Mesa Police Department 2001 Annual Report
News Article

Anti-crime parties planned Saturday

by Richard H. Dyer
East Mesa Independent
October  15-21, 2001

     A total of 20,000 Mesa residents are expected to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights, and go outside to meet their neighbors Saturday for Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods, also known as the acronym GAIN.
      "We're expecting 300 registered parties this year, up from last year's 265. Because of a major storm and the rain, there were about 150 last year," Lindy Marino, a Mesa Police Department crime-prevention specialist, said.
     Neighborhoods are invited to host parties from 4-9 p.m. October 20.  GAIN is designed to heighten crime and drug awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs, and strengthen neighborhood and police unity.
     "It's an opportunity for them to get to know their neighbors and take a stand against crime," Ms. Marino said. For information on GAIN, call (480) 644-2300.
     Many of the neighborhoods that registered for a GAIN party are in the city's Neighborhood Watch program, she said.
     Six hundred and sixty Mesa blocks and neighborhoods have registered Neighborhood Watch groups with the Mesa Police Department and are staffed by 1,300 volunteer captains, co-captains and assistant captains.
     Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program where citizens and law enforcement officials work to reduce crime in their communities. Neighborhood Watch does not require frequent meetings; only two per calendar year. Police teach homeowners to keep an eye on their neighbors in Neighborhood Watch, Ms. Marino said.
     "They get to know their neighbors, who belongs in the community, who doesn't belong in the community, and who is acting suspicious," she said. By knowing neighbors, civil matters can be settled one-on-one instead of going to police, she said.
     Police also provide presentations such as crime prevention, identification theft, violence in the workplace, and trespassing, said Ms. Marino.
     Lisa Anderson lives in a subdivision of 140 homes that is in a Neighborhood Watch area. "We think, for us, it's important to know your neighbors. Personally, I have seen people gone and their garage door is open. As a community, we need to keep an eye on each other," she said.
     For information on Neighborhood Watch in Mesa, call (480) 644-2300.
     Starting a neighborhood watch program is one of the top 10 ways to safeguard your home against intruders, according to the Arizona Burglary & Fire Alarm Association (ABFAA). The organization offers the following tips:

• Close and lock all doors when leaving, even for short periods. This includes garage or connecting doors. Burglars want easy jobs. That's why they scan homes for the weakest point of entry.
• Secure sliding glass doors. By placing a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and installing vertical bolts, you can help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
• Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor gather your mail while you are away so items do not accumulate.
• Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open while you are gone. This will help to maintain a normal everyday appearance in your residence.
• Use automatic timers. Timers can be set to turn on and off lights, radios and televisions at varying times of the day. Also, use them when on vacation or away for an extended period of time to give burglars the impression that someone is home.
• Illuminate the yard area. Darkness is a burglar's best friend. Doorways and the rear of the house should be lit with cost-effective, low-voltage lighting to minimize dark spaces.
• Trim trees and shrubs surrounding the home. If overgrown, these areas serve as perfect hiding places for burglars and allow them to work undetected.
• Start a neighborhood watch program. Local police departments can provide materials and assist in getting a program started. In the meantime, it helps to build a good relationship with your neighbors, so each one can watch the other's home while they're away.
• Use window and door alarms. Alarms vary in their degree of sophistication, ranging from a door alarm that makes noise to silent alarms patched into your local police station. Burglars will typically leave when any alarm is sounded. In addition, an inexpensive alarm system also creates valuable piece of mind.
• Take a complete inventory of your valuables and place valuable jewelry and documents in a safety deposit box. Videotape or take photos of all valuable possessions. These should also be marked with an engraving pen to help police track and recover them if stolen.

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