Help Kids Stay Safe
The Park Ridge Police Department wants to help you and your children “THINK SMART & STAY SAFE”. We encourage parents to have discussions with their children about safety topics such as strangers, staying home alone, and what to do in an emergency.
It is important for children to understand that
strangers are not necessarily scary looking, they look like ordinary people and
can be young or old. Basically, they are anyone you do not know. If a stranger
approaches a child and tries to talk to him or her, the child should say, “I’m
sorry but I can’t help you,” and walk away. If a stranger in a car calls out
to a child, the child should never go close to the car, just keep walking. If
possible, kids should walk with friends to and from school and should not walk
through alleys or behind buildings. If a child thinks someone is following them,
they should switch directions or cross the street. If the stranger is still
there, the child should move quickly towards a group of people, a 
McGruff House
or a well populated area.
For more information on participating in the McGruff House program, contact Officer Broderick at (847) 318-5233. Or, visit the website to learn more about what is involved in being a McGruff House.
Children should also remember to trust their instincts. If they see something they feel is not right or feel uncomfortable about, they should get away from that situation. Tell a trusted adult about it as soon as possible and call the police to report the incident.
If children are going to be home alone, they should be aware of the following: Never open the door to a stranger; if someone calls on the phone, the child should say their parents are home but can’t come to the phone right now and then ask to take a message; children should check in frequently with their parents and if kids are allowed to go out they should keep in contact at all times. If friends are allowed to come over, there should be some guidelines that govern their behavior. It is very important to have emergency phone numbers available and children should understand how and when to dial 9-1-1.
Pedestrian
Safety Near Train Tracks
The Park Ridge Police Department continues
to receive calls from concerned citizens that a significant number of
pedestrians are disobeying the warning devices at the Summit and Dee Road
railroad stations. We want the community to know that we are very concerned
about the safety of our pedestrians and commuters. The department has conducted
informational campaigns in the recent past along with METRA and began by issuing
warnings. Unfortunately, the informational campaign has not accomplished the
desired goal: voluntary compliance. We continue to observe pedestrians placing
themselves in harm’s way. Because of our commitment to safety, the Park Ridge
Police Department will continue to enforce grade crossing laws on a periodic
basis. Please be aware of this and avoid a ticket, and more importantly,
potential injury or death by adhering to railroad crossing laws. The fine for a
first time offense is $250.00. The fine for a second offense can be up to
$500.00. The following list of information is important for pedestrians to be
aware of when near railroad tracks:
·
Cross tracks only at designated
pedestrian or roadway crossings.
·
Do not cross the
tracks immediately after a train passes. A second train might be blocked by the
first. Trains can come from either direction. Wait until you can see clearly
around the first train in both directions.
·
Flashing red lights signal that a train is approaching from either direction.
You can be fined for failing to obey these signals. Never walk around or behind
lowered gates at a crossing. Stay alive! Do not cross the tracks until the
lights have stopped flashing and it is safe to do so.
·
Unless you are at a
designated public crossing or platform, the railroad tracks, trestles, yards and
equipment are private property and trespassers are subject to arrest and fine.
·
It can take a mile
or more to stop a train, so a locomotive engineer who suddenly spots you ahead
has little chance to miss you.
·
Trains overhang
beyond the tracks by at least three feet in both directions and loose straps
hanging from rail cars may extend even further. If you are in the right-of-way
next to the tracks, the train can hit you.
·
The only safe and
legal place to cross is at a designated public crossing with either a cross
buck, flashing red lights or a gate. If you cross at any other place, you are
trespassing and can be ticketed or fined.
·
Do not attempt to
hop aboard moving railroad equipment at any time. A slip of the foot can cost
you a limb or your life.
·
Be aware that some
trains do not follow set schedules.
·
Do not walk, run,
cycle or operate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railroad tracks or
rights-of-way.
