Highlands Neighborhood

1. Highlands Neighborhood Officer Jon Ishmael #353 Kirkland Police Department Neighborhood Resource Officer

2. Goals for this meeting Hear what neighbors are concerned about. Understand what is going on in the Highlands. Provide information on what the PD is currently doing. Explain what resources we do, and do not, have. Basic crime prevention. Share some statistics.

3. What we already know about the Highlands Great Community that stays in touch. 3 ways into the neighborhood by car. Close to the freeway for easy access and regress. Approximately 41 houses on the market for sale. Approximately 2500 people in the Highland Neighborhood.

4. Recent police activity in the Highlands • April 13th through July 13th • 4 burglaries • 2 MV theft • 1 theft, Malicious Mischief, MV prowl, Q.A. • 1 drug arrest in park on viewed by officer (7-2-10) • 0 Robberies

5. Kirkland PD Resources • Patrol (The backbone) • Roughly 6-10 officers on patrol per shift • Detectives • 8 full time detectives • Proact Unit (4 undercover) • Cut due to budget • Eastside Narcotics Task Force • 1 full time detective • Traffic Division • 4 full time traffic officers

6. Other Resources • City Code Enforcement • Water, garbage, electrical, etc. • US Postal Service • Graffiti specialist(425) 587-3824 • Law Enforcement information sharing

7. Recent Highland Neighborhood Example Patrol starts to see certain crimes increase in a specific location Neighbors start to talk and notice others have also been victims A few houses are brought to the attention of officers. Either by dispatched calls, on view suspicious activity, or neighbors calling 911. The mass collection of information begins

8. Information we gather • Who is living in the house • Contact landlords, King County property websites, license plates, traffic stops, talk with neighbors, knock and talk, etc. • Run names for criminal history, M.O., Associates, local history. • Time and dates of activity • Touch base with Fire, Code Enforcement, Building, etc.

9. First Steps • Inform landlord of concerns • Eviction can take up to 60 days • Share information with patrol, detectives, ENTF, and Proact (starting 2011) • Request extra patrol • Start Code Enforcement investigation • Pay more attention to them then they want

10. Time Line • February 2010 Domestic Disturbance call • Gathered all names of people living in the house • Contact landlord addressing concerns of the property and renters • Began extra patrol on, and around, the property • Main problem child moved out but returned in May 2010 • May 2010 Subject arrested for DV • Eviction process started with landlord • July 5th all subjects were evicted and house is currently vacant

11. Crime Prevention • The following are Crime Prevention tips to protect, you and your property • Teach you to help the police help you!

12. Home Security • Most burglaries can be prevented by the use of good locks, a few tools and simple precautions

13. Making your home burglarproof • No home can be made totally burglarproof (If they want in they will get in) • A home can be made more secure to get the culprit to look for an easier target

14. Be systematic; look for the obvious • Begin with these steps:

15. Step 1 Your Neighborhood • Start with your neighborhood. This is your first line of defense • Burglars do not like watchful neighbors • There is strength in numbers

16. Step 2 Look at your yard like a burglar • Trim trees and bushes that could hide burglars • Look for trees, ladders or other items near your home that could be used to climb to an upper storey unlocked window

17. Maintain your yard to give it the lived-in appearance. • Install outside lights to brighten dark areas around doors and windows

18. Step 3Look at the outside of your home • Are the house numbers easily visible to emergency personnel (Day or night) • Check your doors, windows and outer outside openings

19. Doors • Outside doors and frames should be made of solid wood or steel • Glass in outside doors should be at least 40 inches from the lock or be unbreakable • Secure all outside doors with deadbolt locks

20. Doors • Ensure that the lock’s throw (or bolt) extends at least one inch past the edge of the door when locked • Install a peephole (180 degrees) on the entrance door

21. Sliding glass doors and windows • Place a wood stick or metal bar between the frame and sliding door or window.

22. Other locks

23. Step 4 While on vacation • Give it the lived in look • Stop your mail and paper (one day before leaving) • Use light timers • Have a neighbor check both the inside and outside of the house every few days • Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway or designated spot

24. Step 5When at home • When in your back yard lock your front door and vice a versa • When in the home, it is a good idea to keep your doors locked • Consider keeping your blinds/curtains closed at night. People can see in and you cannot see out

25. Step 6Garage • Favorite targets for burglars • Keep windows curtained so thieves cannot look for items to steal or check to see if your car is there • Keep the garage locked, even when you are home • Disconnect electric garage door opener when on vacation

26. Alarms • Great deterrent • As long as every access point to the home is covered • A simple sign in the front yard may encourage the thief to move along

27. Don’t tip them off • Never leave notes on your door or on the intercom panel indicating your whereabouts or return time - this tells a potential thief how much time they have. • When you go out, leave a radio and a light on, or hook them up to a timer. • Draw curtains or close blinds after dark. When the curtains are open at night, you can't see out, but others can see in.

