[Safe Streets Strong Community on March 5, 2025.]
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COMMUNITY SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WELL AS CRIME PREVENTION. WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING RECOGNIZING STATEWIDE CRIME TRENDS, WHICH HAVE RAISED CONCERNS, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THEM HEAD ON THROUGH INCREASED DIALOG WITH OUR COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, AND CRIME PREVENTION TIPS TO HELP MITIGATE BEING VICTIMIZED. I STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, NOT JUST AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE, BUT AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO PROACTIVELY TAKE MEASURES TO REDUCE AND SOLVE CRIMES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL WHO CALL MONTGOMERY HOME. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING ITS COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. BY LISTENING TO YOUR CONCERNS AND VALUING THE COMMUNITY'S INPUT CONCERNING ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. ESSENTIALLY, YOU ARE ALL VALUED AS PARTNERS IN MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY. BEFORE I TURN THIS OVER TO LIEUTENANT PERRY, THE COMMANDER OF OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS, THE MONTGOMERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, FOR THEIR COLLABORATION EFFORTS IN ELEVATING SAFETY AND CULTIVATING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNIT, LIEUTENANT PERRY AND THE REST OF THE DETECTIVES, FOR PULLING THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER FOR YOU FOLKS TONIGHT. THANKS. THANK YOU. CHIEF. FROM COUNCIL. MAYOR, SAY A FEW WORDS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE WHOEVER IS HERE YOU CAN'T HEAR.
THIS IS ON. SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. IT'LL. IT'LL WORK OUT. HOW IS THAT? HELLO? LISA. DO YOU WANT TO. OH, I THINK IT WENT ON. THERE WE GO.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WANT TO THANK OUR PD, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS COMMUNITY SAFETY PROGRAM ACROSS NEW JERSEY. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BREAK INS AND CAR THEFTS. WE HAVE ALSO HEARD OF CRIMINALS WHO ARE USING ELECTRONIC CURRENCIES TO SCAM VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. BUT WE HAVE BUCKED MOST OF THESE TRENDS IN MONTGOMERY BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. TONIGHT, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CHIEF BET, OUR OFFICERS ARE HELPING US TO ALL TO LEARN EVEN MORE HOW TO STAY SAFE. QUALITY OF LIFE IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE FOCUSED ON SINCE TAKING ON THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR IN 2024. IN FACT, I'M GOING TO LET YOU IN ALL INTO A SECRET THAT WE WON'T BE RELEASING PUBLICLY UNTIL TOMORROW. WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NEW JERSEY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTE AS A HEALTHY TOWN. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS SUCH. THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBLE. WE EARN THIS HONOR BECAUSE OF PROGRAMS JUST LIKE THESE THAT KEEP HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND SAFETY AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT IT'S A COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, I REALLY WANT TO THANK LIEUTENANT PERRY FOR HIS HARD WORK, AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LEADERS ACROSS THIS TOWNSHIP, THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS AND CONNECTIONS, MONTGOMERY CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST AND THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING TIME ON THIS STORMY EVENING TO COME AND LISTEN TO US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO START THE PRESENTATION A LITTLE BIT. BUT BEFORE WE DO, I'D LIKE TO INVITE ONE OF THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN TOWN, LUCIA LOPATE. IF SHE CAN COME UP. SO SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE TOWNSHIP IN PUTTING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER AND PLANNING AND ORGANIZING IT. SHE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A EXPERIENCE HER AND HER FAMILY HAD, AND JUST SHARE THAT WITH THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT IF YOU CAN COME UP. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LUCIA PAGALPANTI. THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION, LIEUTENANT PERRY, THANKS FOR COMING OUT IN THIS RAINY WEATHER AGAIN. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A VICTIM OF A HOME INVASION THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY, LAST YEAR. AND I HOPE THAT BY
