Police Chief Mark Becker Provides Crime Report for East Chicago

Mark J. Becker, Chief of Police, today made the following announcement;

Crimes reported to the East Chicago Police Department, which have been submitted to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) for the first quarter of 2013, reflect an increase in property crime, as well as a dramatic drop in violent crime in comparison to crimes reported for the same period in 2012.

The FBI UCR program documents 4 crimes, referred to as “violent crimes”, which include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.  The program also documents an additional 4 crimes, referred to as “property crimes”, which include burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

For the first quarter of 2013 (January-March), East Chicago reported a total of 449 crimes in comparison to 406 for the same period in 2012, or an increase of 10%. “Property” crimes (408 versus 328) increased 24% and instances of “Violent” crime (41 versus 78) dropped a significant 47%.  It is noted that violent crime in 2012 was reduced 14% from 2011 totals and it was a year of only 4 murders, among the lowest numbers in the city’s history.  

In 2011, based upon these same UCR numbers, the City of East Chicago had been proclaimed the most violent city in Northwest Indiana (per capita).  Since that time the department has undertaken several steps to turn that trend and increase the level of public safety afforded to those who visit, reside and/or call this city their home.

Aggressive community outreach programs, walking and meeting with residents and business owners, increased police presence via traffic and patrol activities, strategic partnerships with Federal, State and Local agencies and crime mapping and analytical assistance provided by IUN, Gary Campus are among several factors attributable to the marked decline in violent crime.

This is not a proclamation of a victory, but hopefully an indication that the City of East Chicago is headed in the correct direction.  The men and women of this department, both those on the street and those in valued support positions, are to be commended for their dedication and professionalism to our mission.      

A quarterly summary of crimes reported to the FBI’s UCR for the years of 2011-2013

is set forth below;

FBI 

Uniform Crime Reports

East Chicago, Indiana

January - March Totals

LETTER BOMBS - Notice from the ECPD

LETTER BOMBS

You’re really not likely to come across a letter bomb unless you work in a high-risk environment likely to be targeted by extremists or terrorists or you ticked off a precocious science student. But, as with the random civilian deaths from anthrax, ignorance is always a poor defense.

The United States Postal Service processes over 170 billion pieces of mail every year.  The sheer volume of mail makes it impossible for them to screen for bombs.  Be aware of indicators that can help you identify a package or letter bomb and the precautions you can take to avoid being injured by such a device.

Look, smell and listen

Although the appearance of mail bombs may vary, here are the characteristics that show up repeatedly:

• Excessive postage. Logically, a bomber will affix too many stamps because he wants to avoid waiting in line with the device and having to talk face-to-face with a mail clerk.
• Indications of the components.  Watch for protruding wires, aluminum foil or oily stains.  Be wary of sloshing sounds.  Mail bombs may emit a peculiar smell of almonds, shoe polish, chlorine, gasoline or nitrogen.  Any odd odor is suspect.
• Be wary of packages with an uneven balance of weight.
• Mail bombs may be enclosed in a parcel or an envelope.  Keep an eye on both.
• The return address may be vague, nonsensical or there might not be a return address at all.  The postmark may indicate a different location than the return address.
• Postal inspectors have found that mail bombs generally target specific individuals. So they may bear restricted endorsements, such as “Personal” or “Private,” designed to make sure a particular addressee opens the package.  Restricted endorsements are most likely to be present on bombs sent to people who do not usually receive personal mail at the office.  The name may be wrong or misspelled or the package may have the right name, but the wrong job title.  They may also bear only the job title and no name.
• Be suspicious of obviously disguised or strange handwriting or if the name and address on the package or letter are prepared with homemade labels or cut-and-paste lettering.
• Parcel bombs may have far more tape than necessary or several combinations of tape.  They often carry warnings such as “Fragile–Handle With Care” or “Rush Delivery.”
• Bulkiness. Bombs in letters will contain more than paper, so they will feel hard and inflexible and appear uneven or lopsided.
• Be wary of irregularly shaped packages with soft spots or bulges.
• Biological agents may also be sent through the mail.  In addition to the above indicators, watch for letters or packages with any powdery substance on the outside. Do not sniff suspicious packages!  Remember microscopic particles can be inhaled easily and absorbed quickly.

What to do:

• Call 911. If you see wires, hear ticking or have any reason to suspect a bomb, evacuate your building.
• Do not open the article.  Do not cut any strings, tape or wrappings.
• Isolate the suspicious parcel and evacuate the immediate area.
• Do not submerge the package in water or place it in a confined space, such as a desk drawer or cabinet.  Many homemade bombs depend on the mixing of explosive gases, so you should allow the package maximum ventilation.  If possible, open windows in the immediate area to assist in venting and to minimize the effect of any concussion caused by detonation, but do not linger to do this.
• Make sure that anyone who has touched the package washes their hands with soap and water.  Place items of clothing that have come into contact with the package in plastic bags and give them to the authorities.
• Better safe than sorry.  Do not worry about possible embarrassment if the parcel turns out to be innocent. Call 911 and contact the US Postal Inspection Service.  Local Postal Inspection Service phone numbers are available at http://www.usps.com/ncsc/locators/find-is.html.

Be aware of fake NIPSCO Scam!

Our friends at NIPSCO wished to pass along a “scam” that has come to their attention, in fact one of the victims is from East Chicago.!

A NIPSCO customer had received a call from a male caller who represented himself as a NIPSCO employee and then went on to tell them that their gas was going to be shut off if they did not pay $325.00.  The caller went on to state that they were to purchase a pre-paid green dot card and then to provide them with the card number.

Unfortunately the customer purchased the card and then provided the numbers to the caller. At that time the scammer told them that they needed yet another $325.00 and it was then that the customer became suspicious and contacted NIPSCO.

The number the call came from was 484-898-0831 and the name on the caller ID was “Frank Suero”

This is an ongoing scam and it hits home since one of our own was a victim.  Please report any such activity to the police and remember, if it does not feel right, it likely is not right.  Call the police, that is what we get paid to do

Be safe

mjb

The STOP Team is Coming!

Recently the City Council approved funding in support of a new initiative known as The STOP Team.  This team will be an aggressive patrol based team of officers who will target issues such as gangs, drugs, prostitution, graffiti, burglaries, traffic enforcement and similar types of acitivies. In other words, whatever type of crime or issue arises, this team will be tasked to STOP It!

One of the main objectives of the team will be to engage the community, that is, walk neighborhoods, knock on doors, hear what our resident and business owners are and then act upon them.  As a team, the community and our police department will maintain the safety for those who work, visit and/or make East Chicago their home.

The team will set forth to develop additional “Neighborhood Watch” groups and then once formulated, make sure that those groups are in contact with each other.  In doing such, issues discovered in one section of our city will quickly be communicated to other areas so that we can quickly disrupt and dismantle threats to public safety before small issues grow into large problems.

Interested in hearing more about starting a Neighborhood Watch?  Contact my office and I will be happy to discuss how we can work together to make this program grow and be successful.  Contact me at (219) 391-8331 or by email, markbecker2012@hotmail.com

Until then, remember, if it does not seem right, it is not right.  Call the police and let us figure it out, that is what we get paid to do

Be Safe