Texas Apartment Association Crime Awareness Guide

150 Pages·2002·4.9 MB·English

Community Partners(cid:151)
TEXAS APARTMENT
Crime Awareness Guide
ASSOCIATION
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Written by
CCrriimmee aawwaarreenneessss
The Resource Company
with information provided by
CCrriimmee rreessppoonnssee
TAA Legal Counsel
Larry Niemann
CCrriimmee pprreevveennttiioonn & Associate Legal Counsel
Connie Heyer
PPrreevveennttiioonn ppooiinntteerrss//
SEARCH HELP
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TAAEF Crime Awareness
Guide Overview
About the TAA Education
Foundation
Support TAAEF
About the Texas
Apartment Association
Acknowledgments
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Section Highlights

(cid:132) Introduction.............................................................................. 1-1
(cid:132) Guidelines for Use ................................................................... 1-3

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Section Highlights

(cid:132) Crime Statistics.................. 2-2 (cid:132) Sexual Assault and
Rape.................................. 2-24
(cid:132) Apartment Burglary ........... 2-2
(cid:132) Terrorism and the
(cid:132) Domestic Violence ............. 2-3 Housing Industry.............. 2-25
(cid:132) Drugs .................................. 2-6 (cid:132) Vehicle Theft, Burglary
and Vandalism.................. 2-32
(cid:132) Gangs................................ 2-15
(cid:132) Other Crimes .................... 2-34

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Section Highlights

(cid:132) Working with Law (cid:132) How to Notify
Enforcement...................... 3-2 Residents............................3-7
(cid:132) Identifying Criminal (cid:132) Responding to the
Activity............................... 3-4 Media...................................3-7
(cid:132) Reporting Criminal (cid:132) Responding to Questions
Activity............................... 3-4 about Crime........................3-8
(cid:132) Protecting the Crime
Scene ................................. 3-6

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Section Highlights

(cid:132) Safeguarded (cid:132) Applicant Screening........4-18
Surroundings ..................... 4-2
(cid:132) Disclosure of Resident
(cid:132) Community Assessment Information ......................4-25
Survey................................. 4-9
(cid:132) Resident Policy
(cid:132) Alternative Services......... 4-10 Enforcement....................4-26
(cid:132) Crime Prevention for (cid:132) Keys and Locks...............4-27
Employees........................ 4-12
(cid:132) Community Crime
(cid:132) Employee Screening........ 4-16 Watch Program................4-29

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FORMS
(cid:132) Neighbors Helping Neighbors
(cid:132) Automobile Description
(cid:132) Neighbors in Action
(cid:132) Community Assessment
Survey (cid:132) Newsletter Article Sample
(Before You Leave for
(cid:132) Community Crime Watch
Vacation)
Meeting Attendance List
(cid:132) Newsletter Article Sample
(cid:132) Community Crime Watch
(Check Your Safety Sense)
Organizational Meeting
Agenda (cid:132) Newsletter Article Sample
(Community Crime Watch
(cid:132) Courtesy Patrol Service
Program Starts in June)
Questionnaire
(cid:132) Newsletter Article Sample
(cid:132) Drug Activity Record
(Reducing Risk)
(cid:132) First Community Crime Watch
(cid:132) Newsletter Article Sample
Meeting Sample Letter
(Reporting Suspicious
(cid:132) Follow-Up Meeting Sample Activity)
Letter
(cid:132) Patrol Daily Checklist
(cid:132) If You Care, Share
(cid:132) Suspect Description
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PREVENTION POINTERS

(cid:132) Auto Theft (cid:132) Murder and Assault
(cid:132) Automatic Teller Machine (cid:132) O.I.D.—Operation
(ATM) and Night Deposit Identification
Safety
(cid:132) Partner Abuse
(cid:132) Burglary and Theft
(cid:132) Preventing Fraud
(cid:132) Carjacking
(cid:132) Sexual Assault and Rape
(cid:132) Child Negligence and Abuse
(cid:132) Suspicious Activity
(cid:132) Children Concerning Persons, Vehicles,
(cid:132) Domestic Mistreatment Property
of the Elderly (cid:132) Teenagers and Drunken
(cid:132) Emergency Warning Sirens Driving
(cid:132) Gangs (cid:132) Telemarketing Fraud
(cid:132) Halloween Safety (cid:132) Tips for People with Physical
Disabilities
(cid:132) Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.)
(cid:132) Tips for Runners and Walkers
(cid:132) Helping Children Cope with

Disaster

(cid:132) Holiday Season Safety Tips
(cid:132) Identity Fraud
(cid:132) Internet Fraud