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BEING HERE, I CAN REALLY SHED LIGHT AND SPREAD MORE AWARENESS ON WHAT HAPPENED AND MY EXPERIENCE. YOU KNOW, I STARTED WITH SOME PHONE CALLS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND REACHING OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MEETING WITH DETECTIVE SACCARDO AND MISS PATEL FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, CHIEF LIEUTENANT PERRY. MAYOR SINGH, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS FOR HELPING ME AGAIN, FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND, YOU KNOW, HELPING ME REALLY BE HERE. AND ALSO, BEFORE I START, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO AN AUDIENCE LIKE THIS. SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME IF I SPEAK TOO FAST. SO LAST MAY, EARLY IN THE MORNING. I WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF MY DOG BARKING AND THE ALARM GOING OFF. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOMETIMES IT'S FALSE ALARMS. I MEAN, IT HAPPENS, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A LITTLE STRANGE. I MEAN, IT WAS GOING ON FOR WAY TOO LONG. AND I ALSO I WAS HEARING SOME SOUNDS GOING ON IN OUR KITCHEN AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS HALF AWAKE. IT WAS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. I MEAN, I WAS FEELING THIS MIXTURE OF CONFUSION, OF WORRY. I MEAN, I MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THERE WAS A PERSON IN OUR KITCHEN AND I WAS FEELING A MIXTURE OF WORRY, FEAR, CONFUSION, BEING HALF AWAKE. I MEAN, I WAS VERY OVERWHELMED AND I JUST STAYED IN MY BEDROOM, YOU KNOW, HOPING FOR THE BEST. AND I ONLY CAME OUT OF MY BEDROOM UNTIL I HEARD WHO I WAS PRETTY SURE WERE THE POLICE OFFICERS TALKING WITH MY PARENTS. AND I LEARNED THAT FOUR MEN HAD COME TO OUR HOUSE. THEY HAD INVADED OUR HOME TO STEAL OUR CAR. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST REALLY SHOCKING. I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL. IT WAS JUST ALL SO SURREAL. I MEAN, I NEVER COULD HAVE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HOME IS A SAFE PLACE. I MEAN, I THE LAST THING I EXPECTED WAS FOR A BUNCH OF STRANGERS TO COME INTO THAT SAFE PLACE. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AFTER THIS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, I WANT EVEN THOUGH IT'S A NEGATIVE IMPACT, I REALLY WANT TO UTILIZE THAT SO I CAN MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY TAKE THIS NEGATIVE EVENT AND MAKE GOOD OUT OF IT. SO I WANT, YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS HAPPENED, MY FAMILY, WE PUT A LOT OF SECURITY CAMERAS AND ADDED EXTRA LOCKS ONTO OUR WINDOWS AND ALL OF THAT. AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS TO DO ALL OF THAT, BUT I WANT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE. I MEAN, AFTER THIS HAPPENED, MY FAMILY WAS IN THAT STATE OF SHOCK, AND IT WAS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE WHO REALLY CAME AND STEPPED UP AND WERE THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR US, TO HELP US GET OUT OF THAT INITIAL STRUGGLE.AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT AND HAVE THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM THERE FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY IN JUST MAYBE PREVENTING IT, HAVING AN EYE OUT AND ALSO IN THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT THIS DOES HAPPEN, HAVING THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM TO REALLY BE THERE FOR YOU TO GET OUT OF IT. AND ADDITIONALLY, I MEAN, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE POLICE WHO WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECTS. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST ONE WEEK. AND IT'S REALLY THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE MOST WELL EQUIPPED TO KEEP OUR STREETS AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT. AND TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE MESSAGES AND LESSONS THAT THEY TELL US ABOUT SAFETY AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS EXPERIENCE AND REALLY SHARE IT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT AND HOPEFULLY KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO PASS IT ON TO THE POLICE AND THEIR PRESENTATION. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DETECTIVE JOE SACCARDO. HE'S IN OUR INVESTIGATION UNIT. HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PUTTING THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IT. AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OUT INTO THE LOBBY, WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK WITH A LOT OF DETECTIVES AND OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH ANY CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. BUT WITH A LOT OF THE COMMENTS WE GOT ON THE RSVP, WE TRY TO BUILD ALL THAT INTO OUR PRESENTATION. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE WILL BE ANSWERED DURING THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT. GIVE ME YOUR MONEY. AS LIEUTENANT PERRY SAID, MY NAME IS DETECTIVE JOE SACCARDO. I'M A DETECTIVE WITHIN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION OF MONTGOMERY POLICE.
