possible.

In an attempt to help victims of bicycle theft, the Naples Police and Fire Department has implemented a bicycle registration program. The program is designed to help in the identification of lost or stolen bicycles. Participating bicycle owners will provide their contact information and a detailed description of their bicycle(s) on the Bicycle Registration Form. Once the form is returned to the Police Department, the bicycle owner will receive a registration sticker for each bicycle registered. If you bring the bicycle to the station we will place the sticker on your bicycle, otherwise we will give the sticker to you and show you how to properly affix it. Then, if we find a bicycle which has been registered, we will easily be able to locate the owner.

You can register more than one bicycle, but each must be on a separate Bicycle Registration Form as each bicycle will receive its own identification number.

Bicycle registration is open to everyone, you do not have to be a city resident.

To get started you can stop by the main lobby of the department for a copy of the form or download one right now.

So what are you waiting for? Registering your bicycle is easy and the program is completely free.

Auto burglary prevention

Follow this quick checklist to help prevent you from becoming a victim of auto burglary:

1) Place your valuable items out of sight “before” reaching your destination or leave them at home.

2) Lock all your doors and close your windows even if you plan to be gone for a short time.

3) Park your vehicle where others will easily and frequently see it.

4) Park in well-lit areas.

5) Activate your vehicle alarm if equipped.

Auto Burglary Prevention is the act of taking the criminals ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With a little time and diligence, you can make a difference in your vulnerability to Auto Burglary! It takes 20 seconds to secure your valuables in the vehicle. But if your valuables are left in plain sight it takes on average 30 seconds for the auto burglar to break in and steal them.

The above information was offered by Naples Police Officer Keith Mason, Coquina Sands’ community policing officer.

Authorities warn of seasonal “gypsy” burglars

Police are warning Naples-Collier County residents to be on the lookout for the return of “gypsy burglars,” which are a seasonal problem here in Florida.

Here’s how their operation usually runs:

The burglar teams pose as a utility company crew, a tree trimming service, driveway pavers, roofers, surveyors or other service workers and dress in clothing which resembles outfits worn by the company they claim to be with. The groups are also technologically savvy and often use communication devices, such as two-way radios or Nextel cellular phones to keep in touch while doing the “job.”

First, one the team members would approach a victim at their home and either talk them into coming outside or distract them into an area within the residence where they cannot see if anyone else enters. At that point the other members of the team would enter the home without the victim’s knowledge and steal cash, jewelry and other valuables. Once the team has completed the theft, they contact their accomplice via radio and meet back at their vehicle.

You can click here to read the whole story from the Naples Daily News.

Naples Police blotter blog

The Naples Police have unveiled a new blotter blog to provide information about recent crimes and arrests. It’s here, if you’d like to view it.

Annual Meeting recap and thanks

Our Annual Association meeting was a great success! Thank you to all the neighbors who attended; it was a great pleasure to see you!

Thanks also to Orchid Dr. resident Bob Sitta, who gave us some interesting history of the neighborhood, which turns 55 in April; to NPD Master Officer Keith Mason, who gave us some information about Naples crime and tips on how to protect ourselves, as well as thanks to his captain, Capt. Adams, who also attended; to Naples Councilman John Sorey, who gave us some information about what’s on the city’s agenda and answered some questions; to City Manager Bill Moss, who reminded us about why Naples is such a great place to live; and to City Planner Robin Singer, who told us about a neighborhood planning process that’s currently underway.

Thanks also to all the 2008-2009 Board Members who were able to attend.

We hope to see many or all of you again for the Spring Picnic, held annually in April at Lowdermilk Park!

Safety tips

Here are some safety tips provided by Coquina’s Community Liaison, Officer Keith Mason.

Holiday tips:

• Store gifts before you go away on a holiday trip.  Don’t display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window.
• If you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television so the home appears occupied.  If you are out of town don’t leave lights on 24 hours a day.
• Participate in Operation Identification, mark your belonging with a unique identification number.  Mark new gifts with your number and record the serial numbers.
• Avoid leaving boxes from purchases out at the curb well ahead of trash pick-up dates.

Vacation tips:

• Notify the police department of your vacation by completing a vacant home form accessible through www.naplespolice.com
• Stop deliveries of mail and newspapers.
• Have a trusted neighbor look after your home.
• Give your house the lived-in appearance to help discourage burglars.
• Leave drapes in the normal position, use automatic timers to turn on/off lights in different room at different times especially in bathrooms.  Turn the bell to your phone down to low.
• Have a neighbor park in your driveway.

Recent break-ins

Officer Keith Mason, Coquina’s community liaison, has asked the following information be shared with the neighborhood. His email was dated Dec. 20.

Last night we had a residential burglary on Palm Circle W. This is the fourth burglary in the past few weeks. Two have occurred in Lake Park, one in Coquina Sands and now this one. The suspects are entering either by force or through unlocked doors. Jewelry and cash has been the target in these burglaries.

Please encourage residents to lock their doors, windows and if they have an alarm to set it. It seems the time frame the burglaries are occurring is during the early evening hours, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Any suspicious activity, strange vehicles in neighbors driveways or stranger walking the neighborhood should be reported to the Naples Police Department, not through my desk phone or email. Main number to the Police Department is 213-4844 or in an emergency, 911.

As some of you know, the Coquina burglary Officer Mason is referencing occurred on Banyan Blvd., while the owners of the home were away.

Coquina Sands has a Neighborhood Watch program, which is headed by Mike Zimmerman. If you are interested in learning more or participating, email him at napleszim@aol.com

Vacant house forms, a reminder

Don’t forget those convenient (and wonderful) vacant house forms offered by the Naples Police Department.

Click here to go directly the Naples Police website and download yours now!

Once you’ve completed the form, you can drop it off at the police department, fax it back (213-4841) to them or put it into the snail mail (355 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL 34102).

Once that’s done, Officer Keith Mason of the Naples Police and Emergency Services gets a copy. Then, your home goes onto his patrol and is checked once a week by himself or another officer. So wonderful!

City of Naples Code Red system

With “windy season” now fully underway, it might be a good time to register for the City of Naples Code Red emergency notification system, if you’ve not already done so.

This is the system that alerts residents, by telephone, of things like a mandatory evacuation, boil water notice, missing children and more.

You’re required to give your name, address, telephone number and it’s kept confidential. Click here to go to the site and register.

Vacant house forms, Part II

It’s great to hear that those of us who will be leaving for the summer are taking advantage of the Naples Police’s vacant house forms!

These forms are available for download online at the Naples Police website. (From the home page, select “outreach” to find the form.) Once you’ve completed the form, you can drop it off at the police department, fax it back (213-4841) to them or put it into the snail mail (355 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL 34102).

Once that’s done, Officer Keith A. Mason of the Naples Police and Emergency Services gets a copy. Then, your home goes onto his patrol and is checked once a week by himself or another officer. Neat!

One of the great things about these forms is that they have blank spaces for your contact information, should anything (unfortunately) happen while you’re away. Which is why the Naples PD requests you use the form, versus simply emailing or calling the department, which could leave loose ends.

Download a form now!