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Section Highlights
(cid:132) Acknowledgments ...................................................................6-2
(cid:132) Resource Materials Used.........................................................6-3

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“It is far better for all concerned to deter crime than it is to
spend time and money in litigating who was at fault.”
TAA REDBOOK
(cid:17)(cid:10)(cid:18)(cid:2)(cid:19)(cid:14)(cid:13)(cid:20)(cid:18)(cid:3)(cid:19)(cid:10)
Implementing a crime prevention Remember, you cannot do it
program makes good sense. It is alone. The true success of your
a sound business decision, and, of community crime prevention pro-
greatest importance, it serves the gram will depend on the three-way
welfare of the neighborhood. This partnership between you, your resi-
Texas Apartment Association Edu- dents and your local police.
cation Foundation (TAAEF) guide By using this guide, you can:
will help you create a community (cid:1) Implement an effective Crime
atmosphere that deters crime and Watch program
provides a place where neighbors (cid:1) Retain residents
care about neighbors. (cid:1) Attract new residents who want
Reducing crime in apartment to live in a proactive community
communities takes work. Expedite (cid:1) Lead your neighborhood in re-
crime prevention measures through ducing crime
the following actions: (cid:1) Minimize liability issues be-
1. Get rid of problem residents. cause of reduced crime
2. Screen applicants to keep
Crime Awareness
problems out.
3. Keep the physical property
This eye-opening information in
standards high.
Section 2 will tune you in to signs
4. Implement an effective crime
and signals of potential or actual
watch program.
criminal activity that can occur at
This guide contains all of the your community. Have you had a
tools that you will need to get rash of car burglaries or vandalism?
started.
Community Partners—Crime Awareness Guide
© Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation
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(cid:132) Become knowledgeable about
CRIME AWARENESS, CONTINUED
working with the media in
Do you think that gangs may be ac-
emergency situations.
tive in your area? Does a registered
sex offender live in your commu- Crime Prevention
nity? Find out what to do in this
Section 4 is packed full of ideas
section. The essence of this section
on crime prevention. You will ap-
is awareness. You can learn:
preciate the helpful tips included,
(cid:132) What crimes are prevalent in
such as:
apartment communities
(cid:132) How to physically assess your
(cid:132) How to recognize suspicious
community’s vulnerable areas
behavior that leads to these
(cid:132) How to screen applicants,
crimes
including non-U.S. citizens
(cid:132) How to respond to each
(cid:132) How to keep employees safe
situation
(cid:132) What crime prevention tools
An additional concern in today’s are available and through what
environment is terrorism. This guide resources
will provide information on terrorism (cid:132) How to work with your local
crime prevention officer
and answers to questions regarding
(cid:132) How to begin and sustain a
your role and responsibilities. Rec-
Community Crime Watch
ommendations are provided regard-
program at your community
ing:
(cid:132) Screening potential applicants Forms
(cid:132) Preparing for potential terrorist
Section 5 includes valuable
activity
forms, such as a comprehensive 12-
(cid:132) Training staff to recognize
page Community Assessment Sur-
characteristics of a terrorist
vey, and printable Prevention Point-
profile
ers that can be incorporated into a
(cid:132) Evaluating your company
resident newsletter or used as a
policies and procedures
handout for staff meetings, crime
Crime Response watch meetings, move-in packets,
etc. Forms and Prevention Pointers
In Section 3 you will:
are organized alphabetically for your
(cid:132) Learn the best approach to
working with law enforcement convenience. Just click and print.
agencies in your area. Or, to customize forms or prevention
(cid:132) Find out what to do if an FBI pointers for your use, click the link at
agent shows up requesting the top of those pages for a
resident information. Microsoft Word version of these
(cid:132) Read about how to accurately resources. It couldn’t be simpler.
report a recent crime or crime Use them—they will make your job
in progress. easier.
Community Partners—Crime Awareness Guide
© Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation
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Acknowledgments
Section 6 lists sources that were used to compile this comprehensive
guide. A special thanks is included for volunteers who have contributed to
this project.