SO WE HANDLE EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, FROM INDICTABLE CRIMES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MISDEMEANORS. SO I PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER WITH THE HELP OF SOME SUGGESTION FROM YOU. AND I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY IT. SO HERE'S A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
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WORK ON TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND CRIME TRENDS, HOW RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES HAPPEN, COMMON SCAMS AND FRAUD PROTECTION, PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR HOMES AND VEHICLES, THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN PREVENTION, AND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP AND WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW CRIME AFFECTS US AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CRIME TRENDS. SO I HAVE A CHART UP HERE FROM UCR DATA, WHICH IS UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING DATA FROM THE FBI. SHOWS AT UCR DATA FROM 2019. ACTUALLY IN 2015, ON TO 2021 AND NATIONWIDE UCR. NOW, THESE NUMBERS MAY LOOK A LITTLE SCARY ON THIS CHART. HOWEVER, WE ARE ONE OF THE SAFEST COMMUNITIES. AS YOU CAN PROBABLY SEE, THE NUMBER ON THE BOTTOM CHART IS SIGNIFICANTLY BIGGER AT THE VERY TOP LEFT, BEING 1,600,000. WE'RE ON OUR TOP LEFT IS JUST ABOVE 12, SO THAT IS VIOLENT CRIME. THAT IS BURGLARIES. ANYTHING THAT WE INVESTIGATED SINCE JANUARY 1ST OF 2024, WE HAVE HAD 18 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN MONTGOMERY, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE NATION, SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE AS WELL. AS. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES AND WHY THEY HAPPEN. I'M SURE EVERYONE HERE IS AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME. BUT WHAT ARE THERE COMMON TARGETS? COMMON TARGETS FOR OUR COMMUNITY ARE CASH, JEWELRY, GOLD, FIREARMS, HIGH END BAGS, AND MOST RECENTLY, CAR KEYS. WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF BREAK INS AND PEOPLE ARE COMING IN SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR THE CAR KEYS FOR HIGH END MOTOR VEHICLES. WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THESE BURGLARIES ARE WATCHING. THEY'RE WATCHING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES TO LEARN YOUR ROUTINES. THEY'RE SEEING WHEN YOU'RE HOME, WHEN YOU'RE NOT HOME, WHEN YOU'RE AT WORK. THEY FOLLOW VICTIMS FROM BUSINESSES. IF THEY SEE A CAR ON THE ROAD, THEY FOLLOW THEM HOME TO FIND WHERE YOUR RESIDENCE IS AND SEE WHERE THAT CAR IS. SOMETIMES THEY USE FAKE DELIVERY PERSONNEL SOLICITORS TO COME TO YOUR HOUSE, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, CHECK TO SEE IF ANYONE'S THERE. SO YOU MIGHT SEE SOMEONE PUT ON A HIGHLY REFLECTIVE VEST. THEY COME TO THE DOOR, KNOCK ON IT, AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ID CARD AROUND THEIR NECK. THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOMEONE FROM ONE OF THESE GROUPS THAT'S NOT PART OF PSEG OR VERIZON OR PRETENDING TO BE. WE SEE A LOT OF T BREAKING INTO THE REAR DOORS, WINDOWS OR ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THEY DO THAT TO AVOID DETECTION. THEY COME IN THROUGH THE BACK. PEOPLE DON'T SEE THEM. WE LIVE IN A VERY SECLUDED NEIGHBORHOOD. A LOT OF OUR HOUSES BACK UP TO WOODS. THEY COME IN AND THEY BREAK THROUGH THAT BACK DOOR. MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE ON VACATION. WHEN THEY COME HOME, THAT'S WHEN THEY DISCOVER THAT THEY CAN GET LOST. HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WORK EVERY DAY. SAFETY FIRST. KEEP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED, INCLUDING INCLUDING GARAGES. WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS MOST OF THESE BURGLARS WILL COME FOR PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE CAR, OR THEY'LL CHECK YOUR DOOR, OF YOUR FRONT DOOR, OF YOUR HOUSE. AND A LOT OF THE TIME THEY FIND IT TO BE EMPTY. A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN THEY'RE CHECKING THE CAR DOOR HANDLES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY EVEN FINDING THE KEYS FOR THE CARS RIGHT INSIDE. THESE ARE NOT HIGH TECH CRIMINALS. THEY COME IN, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR EASY TARGETS. SO IF WE TARGET HARDER, IF WE LOCK OUR DOORS, BRING THOSE KEYS INSIDE, WE CAN PREVENT THAT FROM LEAVING YOUR LIGHTS ON WHEN YOU'RE AWAY.SMART LIGHTS, TIMERS. PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY HAS AN ALEXA OR SOME SORT OF SMART DEVICE IN THEIR HOUSE THESE DAYS. THOSE DEVICES CAN AUTOMATE YOUR WHOLE HOME, PUT LIGHTS ON AT RANDOM TIMES, SECURE VALUABLES IN A SAFE, AND KEEP THEM OUT OF SIGHT, BOLTED TO THE FLOOR OR TO THE WALL. SOMETIMES WE SEE PEOPLE IN THEIR BEDROOM. THEY JUST STAY RIGHT THERE IN THEIR BEDROOM. IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT THE CRIMINALS GO. NOW, IF IT'S A DIVERSION SAFE, THAT'S GREAT. THEY'LL TAKE IT AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE. BUT A LOT OF THE TIMES THERE'S JEWELRY, CASH, FIREARMS. SO JUST MAKE SURE YOU PUT IT IN A CLOSET OUT OF THE WIND AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS. HAVING NEIGHBORS. AND PLEASE CHECK YOUR HOME, TRAVELING AND THEN KEEPING YOUR KEY FOB IN A FAIRYTALE. LIKE A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE VERY HIGH END MOTOR VEHICLES, AND THAT'S WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE TARGETING LAND ROVERS, BENTLEYS, MERCEDES-BENZ, BMW, A FARADAY BAG, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, IS A BAG THAT BLOCKS ALL RADIO FREQUENCIES. THAT THAT KEY CARD GIVES OFF. SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CLONE THAT KEY CARD, THEY BRING IN A HIGH TECH SCANNING UNIT. THEY CAN ACTUALLY SCAN FOR THAT, CLONE IT FROM THE DRIVEWAY OF YOUR HOUSE OR OUTSIDE YOUR HOME, AND THEN THEY CAN GET IN YOUR CAR AND TAKE THE CAR. SO A FARADAY BAG WHICH ARE AVAILABLE, I'M SORRY, AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON AMAZON OR FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES. JUST PUT IT IN THERE AND IT BLOCKS ALL THOSE SIGNALS. SECURITY UPDATES, INSTALLING ALARM SYSTEMS AND SECURITY CAMERAS. YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR ALARM WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, REINFORCING ENTRY POINTS, FLOORS, LOCKS, SLIDING DOORS, AND USING VIDEO DOORBELLS FOR MONITORING. COMMON
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SCAMS AND FRAUD PREVENTION. WE'VE BEEN SEEING AN UPTICK IN SCAMS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH. A LOT OF OUR POPULATION IS BEING TARGETED. THE ELDERLY POPULATION SPECIFICALLY IS BEING TARGETED.PHONE AND EMAIL SCAMS, FAKE IRS CALLS. THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S TAX SEASON. YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE PHONE CALLS, YOU'RE SAYING FROM THE IRS, YOU HAVE A GIGANTIC REFUND, AND YOU HAVE TO CALL IN WITH ALL OF YOUR BANKING DETAILS IN ORDER TO GET THAT INFORMATION. THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT LEGITIMATE. THE IRS WILL NEVER REACH OUT TO PEOPLE. GRANDPARENTS GAMES WHERE SOMEONE CALLS IN PRETENDING TO BE A GRANDCHILD. SO YOUR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA. I WAS JUST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND I NEED YOU TO PAY THROUGH THE TOLL FEE OR THE BAIL OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT COME ALONG WITH THAT. SCAMMERS HAVE BEEN IMPERSONATING POLICE, PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANIES AND BANKS. THESE SCAMMERS ARE PRETTY HIGH TECH. MOST OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN AROUND HERE. THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY WHAT'S CALLED SPOOFING AN IP ADDRESS. SO THEY I'M SORRY, NOT AN IP ADDRESS, A PHONE NUMBER SO THEY CAN MAKE THEIR PHONE NUMBER APPEAR TO BE LIKE IT'S MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE PHONE NUMBER. YOU SEE IT ON YOUR PHONE? IT'S OUR PHONE NUMBER. YOU ANSWER IT. YOU THINK IT'S MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE SCAMMER.