FBI Warns about jury duty telephone scam
As written in the Park Ridge Advocate, October 6, 2005:
The FBI is providing a warning to the public against an ongoing scheme involving jury service. The public needs to be aware that individuals identifying themselves as U.S. court employees have been calling citizens and advising them that they have been selected for jury duty. These individuals ask to verify names and Social Security numbers, then ask for credit card numbers. If the request is refused, citizens are threatened with fines.
The judicial system does not contact jurors by phone and ask for personal information such as Social Security number, date of birth, or credit card numbers. If you receive one of these phone calls, do not provide any personal or confidential information to these individuals. This call is an attempt to get personal information - like your name and Social Security number - potentially to apply for credit cards or other loans in your name.
If you have already been contacted and have given out personal information, monitor your account statements and credit reports, and contact your local FBI office, (312) 431-1333. For further information, review the warnings posted on the U.S. Courts Web site at www.uscourts.gov, "Newsroom" news article, "Warning: Bogus Phone Calls on Jury Service May lead to Fraud."
Copyright 2005, Digital Chicago Inc.
Seniors Beware
The Police Department would like to remind you with the weather warming up and home improvement repairs beginning we encounter a problem with scams in our community.
Elderly residents especially are key targets in these scams, but anyone can become a victim.
Suspects can pose as utility company employees, and/or home repair contractors. Entry is made into the victim's home by the use of misrepresentation. Once inside, one suspect will divert the resident's attention while the accomplices search for and steal money, jewelry, or other small valuables. The suspects are very clever and will tell you just about anything to get into the house, even asking you for a drink of water or if you have seen their lost pet.
Other scams occur when suspects pose as contractors to do home repairs and may offer to provide a service for a very low fee, then will charge you double or triple the amount. Be aware of people that approach you to do work because they are "in the neighborhood", or start on a repair without asking first. They can be fast talkers and can distract you easily.
Always get estimates for home repair jobs and compare prices. Ask friends or family for recommendations and ask for referrals of the business and call them. Always wait to make a decision and do not give anyone cash the same day. Make payments by check, so that if you are dissatisfied with the service, payment can be stopped.
Finally, never let anyone in your house unless you know them, and call the police if you see or encounter any person trying to offer you service that sounds too good to be true.
What to do if you lose your wallet
Cancel your credit cards immediately. The key is having the card numbers and toll-free numbers handy, so make a list before something happens and store it in a safe place. Or make photocopies (front and back) of the stuff in your wallet and hide it in a safe place.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was lost or stolen. Try to get a receipt for the report, or at least the phone and fax numbers for the police department, and date you can obtain a copy of the report.
Call the three national credit reporting organizations and ask them to put fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The numbers are: Equifax, (800) 525-6285; Experian (formerly TRW), (888) 397-3742; and TransUnion, (800) 680-7289.
Report it to the Social Security Administration fraud line, (800) 269-0271.
Call your bank if your checkbook or ATM card was lost or stolen.
How
to avoid being the victim
There are three reasons why
people are easy targets for random acts of violence:
a. Lack of
awareness. You MUST know where you are & what's going on around you.
b. Body
Language. Keep your head up, swing your arms, stand straight up.
c. Wrong
Place, Wrong Time. Don't walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood
at night.
If you are ever thrown into the
trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole
and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will.
This has saved lives. Or, look for the inside trunk release if so equipped.
Women have a tendency to get
into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their
checkbook, or making a list, etc). Don't do this. The predator will be
watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the
passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. As soon as
you get into the car, lock the doors and leave.
A
few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.
Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and
in the back seat.
B.
If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while
the person is attempting to get into their car.
C.
Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger
side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to
walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back
out.
It
is always better to be safe than sorry.
Always
take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be
alone and the perfect crime spot.)
If the predator has a gun and
you are not under his control, always run.
Women
are always trying to be sympathetic: stop it! It may get you raped, or killed.
Ted Bundy,
the serial killer, was a good looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS
played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a
limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle,
which is when he abducted his next victim.