GREENFIELD AT COLLEGIATE ACRES

Director Bianca McKenzie met with Officer Gerard Kendle with the Hagerstown Police Department to discuss ways to prevent crime in our neighborhood. Officer Kendle specializes in environmental analysis to determine factors in the environment which may or may not encourage crime.

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Officer Kendle indicated that crime in our neighborhood is preventable by taking a few precautionary steps. Our neighborhood has young trees, and house facades are visible to many other neighbors. He did state that a lot of crime, specifically burglaries, occur during the daytime hours when many people are working out of the home.

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In preparation for the meeting with Officer Kendle, Bianca identified issues and concerns that were brought up to the Board of Directors, or otherwise posted on the community Facebook page.

 

See below for the list of concerns and Officer Kendle’s solution or recommendations:

• Cutting Christmas lights (Solution: File a police report with HPD)

• Stealing décor/items in yards (Solution: File a police report with HPD)

• ATV/Dirt bikes on the road (Solution: Contact HPD)

• Car break-ins (Solution: File a police report with HPD)

• Excessive noise (Solution: Contact HPD – if noise can be heard 50 feet from vehicle, a citation can be issued)

• Stray animals (Solution: Contact Humane Society)

• Cars left unattended on the streets for extended periods of time (Solution: Contact HPD. The vehicle can be tagged, and once tagged after 48 hours the vehicle can be towed or citation issued)

• Vandalized yards (Solution: Contact HPD)

• Drug/opioid concerns (Solution: Contact HPD. Can be submitted anonymously through Washington County Narcotics or HPD)

 

Officer Kendle indicated that a lot of these issues and concerns were not reported. Our neighborhood is within City limits, and should contact Hagerstown Police Department with any suspicious or concerning activity. HPD can be contacted by phone, Facebook, e-mail, or through an anonymous website form.

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A few tips to help prevent crime to help keep our neighborhood safe:

• See something, say something – no matter how insignificant it may seem.

• Keep your car doors locked.

• Do not leave purses, laptop bags, or any valuables in sight.

• Do not leave garage doors open when not in use.

• Be alert for someone going door-to-door, or looking in windows or parked cars.

• Be alert for slow moving vehicles, without lights, or with no apparent destination.

• Be alert for unusual or suspicious noises that you cannot explain.

• Know your neighbors.

 

Officer Kendle provided a variety of pamphlets for our review

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