Crime Trends, Charts and Maps
The Third District requests that any person who may be away from their home or business for an extended period of time (vacation, etc.) or who may be away attending a funeral, to please notify the Desk Officer @ 504-658-6030 with the location, dates, times and whether or not anyone is authorized to be at the location, so that we may make extra patrols in that neighborhood/area.
There are many actions Lakeview residents can do to prevent
us from being victimized.
Armed Robbery
Dark early and as we approach the holiday season offence against persons will
increase and hopefully NOT in Lakeview. Yes crime is seasonal.
Yes your actions can prevent. Criminals do not want to be caught or have an
audience. They want to have the element of surprise, then gotcha!
This is why they watch for someone oblivious to their surrounding. Example:
Someone talking on their cell phone deep in conversation while sitting in their
parked car.
Dark areas+ easy victim = a crime. For many years I have seen what police refer
to as a Natural Victim or a Victim Waiting to Happen.
ANYONE WHO OFFERS CONFRONTATIONAL ADVICE - BEWARE!
FBI training, NOPD training that I have received over the 30+ years tells me
that before you can offer anyone advice on what to do in a crime confrontation
first, you have to know what that person is capable of doing under those
circumstances. Secondly, you have to know the location. Thirdly, you have to
know who the perpetrator is and what he/she is capable of doing. If you know all
this you can only be God.
A normal nervous reaction is to get a gun. The only way a gun will benefit you
is if you are the aggressor. What good is a gun in your car under the seat if
you are approached walking to your door? (Please NEVER leave a gun in a car)
What good is a gun in your hand if you are in your car on a cell phone and the
perpetrator has the jump on you?
Do not escalate a robbery by trying to whip out a gun while one is pointed at
you!
Then again, you cannot shoot somebody just because they approach you! They may
truly just need to ask where to deliver that pizza.
So please be careful if you are a gun toting person. The below is a list of
habits that will probably bring your awareness up a notch or two to help
prevent.
Most Armed Robberies happen as you are existing your vehicle.
Most Armed Robberies happen when there is no one else observing.
Most Armed Robbers do try to lower your awareness by pretending to ask you for
directions so they can get closer to you.
Driving Home:
Circle your block to make sure no one is following you or perhaps just sitting
in-wait for someone to exit their vehicle.
When you arrive home toot your horn, exit quickly go inside your residence. Go
out afterwards to unload your car of contents after scanning the area for
someone lingering.
Call ahead for a family member, roommate or even a neighbor to watch out for
your arrival home. Remember walking guest to the door and seeing them off?
Call LCPD at least 15 minutes prior to your arrival to your home. They will see
you safely in, (LCPD).
Keep outdoor lights on all night.
If you see someone walking in your block that does not look like someone you
know, do not stop.
If you see someone sitting in a car down the block, do not stop.
Use the cell phone to call 911 and report that suspicious person or car. Drive
to a well populated, lit area.
Remember the ELEMENT OF SURPRISE is all the perpetrators need.
Involve all family members and include your children, practice safety habits.
Two examples:
Answering the door. Teach them to look out the window before opening and never
to a stranger.
Calling ahead that you on your way home. Be at the door for your guest when they
arrived to see them safely in.
Good easy habits that last a life time.
Have a plan just like a fire drill, practice, plan and be safe!
Call 911 on anything, anyone suspicious, we are the eyes and ears for the
police.
Val Cupit, Lakeview Crimewatch