Los Angeles Sheriff - West Hollywood Station

Identity Theft	Neighborhood Watch
Hate Crime Prevention	Domestic Violence
Child Safety on the Internet	Rape Prevention
Prevent being carjacked	Vehicle Theft
	Engrave your Valuables

Identity Theft:

Identity Theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

If you think your identity has been stolen:

Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

File a police report and get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

How do you protect yourself?

Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers and even government agencies to get you to reveal personal information.
If you received an email asking for your personal information and you are unsure if it is a valid request, make your own contact with the company to confirm the request.
Use a shredder to dispose of your credit card receipts, credit card applications, insurance forms, medical forms, checks, bank statements, expired charge cards and all credit offers that you receive through the mail.

Neighborhood Watch:

Want to know an easy and effective way to prevent crime on your street? Be a good neighbor! In fact, neighbors working together in cooperation with law enforcement can make one of the best crime fighting teams around. We call this...

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
By participating in Neighborhood Watch, you can:
- Reduce opportunities for crime by acting as eyes and ears for West Hollywood Sheriff's Station personnel.
- Develop a community/law enforcement partnership with the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station through shared information, observation, and reporting of suspicious activity, persons, or vehicles.
- Enhance the quality of life for residents in the City of West Hollywood.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH WORKS!
A Neighborhood Watch meeting can make the difference in whether your home and neighborhood become a target for crime or remain a safe environment in which to live. The time commitment is minimal.

Benefits include:
- The opportunity to meet your neighbors and the Sheriff's Deputies assigned to your neighborhood
- The opportunity to attend a variety of crime prevention training seminars on topics such as car burglary/vehicle theft prevention, personal safety, domestic violence, hate crimes, and more
- Receiving information on issues that may be of concern to your neighborhood
- Receiving crime statistics for your neighborhood
- Receiving the City's quarterly Neighborhood Watch newsletter, "Watch Around The Block," which offers information on public safety issues, crime prevention tips, current crime trends, and events pertaining to public safety.

For more information about West Hollywood Neighborhood Watch, or to join or form a group in your neighborhood, please contact the Neighborhood Services Specialist at (323) 848-6831.

Hate Crime Prevention:

West Hollywood has become a target for hate crimes in Southern California. The West Hollywood Sheriff's Station and West Hollywood City officials are working hard to safeguard residents and visitors from crimes of hate directed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, and crimes directed toward our Russian and Jewish communities. These tips are designed to alert you to the measures you can take to prevent becoming the victim of a hate crime:

Avoid Walking Alone
Walk Confidently, Quickly and Directly
Stay In Well Lit Areas
Have Your Car Keys In Your Hand
Avoid Dark Driveways, Bushes and Alleys
Walk Close To The Curb
Keep Your Car Doors Locked At All Times, Even While Driving
Avoid Being Under The Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Don't Resist... Property Can Be Replaced, You Can't!

IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF A CRIME...

Immediately call 911 - The West Hollywood Sheriff's Station is here to help you. You will be treated with dignity and respect.
Write down a description of your attacker (age, race, height, weight, hair, clothing...) and a description of his/her vehicle (type, color, & license plate number).
Do not worry about your citizenship or immigration status. The Sheriff's Deputies are not the INS and are not concerned about your immigration status. If you are a victim or witness, you may be asked for identification so that you can be contacted later if the attacker is arrested.
Do not be afraid! The Sheriff's Department is here to protect you. Crimes of HATE (including verbal harassment) are a top priority at the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station, and you will be given the utmost respect and assistance as the victim of an assault or attack.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

West Hollywood City Hall Hate Crimes/Domestic Violence Coordinator 8300 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 (323) 848-6470	The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Anti-Violence Project 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 (800) 373-2227 avp@laglc.org
Anti-Violence Project Web Site L.A. County District Attorney Hate Crime Suppression Unit 320 W. Temple Street, Suite 780 Los Angeles, CA. 90012 Phone: (213) 974-7841 Fax (213) 613-2702 http://da.co.la.ca.us/hate/	West Hollywood Russian Community Center 7360 Santa Monica Blvd, #102 West Hollywood, CA 90046 (323) 969-0496

Domestic Violence:

As many as 4 million people in this country suffer some kind of violence at the hands of their spouse or domestic partner each year. Very few will tell anyone -- a friend, a relative, a neighbor, or the police. Victims of domestic violence come from ALL walks of life, all cultures, all income groups, all ages, all religions, and all orientations. They share feelings of helplessness, isolation, guilt, fear, and shame.

