Tuesday, April 30, 2013

76th Precinct's Operation "Spot It To Secure It" In Action

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Just a few weeks ago, the NYPD 76th Police Precinct, which includes Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and Cobble Hill, introduced a new program meant to alert local car owners and residents about the needless risks they take when giving thieves easy access to their valuables.
Called "Spot It To Secure It", the operation is meant as a pre-emptive measure. It was introduced by 76th Precinct Captain Jeffrey Schiff, who hopes that the program will make people aware that leaving packages or electronic gadgets such as i-pods, i-pads and laptops on the seat of their vehicle just invites theft.
As part of the program, a team of officers from the 76th Precinct will patrol various sections of the neighborhood to look into parked vehicles. If valuables have been left behind, the officers take a photo and write down the license plate of the car. Back at the station, the plates are run through the system. If the car is registered to a local resident, the photo and a friendly form letter will be send to the owner
The officers will also check front doors on homes to make sure that people aren't leaving them open.

On my walk this morning, I ran into 76th Community Affairs Officer Paul Grudzinski and Officer Carl Bredy, who were checking cars that were parked on Carroll Street between Smith and Hoyt Street.

Not only will 'Spot It To Secure It' help lower unattended property theft in the neighborhood, it will encourage interaction and exchange of information between local residents and precinct officers.  And that's always a good thing.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

bullshit. waste of tax papers money helping stupid people. Most cars parkere here belong to people who dont live here.

jackie from designsmitten said...

wish they had 'spotted' the lowlife who stole my bicycle wheel in the middle of the day sunday.

Anonymous said...

Can they not leave a note at the time of patrol? Going back to the station, processing the photos, running the plates, and mailing the note seems hugely wasteful.

Unknown said...

You guys and gals are not thinking long term. How many of us stated that we wished for more foot patrols and community policing on our city streets? Well, it looks like they are killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Are they looking out for idiots, yes. But are they also helping to secure your neighborhood before someone is a visctim of a crime, also yes. The more time they spend on my block the better. If you don't want them on your block, I'll take them!

Unknown said...

You guys and gals are not thinking long term. How many of us stated that we wished for more foot patrols and community policing on our city streets? Well, it looks like they are killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Are they looking out for idiots, yes. But are they also helping to secure your neighborhood before someone is a visctim of a crime, also yes. The more time they spend on my block the better. If you don't want them on your block, I'll take them!

Anonymous said...

You guys and gals are not thinking long term. How many of us stated that we wished for more foot patrols and community policing on our city streets? Well, it looks like they are killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Are they looking out for idiots, yes. But are they also helping to secure your neighborhood before someone is a visctim of a crime, also yes. The more time they spend on my block the better. If you don't want them on your block, I'll take them!

Detale said...

Complete waste of time and money. I get the "increased foot patrol" argument but they don't say how many officers will be a part of this program or will these be additional officers or cops that are being taken away from other duties.

Also am I the only one who wants the government to stay out of my car and not touch my front door? This is yet another slippery slope that we are allowing here. What if I choose to leave my door open? I have a right to do so without the cops opening it. The police officer will have to open my door no? Well he has to to check if it's locked? I for one think that this is an easy opening for cops to indulge in "probable cause" abuses. I don't like it one bit.

If you live in NY you should know better that to leave your valuables in your car. If you get robbed, well you learn not to do that again. This is Brooklyn not Wisconsin guys, welcome. I don't think that getting a note from the NYPD has quite the same effect as discovering your window has been smashed. Some lessons need to be learned the hard way.

Anonymous said...

Cops cant win with stupid people. Some idiots thinks they are entitled to 24 hour cop on their doorstep. Then they complain when the cop peeks in their car and sees are the crap they think no one should steal. "Oh! I feel so violated that the police looked in my car and noticed my iphone on the dash." "Its a slippery slope, next they will indulge in keeping me safe, I have the right to be an idiot" "and to complain about the police when I become a victim" good grief!