Help!
EMERGENCY 000
Prahran Police
9520 5200
Prahran CIU
9520 5216
Neighbourhood Watch
Police 9529 7658
Crime Prevention
Officer 9529 2592
CRIMESTOPPERS
1800 333000
Lifeline (24 hrs)
131 114
Crisis Line (24 hrs)
9329 0300
Gambling Help
1800 156789
Sexual Assault
9344 2210
Domestic Violence
9387 9155
Poisons Information
131 126
State Emergency Service
9696 6111
Victims Assistance
9603 9797
Suicide Help
1300 651251
Faulty Street Lights
131 280
Traffic Signal Faults
131 170
Graffiti Hotline
1800 067 072

Residents Co-ordinator
9827 6931
Email:
stn1nhw@yahoo.com.au

Prahran Police target burglary and car crime
You may have read a recent article in the Stonnington Leader which reported that Prahran Police are presently running a crime reduction program which is targeting burglaries, theft of motor cars and theft from motor cars. These three crimes account for 65 - 70% of reported crimes in this area.

The prevention of crime is not the sole responsibility of the police. It is also our responsibility. It would greatly assist the police in their endeavours to reduce the incidence of these crimes if we all took action to lessen the opportunities for these crimes to occur.

So, what can we do to help the police?
Later in this newsletter is a Home Security Assessment questionnaire. Please take the time to answer all the questions and ascertain the areas where you can improve your level of home security.

As far as theft of cars is concerned, the installation of an immobiliser has been shown to reduce the chance of your car being stolen. In Western Australia, where the installation of immobilisers is compulsory whenever a car is registered, the incidence of car theft has been reduced by 40%. For information on immobilisers call 1300 132 146 or check out the Carsafe web site.

To reduce the chances of your car being broken into, always remove items from inside the car and lock them in the boot. A mobile phone, a bag or clothing left in a parked car is a great temptation to an opportunistic thief - remove the temptation and reduce the risk.

These are just some of the things that you can do to help to reduce crime in your area. But you can also assist the police by calling 000 whenever you observe something which you feel is suspicious. Don't be afraid to call because your not 100% sure. If it's something which you feel uneasy about, let the police deal with it. That's their job.

Schemes and scams
A company based in Queensland is advertising in newspapers promising to recover monies lost in the Thai Share Scam. For a fee, sent to a PO Box, you are told you will join a class action to recover lost monies.

A man has been targeting hotels asking credit card payments for advertising in an unnamed OH & S magazine.

A person has been soliciting potential investors to assist with the transfer of $1.9 million from a bank account in Vanuatu. The money is believed to be associated with a union based in Australia. The person who assists with the transfer can invest the funds, but must pay a return of 6% to the custodians of the funds. Before the funds are transferred, the potential investors are requested to pay approximately $3,000 to organise the transfer. The transfer never occurs and the potential investors are intimidated into forgetting about their loss.

A Victorian pensioner has made complaints regarding high pressure telemarketing of a Euro dollar investment scheme.
Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence

Drug impaired driving
It is an offence to drive a vehicle in Victoria when impaired due to the use of drugs. Police can require a driver who they reasonably believe to be impaired to undergo an assessment of impairment, and can take the driver to a Police Station to do so. The impairment assessment must be video taped. If the Impairment Assessor forms the opinion that the driver may be impaired due to drug use, the driver must provide a blood sample for analysis for the presence of drugs.

There is a defence for drivers if the only drug is a medication that has been used as directed by a doctor or pharmacist.

Penalties for a person who is found guilty or is convicted of driving while impaired are a minimum of 12 months licence cancellation and a maximum court penalty of $2,500. Penalties for refusing to provide blood or refusing to undertake the assessment of drug impairment, are a minimum of 2 years disqualification from driving for a first offence, and a minimum of 4 years disqualification from driving for a subsequent offence, plus a fine.
Vic Roads

www.neighbourhoodwatch.com.au
Check out the Neighbourhood Watch web site where you can download information brochures on Safer Living, Home Security & Safety and Alarm Systems as well as Property Inventory and Absence From Residence Forms.

There is also an interactive Virtual House and Car which can help you to become more security aware and identify possible weaknesses in your home and car security.

Home Security Assessment
Answer the following questions and award yourself points to assess your level of home security

What type of construction are your entrance doors?
Solid core: 4 Panel door: 2 Hollow core: 0
Are deadlocks fitted to ALL entrance doors?
Yes: 5 No: 0
Do you have a peep hole and safety chain?
Yes: 1 No: 0
Are your windows fitted with key operated locks?
Yes: 3 No: 0
Can any sliding windows be lifted off their tracks?
Yes: 0 No: 2
Are all locks "Common Keyed" (ie. One key opens all locks)?
Yes: 1 No: 0
Do you close and lock ALL doors and windows whenever you go out?
Always: 5 Sometimes: 0
Is your house number at least 10 cm (4 in.) high and clearly displayed?
Yes: 1 No:0
Do you have a high front fence?
Yes: 0 No: 2
Can your doors and windows be clearly seen from the street?
Yes: 2 No: 0
Do you have trees and shrubs which could hide a burglar?
Yes: 0 No: 3
Do you lock away ladders and tools when not being used?
Always: 3 Sometimes:0
Do you have sensor activated exterior lights?
Yes: 5 No: 0
Do you own a dog?
Yes: 4 No: 0
Do you have a security alarm system?
Yes: 6 No: 0
Do you have automatic lighting timers?
Yes: 2 No: 0
Do you always leave lights or a radio on when you are not at home?
Yes: 1 No: 0
Have all home appliances been marked or engraved for identification?
Yes: 3 No:0
Do you have a list of serial numbers for home appliances?
Yes: 2 No: 0
Do you ask your neighbours to watch your home when you are on holiday?
Yes: 3 No: 0
Do your neighbours remove overflowing junk mail from your mail box?
Yes: 2 No:0
Do your house keys have an identity tag showing only your driver licence number?
Yes: 2 No: 0
Are you an active member of Neighbourhood Watch?
Yes: 3 No: 0
Have you talked to a neighbour in the last week?
Yes: 5 No: 0
TOTAL

Your Score
Over 40 Excellent. You take home security seriously.
31 - 40 Good. You have obviously given some thought to home security. Check for areas which could be improved.
21 - 30 Average. Take a look at your "0" scores to see if you could reduce your attraction to a burglar.
20 or less Poor. You are a potential crime statistic. Time to lift your game.

Next Meeting
The next Neighbourhood Watch meeting will be on:
Tuesday July 2, 2002
The meeting will be held at 7.45pm at the Prahran Police Complex 398 Malvern Road