ARE YOU ABUSED?
DOES THE PERSON YOU LOVE...

"Track" all of your time?
Constantly accuse you of being unfaithful?
Discourage your relationships with family and friends?
Prevent you from working or attending school?
Criticize you for little things?
Anger easily when drinking or using other drugs?
Control all your finances and force you to account in detail for what you spend?
Humiliate you in front of others?
Destroy personal property or sentimental items?
Hit, punch, slap, kick, or bite you or your children?
Use or threaten to use a weapon against your?
Threaten to hurt you or the children?
Force you to have sex against your will?

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING YES TO ANY OF THESE,
IT'S TIME TO GET HELP!
DON'T IGNORE THE PROBLEM!
Talk to someone. Part of the abuser's power comes from secrecy. Victims are often ashamed to let anyone know about intimate family problems. Go to a friend or neighbor, or call a domestic violence hotline to talk to a counselor.

Plan ahead and know what you will do if you are attacked again. If you decide to leave, choose a place to go; set aside some money. Put important papers together-- marriage license, birth certificates, checkbooks--in a place where you can get them quickly.

Learn to think independently. Try to plan for the future and set goals for yourself.

IF YOU ARE HURT, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
There are no easy answers, but there are things you can do to protect yourself:

Call the sheriff or police. Assault, even by family members, is a crime. The police often have information about shelters and other agencies that help victims of domestic violence.
Leave, or have someone come and stay with you. Go to a shelter- -call a crisis hotline or a community center to locate a shelter. If you believe that you, or your children, are in danger--leave immediately.
Get medical attention from your doctor or a hospital emergency room. Ask the staff to photograph your injuries and keep detailed records in case you decide to take legal action.
Contact your local Superior Court for information about a restraining order that does not involve criminal charges or penalties.

HAVE YOU HURT SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY?

Accept the fact that your violent behavior will destroy your family. Be aware that you break the law when you physically hurt someone.
Take responsibility for your actions and get help.
When you feel tension building, get away. Work off the angry energy through a walk, a project, a sport.
Call a domestic violence hotline or health center and ask about counseling and support groups for people who batter.

THE HIGH COST OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Men and women who follow their parents' example and use violence to solve conflicts are teaching the same destructive behavior to their children.

Jobs can be lost or careers stalled because of injuries, arrests, or harassment.

Violence may even result in death.

24 Hour DV Crisis Line (310) 858-9344	Partner Abuse (323) 874-6512
West Hollywood City Hall Domestic Violence Specialist: 8300 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 (323) 848-6470	Jewish Family Services / Family Violence Project 7362 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046
Center for Pacific Asian Families (Asian Languages) (323) 653-4049	The STOP Partner Abuse / Domestic Violence Program L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center 1625 N. Schrader Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028-6213 Tel: (323) 860-5806 Fax: (323) 993-7699 domesticviolence@laglc.org Website: http://www.laglc.org/domesticviolence
Haven House - Pasadena (323) 681-9696	Russian DV (310) 820-2532
1736 Family Crisis Center - Hermosa Beach (310) 379-3620	East L.A. Shelter (Spanish) (323) 268-7564

Child Safety on the internet:

As a parent, if you own a home computer and allow your children Internet access, you also need to be Internet literate. If you do not know how to access the Internet, take a class, read a book or spend time with your children and let them show you the amazing world of cyberspace. Be aware of what is out there and prevent your children from gaining access to inappropriate Web sites and chat rooms.

Did you know that child molesters frequent chat rooms on the Internet?

If you are not familiar with chat rooms, it is time you sat in on one. If your children have access to the Internet, they have access to child molesters who pose as other "teens" or confidants trying to develop friendships with unsuspecting children. Child molesters lure their victims with promises of friendship and material goods. And, too often, it works! Many adolescent Internet users look for friends - someone who will "chat" while their unsuspecting parents are not present.