SO IF ANYTHING EVER FEELS OFF, HANG UP. CALL US DIRECTLY. DON'T HIT THAT REDIAL BUTTON. CALL OUR NUMBER DIRECTLY, AND THEN ASK TO SPEAK TO AN OFFICER AND SOMEONE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU OR COME DOWN AND SEE US. WE'RE ALWAYS HERE 24 OVER SEVEN ONLINE AND CYBER PHISHING EMAILS, FAKE WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY A VERY BIG SCAM CALLED PIGLET TRAIL. THAT'S THE NAME THAT WAS GIVEN TO IT BY HOMELAND SECURITY. PIG BUTCHERING ENTAILS PEOPLE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. THEY WILL CONTACT YOU ON LINKEDIN, EMAIL, OR THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.
THEY'LL PRETEND TO HAVE AN AMAZING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY. THEY'LL SAY, HEY, INVEST A LITTLE BIT OF BITCOIN WITH US AND YOU'LL SEE AMAZING RETURNS. IF YOU INVEST IN BITCOIN, THEY SEND YOU TO A FAKE WEBSITE THAT SHOWS YOU FANTASTIC 400% RETURNS. THEN YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MONEY OUT. YOU HAVE TO PAY A FEE. NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY THE TAXES. NOW YOU HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS. MEANWHILE THEY TAKE ALL YOUR MONEY. WE'VE HAD A VICTIM IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. THAT WAS ANOTHER $2 MILLION VICTIM TO A PIG WATERING SCAM. THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE AS THESE PERPETRATORS ARE NORMALLY OUT OF THE COUNTRY OR REGION IN EASTERN EUROPE, OR THEY'RE IN ASIA. HOW DO HOW TO PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION AND AVOID IDENTITY THEFT? THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TO DO, BUT PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE OVER THE PHONE OR ON THE INTERNET IS ALWAYS A BAD IDEA. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE FIRST WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET YOUR INFORMATION.
THEY'RE GOING TO CALL YOU. THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, I NEED YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. I NEED YOUR NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION. YOU CAN AVOID ALL THAT JUST BY NOT GIVING HANG UP THAT PHONE, CALL THE AGENCY WHO THEY'RE PRETENDING TO BE AND SEE IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH. IN PERSON SCAMMERS, BIG CONTRACTORS OR UTILITY WORKERS.
