Dear residents,

Welcome to the premier issue of COPS Connect, the official source of news and information from the JCPD.

This issue is focused on PACT (Police And Community Together), our residential neighborhood watch program, launching this fall. PACT newsletters will be e-mailed on a monthly basis.

Future COPS Connects will feature news on other Community Oriented Policing Services, including SHIELD, a business watch program which started this summer, and youth-oriented programs, which will start over next year.

COPS Connect is a conduit for public information, to connect the JCPD with the community. We welcome public input on how we can make this service more useful to you. If you have information, ideas or comments, please e-mail me at Debra.Kalish@JohnsCreekGA.gov or call 678-474-1587.

Sgt. Debbie Kalish
Community Oriented Policing Services

P.S.  If you received this copy from someone else, sign up here to get your own copy each month.

Johns Creek is not immune to criminals looking for easy targets in our neighborhoods.

During the day they see open garage doors, uncut lawns, stuffed mailboxes, newspapers piled up and valuable items left outside residences. At night they see darkened houses or ones with the same light on for the same length of time every night. These are clues that these homes are easy targets.

Likewise, thieves see cars parked in driveways or on residential streets with valuable items left inside in clear sight. Very often, the cars are left unlocked. Talk about easy targets!

The best way to stop a burglary is through prevention. Here's how:

• Keep garage doors closed and locked when not entering/exiting with car.
• Keep cars locked at all times, even when parked in garage.
• Don't leave valuable items (I-pods, laptops, address books) inside cars.
• Put lawn equipment, bikes, grills, and garden tools away.
• Never leave a note on the door saying you are gone!
• Get the best locks. Change locks if you lose your keys.
• Have adequate lighting, trim trees and shrubs to prevent burglars from hiding or breaking in without being seen.
• Use security pins and locks on your windows.
• Know your neighbors; be aware of who belongs and who does not belong.

September residential burglaries:  Abbots Bridge Commons, The Colony/Rivermont, Morton Chase, Addison Place, Chartwell, Morton Station, PineRidge, Olde Taylor Farms, Avonlea Apartments, Wellington, Camden River Apartments, Blackstone, Ashwick and Cameron Forest.

September car break-ins:  Glenhurst, Springfield, Chartwell, Seven Oaks, Wentworth, Huntington (2), The Commons Carrington, River Glen, Valais Court, Wellesley, Country Club of the South and Newtown Park.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by someone to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation. This behavior includes battery, assault, stalking or unlawful restraint between people who are, or have been, in an intimate relationship, or who are related.

Domestic violence has many faces, including female abuse, elder abuse, teen abuse, violence targeted at male victims and the harmful emotional and mental effects of domestic abuse witnessed by children.

It is important to know that if you are a victim of domestic or family violence that you are not alone. Call 911 in an emergency. In non-emergency situations, there are a number of resources to turn to, including:

• Council on Battered Women:  Crisis 404-873-1766
• Georgia Advocates for Battered Women and Children:  404-524-3847
• Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence:  Crisis Hotline 1-800-33-HAVEN (4-2836)
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• National Domestic Violence Hotline:  1-800-799-SAFE (24-hour assistance)
• Women's Crisis Center:  Crisis Hotline 404-969-6423
• Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence:  Crisis Hotline 404-688-9436

Parents, please share these tips with your children:

• Try to Trick-or-Treat while it is still light outside.
• Wear a costume that makes it easier for you to walk, see and be seen.
• If you must go at night, make sure your costume is light in color.
• Carry a flashlight with you so you can be seen easily.
• Use reflective tape on your costume to be seen easily.
• If wearing a mask, take it off before crossing the street.
• Ask your parents, older brother or sister to go with you or go with a group.
• Cross only at corners. Never cross between parked cars or mid-block.
• Tell your family on which streets you will be Trick-or-Treating.
• Only accept intact, pre-wrapped, candy; no homemade items.

** Stop by Police headquarters at 11445 Johns Creek Parkway to pick up free reflective Trick-or-Treat bags (until Oct. 31) from the Records window in the lobby.

Below is a snapshot of just a few of the arrests officers made in Johns Creek last month:

• False Imprisonment:  Female victim stated she got into an argument with her ex-boyfriend, at which time he refused to let her leave and took her phone to keep her from calling 911. Victim stated she was also struck in the head during the altercation.

• Possession, Alcohol Under 21 YOA:  Twenty-year old subject was intoxicated and sitting on complainant's porch. Subject stated that he was at a friend's house and no one would open the door and he wanted to sleep. Residents did not know the subject, who was arrested.

• Criminal Trespass:  Officers located 15 juveniles inside a residence with open and empty bottles of wine, beer and liquor and a strong odor of burnt marijuana. Suspects stated the homeowner's daughter (who was out of town with her parents) had given them permission and the alarm code. All 15 juveniles were arrested, issued copy of charges and released to their parents.

• Burglary:  Upon arrival at a Kroger, officers discovered an unknown person had climbed into the ceiling and down to the pharmacy from the break room. The subject was captured on security video stealing one bottle of prescription cough syrup and then leaving.

• Criminal Trespass:  Butler Tire reported unknown person(s) spray painted graffiti ("kill cops" and phallic symbols) on their building and trailer.

• Identity Fraud:  Subject received letters from Washington Mutual and Bank of America saying he had applied for a credit card with a business name. The Washington Mutual card had $8,000 worth of charges on it. Subject said he never applied for a credit card with either company.

• Disorderly Conduct:  A large group of teenagers had gathered to watch two teens fight after Northview High had dismissed. A nearby adult homeowner was assaulted by several teens when he approached. He went home and returned with a golf club to chase the teens. The homeowner and two teens were arrested and released on copy of charges.

• Terroristic Threats/False Imprisonment:  Domestic dispute call involved a male dousing his home and garage with gasoline. Upon arrival officers were able to locate and apprehend the suspect before he was able to ignite the home and vehicle in the garage. The victim stated she had an argument with her husband and now wants a divorce.

• Aggressive Driving:  Road worker stated the driver of a pick-up became irate when he was asked to stop. The suspect gave the victim the middle finger, and then got out of his vehicle holding a bat. The driver did not advance towards the road worker, just got back in his truck and drove away. Police apprehended the driver shortly thereafter.