Sheriff

David A. Weaver

•Appointed Sheriff September 2005

•Appointed Undersheriff in 2003

•Started his career in 1981

•Over 24 years of Law Enforcement dedication to the citizens of Douglas County

•President/ Vice President for the Highlands Ranch Training Foundation

•Graduate of the FBI Academy with honors

Neighborhood WatchNeighborhood Watch

Deputy Ron Hanavan

Deputy Cocha Heyden

HandoutsHandouts::• Folder with phone numbers• Meeting outline• What is suspicious Activity• Neighborhood Watch manual• Preventing Burglaries• Home security Inspection Checklist• Maintaining your Neighborhood

watch program• Personal property record• When you are away from home

What is Crime PreventionWhat is Crime Prevention? ?

Neighborhood WatchNeighborhood Watch: is the leading Program offered by the Sheriff’s Office!

Since 9/11Since 9/11: •The Sheriff’s Office has increased the Neighborhood watch program by 50%.•Approximately 1 a week.•0ver 325 active Neighborhood watches throughout the county

Douglas County GrowthDouglas County Growth:•Douglas County has been in the top 10 fastest growing counties in the United States for the past 15 years!•1990-2000 1st

•Increase of 191%

20052005 STATISTICS

Area Est. Pop 2004 Est. Pop 2005

Castle Rock 35,100 38,868

Larkspur 256 256

Littleton 46 46

Lone Tree 8,316 9,531

Parker 38,575 41,022

Total Unincorporated 168,999 176,296

Total Douglas CountyTotal Douglas County 251,292251,292 266,019266,019

Highlands Ranch (part of unincorporated area)

83,322 83,322 ( 2004 stats)

Douglas County has four Law Douglas County has four Law Enforcement agenciesEnforcement agencies::•Douglas County Sheriff’s Office•Parker Police Department•Castle Rock Police Department•Lone Tree Police Department

The Douglas County Sheriff’s The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is responsible forOffice is responsible for:•Law Enforcement in the un-incorporated areas of Douglas County.•Civil Papers•Evictions•Writs•Detentions•Fire Marshall•Hazmat

Douglas County Sheriff’s Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Boundaries areOffice Boundaries are:•To the West:Pike National Forest, the Platte River. (Jefferson County) •To the East: Delbert Road (Elbert County)•To the North: County Line Road. (Arapahoe County)•To the South: Palmer Divide (El-Paso County)

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Districts:•The County is broken up into 10 districts.•1 officer assigned to each district.•Three shifts a day

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Douglas County:•Is 844 square miles (540,000 acres)•Population just under 265,000•73% live in unincorporated Douglas•Highlands Ranch has 13% of the land mass but accounts for 36% of the population.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office:•Employs Approximately 475•290 commissioned officers

What is Neighborhood Watch?•It is a program involving the joint efforts of the Sheriff’s Office and the community•It’s designed to enhance neighborhood security, through observation and encourage assistance among neighbors•To watch out for each other•It was developed by the National Sheriff’s Association

The main objective is:•To reduce the incidence of crime!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a lot of involvement?•NO•The Neighborhood Watch is required to have two meetings per year (this is one of them)•The second meeting could be a block party or meeting that targets some of the specific issues in your neighborhood

Sex Offender list:•This is updated anytime a change occurs (no town or cities are on our list)•What types of charges•The offender must register within 5 days•How to get a list•Online list- only certain criteria DCSHERIFF.net•Knowing who these individuals are is important• CAUTIONCAUTION: Please be aware, but don’t harass!

Why are we here?•Less crime committed when we work together•To make it more difficult for individuals to victimize you and your neighbors•The number one crime is property crime (other than driving crimes)•Criminals look for high dollar homes

What types of crimes are in your neighborhood?