INCREASING ACCESS FOR MONEY UP FRONT. WE TRY TO REALLY PREVENT THIS, IN PART BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE KNOCKING ON DOORS. THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, I CAN REPAVE YOUR DRIVEWAY, OR HEY, I CAN INSTALL A NEW ROOF ON YOUR HOUSE. MOST OF THOSE ARE SCAMS. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE JOB. BUT IF ANYONE'S KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, ANY SOLICITOR IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS TO BE REGISTERED WITH US. THEY GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. WE CHECK THEM OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE LEGITIMATE. SO IF SOMEONE KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR AND YOU'RE CONCERNED, CALL US. WE'LL IMMEDIATELY BE THERE TO VERIFY IF THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE. DISTRACTION WORKERS. THESE ONES WE HAVE NOT SEEN RECENTLY. HOWEVER, WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMEONE WILL COME TO THE DOOR WHO SAY THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING, THEIR CAR BROKE DOWN, OR THEY NEED TO USE THE PHONE. THEY'LL DISTRACT YOU AT THAT FRONT DOOR WHILE A SECOND PARTY GOES AROUND TO THE BACK, BREAKS INTO THAT BACK DOOR, AND RANSACKS YOUR HOUSE WHEN I'M SPEAKING TO THAT PERSON AT THE FRONT. SO YOU JUST HAVE TO BE VIGILANT, VIGILANT THAT ANYONE'S COMING AROUND YOUR HOUSE OR ANY ANYBODY STRANGE KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR. DON'T EVEN OPEN IT. CALL US IF THEY NEED HELP. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. THAT'S WHAT THE POLICE ARE HERE FOR. RED FLAGS AND HOW TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM. NEVER SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFO WITH UNKNOWN CAUSE. VERIFY ANY UNEXPECTED REQUEST FOR PAYMENT AND CALL US FOR EIGHT DAYS FOR SUSPICIOUS. PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS IN OUR COMMUNITY. CAR THEFT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT. AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, ALWAYS LOCK YOUR VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE ETHOS. KEEP LUXURY VEHICLES INSIDE A GARAGE IF YOU CAN, AND PARK IN A WELL-LIT, SECURE AREA. SO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE BREAKING IN. THEY FIND THAT THIEF ON THE FRONT DOOR. I DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF YOU DO IT, BUT YOU COME IN, TAKE YOUR KEYS, PUT THEM RIGHT ON A HUTCH BY THE FRONT DOOR OR ON A HOOK. EVERYBODY DOES THAT, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO DO THAT. SO IF YOU CAN REMOVE
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THAT KEY, BRING IT UPSTAIRS TO YOUR BEDROOM OR INSIDE YOUR BEDROOM, THAT'LL PREVENT THEM FROM FINDING THAT KEY AND THEY'LL IMMEDIATELY LEAVE. THEY DON'T WANT TO CONFRONT IT. THEY DON'T WANT TO COME IN. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH THE RESIDENT SO THAT AT LEAST PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING YOUR VEHICLE AND GET THEM OUT. SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN SCOUTING CARS. WATCH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WATCH FOR UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE AND VEHICLES CIRCLING THE AREA, AND REPORT DOOR TO DOOR SOLICITORS OR PEOPLE PEERING INTO HOMES. HOW CAN YOU IMMEDIATELY, WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUPS? THESE USED TO BE BIG, BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN OFF RECENTLY. BUT AS MICKEY WAS SAYING, WE NEED TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE NEED TO HAVE GOOD COMMUNITY RELATIONS. IF YOU CAN MEET UP WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS, FORM A COMMUNITY WATCH, YOU CAN HAVE A MEETING WITH MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE. WE'LL PUT YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH AND ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER, IDENTIFY KNOWN VEHICLES OR UNKNOWN VEHICLES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. STRANGE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY. INCREASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND REPORTS THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING A CRIME. