Did You Know...

11-16-06 After the windstorm on Sunday night my wife and I felt like we were back in Nebraska as the wind blows there all the time. I hope everyone experienced minimal damage and weren't too inconvenienced by the power outages. It appears as though Vernonia faired better then other communities. If you have been following the crime blotters that are submitted by the department you can see that crimes trends rise and fall. In recent weeks we are seeing and increase in property crimes like vandalism and theft. You will notice the Cedar Side was burglarized again early Sunday morning, possibly by someone using the blackout and storm to conceal their activities. Vernonia is fortunate to be a low crime area but we must all remain vigilant and watch out for our neighbors and our businesses. If you have any information on any crimes that have been reported or would like to report a crime please call dispatch at 800-696-7795 or you can leave a message at the station at 503-429-7335. If the crime is in-progress or an emergency don't hesitate to call 911. One crime that is definitely on the rise in Vernonia and the Nation is that of Identity Theft and money scams. The VPD routinely takes reports of citizens who have had their identity or even their children's identity stolen or who have received a scam solicitation. Millions of people each year fall victim to Identity Theft or money scams. I received an email last week advising me I am entitled to 30% of 68 million dollars as long as I give them my bank account information. Right! When it comes to these crimes, use your common sense before ever sending money or personal information to anyone. Protect you and your children's identity as well as doing routine checks on your families' social security numbers, credit information, and bank information. The Federal Trade Commission and United States Postal Inspection Service have teamed up to share a practical and concise message about ID Theft: Deter, Detect, Defend. Information on what to do to prevent ID theft and if you have been a victim, you can go to <http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft/> for complete information. There is also a link on the VPD website under "Community Resource Links". If you have questions or believe you or a family member has been a victim don't hesitate to call.