Take charge of you computer:

Set ground rules for Internet access and discuss with your children these crime prevention tips.
Place the computer in a centrally located area in your home - not in a child's bedroom. This prevents "secret" communications or access and also allows all members of the family to use it.
Talk to your children about the Internet. Explain that it is an excellent source of information, but some sites are inappropriate and they are expected to stay away from these sites.
Consider using software that can block or filter Internet sites or certain words that may indicate inappropriate sites.
Establish time frames for Internet access. This will encourage your children to obtain information in a timely manner and discourage aimless wandering.
Keep an open line of communication with your children.

Discuss their Internet experiences and guide them to sites that are age-appropriate.
Finally, immediately report to your local law enforcement agency any attempts by others to meet your child or any inappropriate sexual conversations. If possible, save the conversation text for review by law enforcement. This will assist law enforcement in an investigation and possible prosecution.

Rape Prevention:

RAPE IS ABOUT POWER, CONTROL, AND ANGER
Think about the unthinkable.
Don't mask the facts about rape with myths and stereotypes.

THE TRUTH IS...

RAPE is an act of violence. It is an attempt to control and degrade using sex as a weapon.
RAPE can happen to anyone -- children, students, wives, mothers, working women, grandmothers, the rich and poor, men, and boys.
RAPISTS can be anyone -- classmates, co-workers, a neighbor or delivery person, ugly or attractive, outgoing or shy, often a friend or family member.
RAPISTS rape again and again, until caught.

USE YOUR HEAD

Be alert! Walk with confidence and purpose.
Be aware of your surroundings -- know who's out there and what's going on.
Don't let alcohol or other drugs cloud your judgment.
Trust your instincts. If a situation or place makes you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, leave!

COMMON SENSE INDOORS

Make sure all doors (don't forget sliding glass doors) and windows have dead bolt locks, and use them!
Install a peephole in the door.
Keep entrances well-lighted.
Never open your door to strangers.
Offer to make an emergency call while someone waits outside.
Check the identification of any sales or service people before letting them in. (Don't be embarrassed to phone for verification.)
Be wary of isolated spots -- apartment laundry rooms, underground garages, parking lots, offices after business hours. Walk with a friend, co-worker, or security guard, particularly at night.
Know your neighbors so you have someone to call or go to if you're scared.
If you come home and see a door or window open, or broken, don't go in. Call the Sheriff's Department from a public phone or neighbor's home.

COMMON SENSE OUTDOORS

Avoid walking or jogging alone, especially at night.
Stay in well-lighted areas.
Wear clothes and shoes that give you freedom of movement.
Be careful if anyone in a car ask you for directions -- if you answer, keep your distance from the car.
Have your key ready before you reach the door -- home, car, or office.
If you think you're being followed, change direction and head for open stores, restaurants, theaters, or a lighted house.
Park in areas that will be well-lighted and well-traveled when you return.
Always lock your car -- when you get in and when you get out.
Look around your car and in the back seat before you get in.
If your car breaks down, lift the hood, lock the doors, and turn on flashers. Use a "Call Police" banner or flares. If someone stops, roll the window down slightly and ask the person to call the police or a tow service.
Don't hitchhike, ever! . . . And don't ever pick up hitchhikers!

WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENS

How should you handle a rape attempt? It depends on your physical and emotional state, the situation, the rapist's personality. There are no hard and fast, right or wrong answers, surviving is the goal.

Try to escape. Scream, be rude, and make noise to discourage your attacker from following you.
Talk, stall for time, and assess your options.
If the rapist has a weapon, you may have no choice but to submit. Do whatever it takes to survive.
If you decide to fight back, you must be quick and effective. Target the eyes or groin.

SURVIVING A RAPE

Report rape or any sexual assault to the police or a rape crisis center. The sooner you tell, the greater the chances the rapist will be caught.
Preserve all physical evidence. Don't shower, bathe, change clothes, douche, or throw any clothing away until the police or rape counselor say it's okay.
Go to a hospital emergency room or your own doctor for medical care immediately. Don't go alone. Ask a friend or family member to go with you or call a rape crisis center or school counselor.
Get counseling to help deal with feelings of anger, helplessness, fear, and shame caused by rape. It helps to talk to someone about the rape, whether it happened last night, last week, or years ago.
Remember, rape is not your fault!
Do not accept blame for being an innocent victim.

IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN RAPED...

Believe him or her.
Don't blame the victim.
Offer support, patience, and compassion to help the rape victim work through the crisis, heal, and emerge a survivor.

TAKE A STAND

Ask a Neighborhood Watch group, school, employer, church, library, or civic group to organize a workshop on preventing rape. Make sure it addresses concerns of both men and women.
Volunteer at a rape crisis center.
If you see a TV program or movie that reinforces sexual stereotypes and sends the message that women really like to be raped, protest. Write to the station, the studio, or the sponsors. On the other side, publicly commend the media when they do a great job in depicting the realities of rape.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & HOTLINES:

Santa Monica - UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center 1250 16th Street Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 319-4000	L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Anti-Violence Project 1625 N. Schrader Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 (800) 373-2227 avp@lagic.org
Rosa Parks Sexual Assault Crisis Center South Central LA (Spanish Available) (323) 751-9245	Center for Pacific Asian Families Shelter and Hotline (Asian languages available) (323) 653-4042 (800) 339-3940
Compton YWCA Rape Hotline (Spanish Available) (310) 764-1403	East Los Angeles Rape and Battering Hotline (Spanish Available) (800) 585-6231
South Bay Rape Crisis Center (310) 545-2111	Valley Trauma Center (818) 886-0453
Project Sister, Pomona (909) 626-4357	Sexual Assault Victim Services Hotline - Orange County (Spanish Available) (714) 957-2737

Prevent Being Car Jacked:

Imagine having someone walk up to you while you're sitting in your car at a traffic light, thrust a gun or knife in your face, and take your car from you. Or having your vehicle taken from you while you are parked (even in your own driveway), or while you're getting gas. This new crime is called "carjacking." It can happen anywhere, not just in traditional "high crime" neighborhoods, and it is just as likely to occur during the daylight as it is after dark.

Why is carjacking on the increase?
Parked cars, especially luxury models equipped with sophisticated, built-in alarm systems and theft-deterrent devices, are becoming harder to steal. Car thieves find it much easier to steal a car while the owner is there, with the keys in the ignition, than to try to break into a well-alarmed, locked car.

Anybody can be a target. While most carjackers look for sleek, powerful, luxury-model cars to steal and sell, others will go after any easy target of opportunity, sometimes just on an impulse for a joy ride.

How can you avoid being carjacked?
While there is no guaranteed way of avoiding being carjacked, there are some common-sense precautions you can take to put the odds in your favor:

Before you enter your car, be alert to any activity near you. Pay attention to your surroundings.
When approaching your car to enter it, have your key in your hand.
Check the handles, locks, and back seat before entering.
If there is someone loitering near your unoccupied car as you approach it, keep walking until they leave.

Once you're in your car, you should:

Keep your doors and windows locked.
Stay out of high crime areas, especially after dark.
Be suspicious of people approaching your car asking for directions or change, or giving out flyers.
When stopping in traffic, leave enough distance between your car and the one in front of you, so you can pull away quickly if necessary.
If a suspicious-looking person approaches your car, drive away carefully.
If you are driving home, and there's somebody walking down the street that you don't recognize, drive around the block and come back after that person has left.
If another driver bumps your car, or your tire goes flat, keep your doors and windows closed and wait for help or the police to arrive; or drive slowly to the nearest police station.
Be alert when using drive-up automated teller (ATM) machines.
If you have a cellular telephone, call for help.
If you are confronted, don't resist, let the thief have your car. No vehicle is worth being seriously injured or killed for.

Vehicle Theft Prevention:

Be Alert!!
Lock your car! Take your keys with you.
Never hide a spare key on the vehicle.
Roll up windows completely.
Remove keys from ignition.
Park in well-lighted areas.
When parking in attended lots or parking garages, leave only the ignition key with the attendant.
Park as close as possible to an open business.
Do not leave valuables in sight to tempt a thief. Most auto burglaries are caused by cellular phones, laptops, or other valuables left in plain sight.
Always park with the wheels turned toward the curb.
Back your car into the driveway. If you drive forward into the driveway, a car thief could raise the hood to hot wire the car, and it would appear to the neighbors that you were just working on the car.
If you have a garage, use it.
Lock your garage door.
When going out of town, if possible, remove the distributor cap or the coil wire.
NEVER leave your car running while it is unattended.

IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN...

Call the Sheriff's Station. Vehicle theft should be reported as soon as possible. However, before the vehicle can be listed as stolen, you must have your vehicle's license number and/or the vehicle identification number (also called the VIN number).
Stolen vehicles are sometimes used in the commission of other crimes. Quick action often results in recovery of your vehicle as well as prevention of another crime. If the criminal is apprehended, be willing to file charges and testify in court.
If you recover your own vehicle, you must not touch or move your vehicle in order to preserve possible evidence. You should call 911 immediately to report the recovery. If you do not follow these steps, your car will continue to be listed as stolen and you may be pulled over at gunpoint, because the deputies or police officers with assume you are the car thief!

WHEN SELLING AND BUYING A CAR....

Be cautious of the low priced bargain car.
Beware of fast sell pressures.
On older vehicles, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) rivets to see if it has been altered.
Check the VIN online, if possible.
Be suspicious of fresh paint on a car.
Verify that the registration sticker and the license tag are current and are from the same state.
Do not accept duplicate car keys.
Complete all paper work at the time of the sale.
If you are selling a car, never allow a person to test drive the vehicle alone.
Ask to see an interested buyer's drivers license, and write down the name, address, driver's license number, etc.
Make certain the driver's door contains a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label. This label is often called a Mylar sticker, and it contains the Vehicle Identification Number. Presence of the label is required by law.

ANTI-THEFT DEVICES....
They stop the amateur and slow down the professional ....
- Anti-theft devices are not foolproof, but they can stop the amateur and slow down the professional. The longer it takes to steal a car, the more attention the thief attracts, and the more likely the thief will look elsewhere. Anti-theft devices include those listed below.

LOJACK: This is vehicle tracking device that when activated allows the Sheriff Department or Police to track your stolen vehicle and recover it, often within hours. It can be purchased from many new car dealerships or after market directly from LOJACK.

KILL SWITCH: The car will not start unless a hidden switch is activated. The switch prevents electrical current from reaching the coil or carburetor. Please check your warranty before installing one of these switches. Some warranties prohibit installation of these devices, and doing so will nullify the warranty. In such cases, there is a possibility that a STARTER BYPASS SWITCH could be used without affecting the warranty.

ALARM SYSTEMS: These systems contain a device that will activate a siren, lights, or horn if the car is tampered with. Consider a backup power source for the alarm, as professionals could deactivate the alarm if they get to the power source. Keys or code numbers to the alarm should never be given to parking lot attendants or valets. (Do not try to fool a thief with an alarm decal when no alarm exists.)

FUEL SWITCH: This device stops the fuel supply.

ARMORED COLLAR ("The Club"): This equipment consists of a metal shield that locks around the steering column and covers the ignition, the starter rods, and the steering wheel interlock rod.

LOCKING GAS CAP: A prevention device to halt gas being stolen from your vehicle.

CROOK LOCK: This lock is a long metal bar that has a hook on each end to lock the steering wheel to the brake pedal.

CHAIN & LOCK: These devices should be used to secure motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles.

KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM: Anti-theft devices may cost a few dollars to several hundred dollars. Many of these devices are now standard or optional equipment offered by auto manufacturers.

ENGRAVE YOUR VALUABLES:

Did you know that insurance companies are likely to raise your rates and your deductible as a result of a burglary? Make it easier for the police to identify and locate your stolen property, and make your property less attractive to thieves by taking the time to mark your property.

Here's some useful information about engraving your valuables:

Please engrave all your property with your driver's license number or secret number of your choice.
Engrave the number in at least two (2) places on the object. (Note: Your driver's license number makes it especially easy for the police to identify the owner if the stolen object is recovered).

After you purchase an item, locate its serial number; record the serial number, make, model, and any other identifying features and store the information in a safe place.

If the item is stolen, call the police and give a complete description of the property. Include whatever number the item is engraved with, and where the number is engraved on the property.

Take a picture or make a video of your valuables, and store this in a safe place.