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. DO SOMETHING. YOU DON'T SEE IT ON THE SUBWAY. WE ALL SEE IT FROM ALL THESE OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS. DON'T ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE WILL REPORT. YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE PASS BY MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES AND SAY, OH, SOMEONE ELSE REPORTED, SOMEONE ELSE REPORTED IT, AND THEN WE GET THERE AND NOBODY REPORTED IT. SO PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT IF YOU REPORT IT TO US, THAT'S WHAT OUR 901 DISPATCH IS FOR. CALL THEM. THAT WAY WE GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO RESPOND. EVEN MINOR REFORMS CAN HELP A LOT OF FUN THINGS. SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY, SHARING PRIVATE THINGS AND SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY WITH NEIGHBORS. ON HERE I PUT THE LITTLE ICON FOR THE RING NEIGHBORS. DOES ANYBODY HERE HAVE. NOBODY HAS THE RING NEIGHBORS APP. OH, I GOT ONE PERSON, TWO PEOPLE. IT'S A FANTASTIC WAY OF SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS. CHIEF HAS ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING ON A COLLABORATION WITH RING. THAT WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THAT. IT DOESN'T SUBSTITUTE 911, DOESN'T SUBSTITUTE CALLING THE POLICE. BUT AT LEAST WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S ON THE RING CAMERAS AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE REPORTING. IF THERE'S SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. REGISTERING YOUR HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS WITH MONTGOMERY. THAT WAY YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM AND POTENTIALLY CAMERAS COORDINATING WITH POLICE, ATTENDING COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY OF GETTING INFORMATION COMING IN, ACTUALLY MEETING YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES, MEETING THE POLICE OFFICERS. SO I'M HAPPY YOU'RE ALL HERE REQUESTING EXTRA PATROLS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. ANY CITIZEN CAN CALL MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE AND REQUEST EXTRA PATROLS. IF YOU'RE NERVOUS THAT SOMETHING'S HAPPENING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OR YOU SAW A RECENT REPORT THAT THERE WAS A BREAK IN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU CAN CALL US AND WE'LL INCREASE PATROLS, SIGNING UP FOR MONTGOMERY PD, DEDICATION CHECKS ON MONTGOMERY'S WEBSITE. ON THE PD WEBSITE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REGISTER YOUR HOME WITH US AND SAY, I'M GOING AWAY ON VACATION FOR A WEEK. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST SOMEONE TO CHECK MY HOUSE. MONTGOMERY POLICE OFFICER WILL CHECK YOUR ENTIRE HOME. IF YOU REGISTER WITH THAT, WE WILL WALK AROUND THE HOUSE, CHECK FOR ANY SIGNS OF BREAK IN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM. WHEN SIGNING UP FOR NIXLE FOLKS, THIS QR CODE, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SCAN IT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE SIGNUP FORM. LITTLE MIX IS A FANTASTIC WAY OF GETTING INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. ROAD CLOSURES, EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CRIME PREVENTION, SECURITY CAMERAS. EVERYBODY HAS SECURITY CAMERAS. HOPEFULLY MOST PEOPLE DO. THEY ACTUALLY HELP US A LOT IN SOLVING CRIMES. THEY DETER BURGLARS AND THEY PROVIDE ANY VIDEO EVIDENCE IF THEY ACTUALLY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME. RECOMMENDED BRANDS AND CENTERS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM.
ANYTHING THAT'S A MAJOR BRAND ADT, BIG SECURITY COMPANY BRANDS I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. THEY HAVE CENTRAL MONITORING. IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT BREAKS IN, THEY CALL US AND THEN WE CAN RESPOND TO IT. BE SURE TO KNOW YOUR SYSTEM AND HOW TO RETRIEVE VIDEO. WE'VE ACTUALLY WORKED A LOT OF CASES WHERE YOU GO TO THE HOUSE, SOMEONE HAS A CAMERA, IT HAS VIDEO FOOTAGE, BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET IT. SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT AND A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO GET IT. WE NORMALLY DO GET THE VIDEO, BUT THE CITIZEN KNOWS THEIR SYSTEM AND HELPS US. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS ALGORITHMS. THEY HELP IDENTIFY SUSPECT VEHICLES TO ALERT US TO BE STOLEN OR WANTED CARS. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH FOXY. THIS QR CODE, IF YOU SCAN IT, WILL ACTUALLY TAKE YOU TO FOX PUBLIC ACCESS PAGE, AND THEY TEACH HOW THEY SET UP, HOW THEY ACTUALLY HELP WITH IDENTIFYING CRIME VICTIMS. SO WE HAVE HOW MANY PEOPLE? 66. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX BLOCK CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. WHAT THESE CAMERAS DO IS THEY SCAN EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT GOES PAST. THEY SEARCH FOR WANTED VEHICLES, STOLEN VEHICLES, ANYBODY THAT HAS WARRANTS, SEX OFFENDERS THAT HAVE ANY KIND OF NOTIFICATION ON THEM. AND THOSE ALERTS ARE SENT IMMEDIATELY TO OUR PHONES. AND ANYBODY WORKING ACTUALLY KNOWS WHEN THAT CAR ENTERS THE TOWN.
