Chief’s Column

Automobile theft is a problem all around the country. Unfortunately, many people don’t give it a second thought. In many cases, stolen vehicles are left with the keys in the ignition and the car left unlocked. It should also be noted that most auto thefts happen at night. Good anti-theft devices slow down car thieves and increase their risk of discovery. To help lessen your chances of becoming a victim of motor vehicle theft, the Brockton Police Department would like to offer the following advice from Auto-Theft.info. Always remove the keys from your car, lock all doors and shut windows tightly every time you leave your car. Do not leave valuables in plain view. Park in well-lighted and high visibility areas. Never hide a spare key to...

Now that graduation season is here, many families will be hosting parties to celebrate the success of their graduates. I thought I would run this article once again to help potential hosts plan a party that will be incident free and enjoyed by all. QUESTION: My neighbors like to throw parties during the warmer months. Usually they are fairly quiet but sometimes they can get out of hand. With summer fast approaching and party season here, is there any advice you can offer to help keep these parties under control? ANSWER: The Brockton Police Department has become accustomed to the presence of noise and party related problems. When parties compromise the personal safety of citizens and negatively impact the quality of life within...

I recently received the following email advising me of this attempted “IRS” scam. Does this sound familiar? “Hi Chief - When I arrived home after work yesterday, I had a message on my answering machine from someone claiming to be with the IRS. I returned the call for the number given (509-587-3082) and was told by Stu Bob (badge # 205011) that a Federal arrest warrant had been issued for me because of a tax return discrepancy in the amount of $4,856.00 from the 2005 - 2009 tax period. I could avoid being arrested and going to court by paying the amount due.” “I told him I wanted to avoid the courts and he connected me with Sean Miller to arrange payment. Both men reminded me repeatedly that agents were on the way to arrest me and seize my...

Motorcycle season is once again upon us. As in previous years, the Brockton Police Department would like to offer the following information on motorcycle awareness and safety provided by the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles. This and more important information may be found at www.massrmv.com/rmv/motorcycle/tips.htm#drivers. Automobile drivers, not motorcyclists, are responsible for more than two-thirds of car-motorcycle crashes. Many times, drivers don’t see the motorcyclist until it’s too late to avoid a crash. It is important for motorists to know that their actions affect the safety of motorcyclists. A motorist and a motorcyclist may take different actions for the same driving or highway situation. For example, a motorist may ignore a...

QUESTION: My son has been playing lots of games on his computer. I just found out that he has been playing many of these games online with complete strangers who he met in “gaming rooms.” I was wondering if you have any safety advice for people gaming online.   ANSWER: When children and teens play online with friends or family, there is usually no problem however, when complete strangers work their way into these games, serious issues can arise. To help avoid these issues, the Brockton Police Department would like to provide the following online gaming safety tips offered by NetSmartz, a program of the National center for Missing and Exploited Children. More information may be found at www.netsmartz.org/Gaming. Some parents and...

Since pool season is in full swing, I thought it would be appropriate to run this column again.   QUESTION: My children and their friends have been using the pool on a regular basis now that the warmer weather is here. I hear about so many pool related accidents and I was wondering if you could offer any suggestions on pool safety.   ANSWER: According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), nationally, drowning is a leading cause of death to children under five. Many of these accidents occur in residential pools. The key to preventing these tragedies is to have layers of protection. This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being...

QUESTION: The kids are out of school and my family and I will be going away on vacation for a few weeks. Do you have any tips that will help keep potential burglars away while we’re gone? ANSWER: Light, time and noise are a homeowner’s greatest weapons in the fight to prevent a home burglary according to the Insurance Information Institute. To keep potential burglars away from your home, the Brockton Police Department would like to once again offer these simple tips to follow before you go on vacation: Examine your house from the street and make sure no valuables, like expensive electronics or artwork, are visible from the street. If a passerby can see your belongings, so can criminals. Make sure to lock and fasten all doors and windows....