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While not included in this publication, TAA REDBOOK article and form
references are provided for your convenience. The TAA REDBOOK is avail-
able in print or CD-Rom from your local association. Also, REDBOOK forms
are included in TAA’s computer-based lease application available from Blue
Moon Software.
Icons are used to refer you to other available sources that offer more in-
formation on a particular topic. Icons are used in this guide that refer you to:
(cid:132) A TAA REDBOOK article
Read more about it in

the TAA REDBOOK
article

(cid:132) A TAA REDBOOK form
Helpful TAA

REDBOOK form

Resource available in Section 5
Prevention Pointer
(cid:132) A printable form or
“Suspicious Activity Concerning
Prevention Pointer
Persons, Vehicles and Property”
available in Section 5

Resource available in Section 5
Form
Community Assessment Survey
Community Partners—Crime Awareness Guide
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Additional training on crime prevention may be available through your lo-
cal association or police department. Educating residents and employees
and promoting resident involvement are just two aspects of your role in crime
prevention.
This guide contains practical ideas to assist you in recognizing and reduc-
ing crime within your apartment community. Utilizing the ideas contained in
this publication is no assurance that crime will not occur. This guide is in-
tended only as a practical planning guide and not as a legal standard. Be-
cause laws are subject to change, it is strongly recommended that you stay
informed.

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(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:5)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:4)(cid:13) Sexual Assault and
Rape.......................................2-24
Crime Statistics........................2-2
Terrorism and the Rental
Apartment Burglary.................2-2 Housing Industry..................2-25
Domestic Violence...................2-3 Vehicle Theft, Burglary and
Vandalism .............................2-32
Drugs.........................................2-6
Other Crimes..............................2-34
Gangs......................................2-15
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n If you are aware of High-density living in apartment These crimes are closely followed
criminal activity, no
by:
communities creates the great-
matter how insignifi- (cid:1) Burglary of residences
cant, you may be held est number of opportunities for
(cid:1) Robbery (with and without
accountable for dis- crimes, more so than in any other
weapons)
regarding its residential setting. That’s why it’s
importance. (cid:1) Thefts
important to learn more about all
n Community manag-
types of crimes so you can assess Other criminal issues that you
ers have a profound
any possible threats to your may encounter include but are not
responsibility to their
residents and should residents. limited to:
have an understand- Before you can develop strate- (cid:1) Gang activity
ing of the facts sur- gies to prevent crime at your com- (cid:1) Drug production,
rounding criminal
munity, you must first be aware of sales/distribution and/or use
activity.
the most prominent crimes commit- (cid:1) Vandalism
ted in Texas apartment communi- (cid:1) Sex offender activity
ties. Are you aware that the highest (cid:1) Domestic/family violence
In Texas, a crime is
numbers of onsite crimes are com- (cid:1) Domestic and international
committed at an apart-
ment community mitted in the parking areas? These terrorism
every 31 seconds. criminal activities include:
This section will help you become
(cid:1) Burglary of motor vehicles
familiar with various types of crimes
(cid:1) Unauthorized use of motor
and will offer suggestions on
vehicles
prevention and response.
(cid:1) Motor vehicle vandalism
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© Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation
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Another source for statistical in-
To learn the current crime statis-

formation is the Texas Department
tics for your area, contact the
of Public Safety website. The follow-
crime prevention officer at your local
ing DPS websites may be of benefit:
police or sheriff’s department. Many
(cid:132) General information
cities have a website that provides
http://txdps.state.tx.us
local statistics. In addition, some city
(cid:132) Conviction database
websites have specific information
http://records.txdps.state.tx.us
regarding convicted sex offenders.
(cid:132) Sex offender registration
These sites often show the picture,
http://records.txdps.state.tx.us/
name and address of the offender,
soSearch/default.cfm
as well as the type of offense.
A nominal fee is charged for each
conviction database inquiry. There
is no charge to check the registered
sex offender database.

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apartment association. Instruct
According to the U.S. Justice
residents to always make manage-
Department, most residential
ment aware if their apartment has
Read more about it in burglars are young men who commit
the TAA REDBOOK been burglarized.
a variety of predatory crimes. Their
article If you hear from other community
prime motivation is economic. As a
“92 Ideas to Help Deter managers in your neighborhood that
Crime in Texas Rental general rule, not much planning is
their community has experienced a
Housing.” involved. Most enter through un-
rash of burglaries, notify your resi-
locked doors or windows. Some-
dents immediately. Neighbors,
times however, burglars are profes-
watching out for suspicious activity,
sional and have the ability to pick
can help catch criminals.
locks, enter the apartment, take only
Implement the guidelines pro-
the most expensive jewelry or ob-
vided in Section 4, Crime Prevention
jects and make a swift, clean exit.
to help deter burglaries at your
When residents move in, review
communities.
the “Security Guidelines for Resi-
dents” in the TAA Lease Contract.
The guidelines are also available as
a separate form from your local
Community Partners—Crime Awareness Guide
© Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation
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