28. If your home is broken into • Do not enter the house in case the burglar is still there. • Use a neighbor’s telephone to call the police by dialing 9-1-1. • Watch your house until the police arrive. • Do not touch anything until the police arrive and finished checking your house • Know the serial numbers of your property

29. Protect your neighborhood • All communities are safer when citizens act together • The first step neighbors should take is to work together to become a real community.

30. Neighbors should: • Get to know one another. • Be familiar with the routines in their neighborhoods and know their neighbors on sight. • They should also be aware of strangers and know what to do if something or someone looks suspicious. • Good neighbors look out for each other and let others know when they will be away. • Leave keys and emergency phone numbers with a trusted neighbor, friend or relative.

31. Learn to be suspicious • Many people believe that the police do not want to be called if the caller is merely suspicious.

32. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! • When in doubt -- CALL THE POLICE!

33. Report the following to the police: • Unusual noises, such as someone screaming for help. • Vehicles moving slowly and randomly through the neighborhood. • A stranger running or walking randomly through the neighborhood. • A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child. • Furniture being removed from homes when the owners are on vacation or at work. • A stranger looking into homes or parked cars. • Unusual activities of pets such as the repeated barking of a dog that is normally quiet. • Someone going door to door soliciting who refuses to provide proper identification.

34. How to report suspicious activities to police • State your name and address. • Describe the event: what, when and where it happened. • Describe people you saw and what they were doing: male/female, race, approximate age, weight, height, hair color, clothing and any unusual marks or characteristics (such as a limp). • Describe vehicles in the same way: license plates (state in which registered and at least the first three letters or numbers) make, model, color and unusual marks such as dents or broken glass.

35. Finally, remember, criminals do very well for themselves when good people either become discouraged or do not seem to care. • But crime will remain low in neighborhoods where people are unwilling to tolerate lawlessness and are willing to work with the police, report suspicious activities, and help their neighbors.

36. Self-Defense • (n) Self defense is the action by which a person protects himself from any bodily harm arising out of an encounters or attacks from other person either by protecting him or by blocking the opponents advancement by a counter attack. Self defense is not a crime so accused may be tempted to show their action as self defense to escape punishment

37. Self-Defense • by KING 5 News • NWCN.com • Posted on July 12, 2010 at 2:43 PM ONALASKA, Wash. – The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says a man who shot and killed a suspected burglar in April was acting in self-defense and will not be arrested. Thomas McKenzie, 56, was shot and killed the night of April 19 by the owner of the home, which was still under construction. Detectives believe McKenzie and his wife burglarized the home earlier in the afternoon. The owner decided to stay there for the night to watch over it. Later that night, detectives say the owner heard someone outside. He fired several shots at the tires of a suspect vehicle to disable it. The owner then suddenly had two lights shining in his face. Detectives say the owner "instinctively" fired his gun toward the lights in an attempt to protect himself from what he believed was a threat. Investigators say the owner considered himself in danger because the suspects did not retreat after he shot at their vehicle. As a result, the sheriff's office says it won't take the homeowner into custody. The case will still be forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether he will face charges. "Mr. McKenzie’s own actions put him in a situation resulting in his death," said the sheriff's office in a press release. "People have a right to protect themselves, their families, and property in a lawful manner as defined by the laws of this state.  If you create or put yourself in a situation where someone has a legal right to use deadly force against you that is a risk you take." McKenzie's wife was arrested July 9 for one count of residential burglary and one count of attempted residential burglary for her role in the alleged crimes.

38. www.personaldefensenetwork.com • Problem #1- Surviving the deadly encounter • Problem #2- Dealing with the Criminal Justice System • Your actions will always be second guessed; that is how our system is set up • Must articulate that you believed your life was in danger

39. Comparison Stats

40. In 2008, we had 255 burglaries, significantly down from 2007 (when we peaked with 337).  In 2009 we dropped again, to 240 burglaries.  This includes both residential and commercial burglaries. 

41. Thank You! Officer Jon Ishmael (425) 587-3451 jishmael@ci.kirkland.wa.us