[00:25:05]
SO IF A STOLEN CAR ENTERS TOWN, WE GET A NOTIFICATION AND THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THERE, TRACK THAT VEHICLE. I THINK IF YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT 1:00. I PUT THIS UP HERE AS A CASE STUDY. WE HAD A HOME BURGLARY ON MAY 9TH, 2023. THIS WAS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. THEY ACTUALLY HAD A BUSINESS IN HOPEWELL. THEY ARE OF ASIAN DESCENT, AND THEY WERE AT THEIR BUSINESS AT THE TIME OF THIS BURGLARY. THEY SET UP A CAMERA INSIDE THEIR RESIDENCE. THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CAMERA THAT WAS RIGHT POINTED AT THEIR FRONT DOOR THAT SAW THREE PEOPLE BREAKING INTO THEIR HOME.THEY IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. OUR OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO GET THERE IN TIME AND ARRESTED THREE INDIVIDUALS. THERE WAS CALLED THE SOUTH AMERICAN FESTIVAL. MOST OF THEM WERE VENEZUELAN NATIONALS. SO THEY ACTUALLY WERE TARGETING THIS HOME BECAUSE THEY KNEW THERE WAS CASH FROM THE RESIDENTS BUSINESS. AND THEY'VE ACTUALLY HIT THIS RESIDENCE ONCE BEFORE. SO THAT RESIDENT WAS ACTUALLY SMART ENOUGH TO PUT A CAMERA IN THEIR HOUSE. WE APPREHENDED ALL THREE SUSPECTS, AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY EQUIPPED WITH RADIO EARPIECES. THEY WERE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.
AND WHEN WE CONDUCTED A SEARCH ON THEIR VEHICLE WITH A SEARCH WARRANT, WE FOUND NOTES THAT THEY WERE SCOUTING OTHER LOCATIONS. THEY HAD MULTIPLE I THINK THERE'S ABOUT 15 OTHER LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE CYCLING FOR BURGLARIES. AND WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THAT AND ACTUALLY PREVENT MULTIPLE MURDERS. OKAY, SO THEIR CAMERA REALLY PREVENTED THAT ENTIRE CREW FROM DOING OTHER BURGLARIES AND SAVED A LOT OF PEOPLE. THEY WERE CHARGED WITH BURGLARY, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY, TOOLS, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, CONSPIRACY AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. THEY TRIED TO THROW THEIR EVIDENCE AWAY TO TRY TO RESCUE. SO I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK FOR A WHILE NOW, CREATING A SAFER COMMUNITY TOGETHER. KEY TAKEAWAYS LOCK IT LIGHT AND SECURE. PHASE ONE. MAKE SURE YOU LOCK THAT DOOR, LIGHT UP YOUR HOUSE AND SECURE EVERYTHING. BE PROACTIVE. REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO MONTGOMERY POLICE. GET INVOLVED.
JOIN THIS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. USE THAT TECHNOLOGY. INVEST IN SECURITY TEAMS. CAMERAS, FLYING NEIGHBORS. APP. CRIME PREVENTION STARTS WITH YOU. LAW ENFORCEMENT OF RESIDENTS MUST WORK TOGETHER AND YOUR AWARENESS CAN BE HELPFUL NEXT TIME. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DETECTIVE SCOTTO. SO AT THIS TIME, THIS CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS OR CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BASED ON THE PRESENTATION OR ADDITIONAL STUFF THAT YOU BROUGHT HERE TONIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO INVITE YOU OUT INTO THE LOBBY. WE HAVE SOME LIGHT REFRESHMENTS THAT WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME OUT. AND BOTH DETECTIVE SICARDO, CHIEF VET, AS WELL AS OTHER UNIFORMED OFFICERS, AND WE ALSO HAVE A DETECTIVE FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE BURGLARY UNIT, DETECTIVE GROSSO HERE, AVAILABLE AS WELL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE COMMUNITY SAFETY RELATED THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE DOWN THE PRESENTATION AND INVITE YOU TO COME OUT TO THE LOBBY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD JUST ASK ONE MORE THING THAT THE PRESENTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AFTER TONIGHT AS WELL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.