2005 Top Five Crimes (Jan- June) Total

Theft 1187Theft 1187

Criminal MischiefCriminal Mischief 559559

Fraud 435Fraud 435

DUI 388DUI 388

Trespass 376Trespass 376

Vehicle Trespasses

•993 in 2005

•980 in 2004

•701 in 2003

2004 VEHICLE TRESPASSES REVIEW

•50% of the trespasses occurred in residential neighborhoods.

•32% had their vehicle windows broken.

•25% of the owners admitted to having their doors unlocked.

•15% of the owners admitted leaving garage doors open.

•Many reported they were unsure if car was locked or garage door closed!

CALLS FOR SERVICE

•2004 calls for service 104,039.

•7% increase over 2003.

•2005 calls for service 83,360 (Jan to Sept)

What types of crimes are in your neighborhood?•More “suspicious” activity then anything•Calls for Service•60% of all burglaries happen during the day•The burglar is in your house and out within 2 minutes•If you can deter them by 4 minutes, they will move to the next victim instead

What is suspicious activity?•You are more familiar with the block and your neighbors then the police are.•Anything that seems out of the ordinary•Let your “GUT FEELING” be your guide•Citizens report 99% of all crime!•Look at handout

Why don’t people call?•Not sure if it really seems suspicious•Hesitate because they don’t want to appear “NOSY.”•Afraid the situation may turn out to be nothing•Take for granted someone else called

Continued:•Worried about “bothering” the police•Embarrassed to call

Information to give the Police:•What happened•When did it happen•Where did it happen•Anyone hurt•Description of the person (look for out of the ordinary things)•Description of the vehicle,color•License plate•Direction of Travel•Stay on the phone!•DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN DANGERDON’T PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER

What phone number should you call?•Emergency 911•All others (303) 660- 7500•Traffic Hotline (303) 660-7539

What does 911 do for you?•Home phone vs. Cellular

If someone breaks into your house while you are in the house:•Hide•Call 911•Stay on the phone•Don’tDon’t confront the person

Home Security:•Outside Landscaping

TreesRocksLightingLocked fencesHOUSE NUMBERSHOUSE NUMBERS

• Don’t give assistance to entering your house

Home Security:• Inside

1.Windows (grates)2.Doors(solid core 1¾ thick)3.Track doors4.Garage Doors 5.Locks (dead bolt should be 1 ¼ inches beyond the

striker plate)

Home Security:• When your away

1.Tell Neighbors2.Rotate Lights3.Sign up for house Watch4.4. Don’t Don’t stop mail or papers

(have neighbors pick up)5.Park Car in Driveway6.Don’t hide keys outside

Home Security:• Alarms Do your homework Get estimates and find a

reputable company• POLICY of the Sheriff’s Office

3 false alarms6 false alarms

• False Alarms

ALARMS•2004 Residential Alarms 3405.

•2005 Residential Alarms 1724 (Jan to July)

•2004 Non-Residential Alarms 2097.

•2005 Non-Residential Alarms 1100 (Jan to July)

•Historically Residential Alarms have been 99% to 100% False Alarms.

Where we go from here:• We will communicate through

your designated block captain• Please go through them for

any questions• We would prefer to

communicate through e-mail with the block captain, as it is more efficient and less time consuming then mailings

Neighborhood Watch Signs:• Ordering• Cost • Placement

2005 SEMI-ANNUAL STATISTICS

•In May of 2004, the American City Business Journal released a report that compared 3,141 counties and cities across the United States. Based upon quality of life, Douglas County Ranked fourth in the nation.

•In 2004 Colorado College examined 280 counties and other communities in eight states of the Rocky Mountain West. Douglas Scored A+ in the metropolitan division.

Neighborhood Watch Program

Questions?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

Remember: A community where residents are willing to look out for one another’s interest, is a community where crimes are least likely to occur!

How to contact us:•Community Relations unit 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, Co 80109(303) 660-7544• ron.hanavan@dcsheriff.net• c.heyden@douglas.co. WWW.dcsheriff.net