Dear residents,

In light of a recent home invasion in our community, I want to explain the "real" story behind the majority of home invasions, no matter where they happen.

Based on my own law enforcement experience – and that of my fellow officers – the "real" story is:  home invasions are very rarely random acts. Victims are usually targeted.

There are two typical types of home invasions:

1. Victims are known to keep a lot of cash in the house or are followed home from their cash-based businesses.
2. There is some kind of use or sale of illegal drugs.

So the best advice I can give you is:  if you own a cash-based business, or deal with large amounts of cash, take it to the bank. Make that deposit and do not bring it home with you. Be mindful of who knows your money matters. Lastly, don't do drugs.

Sgt. Debra Kalish
Community Services

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

Through donations from the American Heart Association and Emory Johns Creek Hospital, 29 Johns Creek Police patrol cars are now equipped with AEDs – automatic defibrillator devices.

An AED is a portable, computerized device that automatically diagnoses erratic heart rhythms and applies electrical therapy to reestablish effective rhythms during a cardiac arrest.

All JCPD patrol officers have received special AED training. Police often arrive to an emergency before EMS personnel, and a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

May 1st is the deadline for businesses* to comply with the federal Red Flag Rules, which are intended to protect both businesses and their customers from the havoc and financial loss of identity theft.

The Red Flag Rules require the implementation of a written identity theft prevention program, as part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACTA) Act. Please know that failure to comply can lead to criminal and civil liabilities.

*Financial institutions, creditors and any covered account business (credit, mortgage, car loan, margin, cell phone, utility, checking, saving and small business or sole proprietorship)

Johns Creek Police are raising funds for the "Law Enforcement Torch Run" for Special Olympics Georgia, a year-round sports training and athletic competition program serving 22,000 Georgians with intellectual disabilities.

The JCPD will host:

• a Golf Tournament May 18 at the Standard Club and
• a "Cops on Shop" sit-in May 1-3.

Please call Major John Clifton or Sgt. Debbie Kalish at 678-474-1600 for more information on sponsorships and tournament registration. Look for updates in upcoming issues and at www.JohnsCreekGA.gov.

The "Torch Run" involves 1,000 law enforcement officers from over 100 agencies and culminates with a 1,000 mile, two-week relay to pass the "Flame of Hope" torch for the State Summer Games Opening Ceremony at the end of May.

Like an increasing number of unmanned, gated communities, Abbotts Bridge Place (ABP) has installed a high-tech, radio-controlled system to allow police, fire and EMS immediate access in emergencies.

The system avoids the need for special emergency codes, thus decreasing delays in emergency response.

"Our gates aren't manned, so if you're having a heart attack, you're not thinking about a gate code to give to the fire department or the police," said Sherry Bowie, ABP board secretary.

The subdivision's board worked closely with both Johns Creek Police and Fire on testing the system. "We'd like to encourage other gated communities to check it out," said Sgt. Jon Moses.

Top 5 roads for accidents:

1. Medlock Bridge Road (18)
2. Old Alabama Road (17)
3. State Bridge Road (15)
4. Jones Bridge Road (14)
5. McGinnis Ferry Road (8)

Top 5 Intersections for accidents:

1. Medlock Bridge and Abbotts Bridge roads
2. State Bridge and Jones Bridge roads
3. Medlock Bridge and Parsons roads
4. State Bridge and Medlock Bridge roads
5. Medlock Bridge and Old Alabama roads

January burglaries (Total 17):  Camden on the River (3), Citgo (1), Country Club of the South (1), Enclave Foxdale (1), Evergreen Trace (1), Farm Brook (1), Inisfree (1), Jaden Woods (1), Linkwood (1), Reserve at Johns Creek (1), Roswell Mill (1), Vicarage (1) and Vicarage Walk (1).

January car break-ins (Total: 37):  Abbotts Pond (2), Cambridge (3), Carriage Park (1), Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (1), DoubleGate (1), Garrison's Restaurant (1), Glenhurst (1), Haynes Bridge Village (1), Highgate (1), Lexington Woods (4), Macy's Integrated Systems (1), Medlock Bridge (2), Medlock Corners (1), Medlock Crossing Shopping Center (1), Monkey Joe's (1), Newtown Park (1), Oxford Mill (1), Regal Cinemas (1), River Club (1), Rivermont (1), Star Family Restaurant (1), Sugar Mill (4), Tavistock (1), The Reserve (1) and Wellington (1).