Precinct 5 PENS September 2019
Welcome to this month’s PENS, Police Email Notification System bulletin. This monthly bulletin is brought to you from the Cobb County Police, Precinct 5 Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU5) and is designed to keep you aware of safety alerts and crime trends in your area and measures you can take to keep you and your family safe.
Public Safety Topic of the Month
Safety Tips for Fall Break Crime Prevention
- Never advertise you are leaving town: Don’t broadcast that you and your family will be away. Wait until after your trip to share updates and photos on social media. Remind your children not to Facebook, blog, or tweet your family’s absence from home.
- Create the illusion of occupancy: While away cancel delivery of mail and newspaper or arrange for a neighbor to pick them up.
- Lights: Put inside and outside lights on a timer to establish a look of occupancy. Adding a timer on your TV so it’s on when you’d normally be watching TV is also a good idea.
- Lock all windows and doors: Keep valuables away from windows, lower blinds, and close curtains so passers-by can’t view these items. Remember, a significant amount of crime can be deterred if home owners do not create easy opportunities for the criminal element.
- Garage: Keep your car locked and the windows up even if its parked in the garage, and take your keys with you. If your house is broken into, there is no need to provide the thief with a car. You may also want to unplug your garage door opener and lock the garage door while out of town.
- Trust a Neighbor: Make sure a dependable neighbor watches your house, has a house key, and has your cell number in case of any home emergency. Also make sure your neighbor has a way to shut off any alarms.
- Utilities: It’s always a good idea to turn back the temperature of your water heater and shut off the water to your washing machine (washing machine hose breaks are at the top of the list when it comes to home damage costs).
Upcoming Events
Citizens Public Safety Academy Program
The 13-week program provides an opportunity for Cobb County citizens to obtain an insider’s look into the various entities that comprise the Department of Public Safety. Participants will gain knowledge and insight as to how the Police, Fire, Animal Services, and 911 departments are organized and the important role each one plays to ensure the safety of all the citizens of Cobb County.
Interested citizens should either live in Cobb County or work for County Government or Schools and be at least 21-years-of age or older.
The Fall Academy starts September 24, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cobb County Public Safety Training Academy, located at 2109 Valor Drive, Marietta, GA 30008.
In order to be accepted into the program, applicants must fill out an application. This application can be emailed or picked up at the DPS Training Center at 2109 Valor Drive, Marietta, GA 30008. If you have any questions about the CCCPSA please contact the Training Center at 770-499-4100.
2nd Annual Cool Cars and Cops Car Show/ Festival
The Cobb County Police Community Affairs Unit and the West Cobb Business Association are hosting the 2nd Annual Cool Cars and Cops Car Show/Festival on November 2, 2019 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Lost Mountain Baptist Church on 5400 Old Dallas Rd, Powder Springs, GA 30127
- The event will have a Large Car Show, a Trunk-or-Treat (have kids dress up in Halloween costumes), inflatables, food trucks, and more
- They are looking for club and individual car enthusiasts to display ALL types (Classics, Exotics, Tuners, Projects)
- $10 entry fee per vehicle. All fees raised support Christmas programs hosted by Community Affairs Unit
Contact Brianna Anders at Brianna.Anders@cobbcounty.org to reserve a car spot or if you have questions
Current Crime Trends
Entering Autos
Ladies and Gentlemen, our current crime trends continue to be Entering Autos. The bulk of the Entering Autos are taking place overnight and early in the morning. The majority of all the Entering Autos have been UNLOCKED vehicles with valuables including guns left inside. PLEASE remove all valuables, especially guns, from your vehicles every time you park and leave the vehicle. Also, double check that ALL vehicle doors are locked.
What You Can Do
Burglary Prevention
- Lock your doors, including the one from the garage
- Keep garage doors closed-check before bed every night
- Motion sensor activated lighting
- Surveillance cameras
Entering Auto Prevention
- Lock your vehicles and remove items of value and items that appear to contain valuables.
- If you can’t keep them with you, secure your valuables in the trunk before reaching your location.
- Keep your vehicle locked and your purse or wallet on your person while fueling at the gas station.
Postal Theft
- Anti-Theft mailboxes with a special locking system
- Security Cameras
- Do not raise the mail flag
- Do not send cash, checks, or anything that has credit card information
Remember to CALL 911 to report any suspicious persons or activity. If you see something, say something!
Cobb County Camera Registry
The Cobb County Police Camera Registration program is a police/community video partnership that operates on a voluntary basis with homeowners, neighborhoods and business owners who own private video surveillance systems. We encourage both businesses and residents to register their cameras online by completing the form below.
This program is intended to let our officers know where cameras are active in the county in case a crime occurs. It is not intended for active surveillance, and officers will not have direct access to homeowners' cameras. Those who register a camera will be contacted if a crime occurs in the vicinity of that camera.
Information provided by residents and businesses will be maintained in a secure database.
If you have not already signed up to receive the monthly PENS updates, please subscribe. Feel free to forward this e-mail to your HOA members and local businesses.
PENS is also sending out bulletins and alerts through its partnership with Nextdoor.com. Discover if your neighborhood is already signed up so you may join. If not, they will provide you with the necessary information.
Stay Safe,
Det. Lieutenant J.B Wade
Det. Sergeant W.R. Pettitt
Det. Sergeant R.E. Hecksher
Criminal Investigation Unit Pct. 5
4640 Dallas Highway
Powder Springs, GA 30127
(770) 499-4578