WGN: Police partners with the Neighbors app to help solve burglaries

 

[VIDEO] I remember a few years ago when neighborhood security cameras usually on housing in West Chesterfield helped to solve the murder and robbery of a Cook County Judge. For those of you interested in some new technologies to help secure your home you have Neighbors app by Ring. Basically there is a doorbell you purchase which also has a camera.

Usually with this camera you can see - using an app you can probably check your mobile device such as a phone or tablet - who's at the door. As far as being able to help police you can send your information anonymously.

There is a heavy focus on Ward 19 or Beverly/Morgan Park. In a previous story from WGN shared on this blog recently there was some recording of the gun shots. Of course that camera was likely a good distance away from the shooting at a pancake house on Western Avenue perhaps that was something provided by a user of the neighbors app.

Just something to share with you all, something to utilize to help secure your home and certainly to be able to see who visits your home while you're at work. Even if you just want to know post office came by to drop off your mail.

Community Alert: Postal Employee Robbed

Yesterday, the United States Postal Service(USPS) delivered the following flyer

Please be alert throughout this holiday season. Also, here are tips they were previously posted.

As we come closer to the actually holidays, the season has officially begun. While the season puts most of us in a good mood, it also makes some of us careless and brings out those who do not have good intentions.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the holiday season

1. Use a Tracking Service for Expected Packages

The holiday season is the the busiest season for package delivery and its a pain when you miss your delivery and disheartening if someone steals your package from your property. Now that UPS has closed the Avalon Park station, you have to either go to the South Holland or Roosevelt Street station. You can avoid this frustration by signing up for  UPS My Choice.
 The service is FREE and alerts you by either phone,text or email when your package is close to delivery. You choose the method and when a package is enroute, you will get a delivery date and an expected delivery window. Won't be home? Have them reschedule the delivery or hold at the station. FEDEX offers Delivery Manager that you can accomplish the same thing There are other options but they come at a cost. US Postal Service has a similar service Have your shipper give you the tracking number and you can track them on your own.

  2.  Creating a Routine

 It’s long been known that burglars scoping out a neighborhood will look for victims who tend to not pay attention to things. In other words, they are looking for carelessness. Signs of a careless homeowner include an unkempt lawn, overgrown bushes and children’s toys scattered around the yard.

When a burglar spots a house possibly inhabited by a careless homeowner he will watch that house to see what the typical daily behavior is. If he’s really good he may observe a homeowner rushing out the door without setting alarm system. In such a case that home is just as vulnerable as one with no security system installed.

In most cases setting a routine is not good from a security standpoint. But in terms of remembering to set your alarm system before you leave your home, a routine is a good thing. Creating a routine you can follow every day will make it less likely you’ll forget to set your alarm.

Consider gathering your things for work the last part of your morning routine. Hang a hook for your keys right next to your control center, forcing yourself to see it them as you head out the door. It acts as a constant reminder to arm your system on your way out.

3.     Don’t Advertise Holiday Plans 

Homeowners and businesses should never advertise holiday plans using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Today’s criminals are very media savvy and have taken to trolling such sites to find out when properties will be unoccupied. Keep your plans to yourself. 

4.    Ask Someone to Watch Your Home

Ask someone to watch your home while you’re away. If you can find a friend or family member willing to actually occupy your house in your absence, that’s the best option. If not, at least find someone willing to get your mail and newspaper, open and close your draperies and take out your garbage. This makes it harder for burglars to decide whether or not you’re away.

5.   Carbon Monoxide is Something Not To Be Played With

Carbon monoxide is a naturally occurring gas that is both manufactured and utilized by the human body. For this reason, many people don’t understand how dangerous it can be in excessive amounts. Trust us when we say it can be deadly.

As a tasteless and odorless gas, carbon monoxide could be present in your home without anyone knowing. It is also lighter than air so it tends to move to the lowest places of a home, including the ground floor or the basement. If carbon monoxide makes it to the upper floors it’s already at high enough levels to be fatal.

When humans inhale carbon monoxide it binds with hemoglobin, thus interfering with how well the hemoglobin functions. One of the main tasks of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen cells to various parts of the body. When it’s bound with carbon monoxide it can no longer perform that function. In essence, excessive levels of carbon monoxide in the blood can literally suffocate a person from the inside out.

Carbon monoxide is not something that should be taken lightly. If your home is equipped with a gas or oil furnace, a gas or oil-fired water heater, or gas appliances in the kitchen, the potential exists for carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s imperative you have your appliances carbon monoxide detector and heating/water systems checked on a regular basis to make sure they are function properly.

These tips along with your normal safety regiment should ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Who's Knocking At Your Door

In the era of overseas call centers and "voicemail hell" the door to door(D2D) salesman has reemerged. Whether a company calls it consumer direct, up and down the street(UDS), consumer interaction, its all door to door. This sales method has been used as an effective tool in workforce development as it allows teenagers, laid off older workers, and those with background issues enter/reenter the workforce. There are not for profits who train individuals to go into D2D sales careers.

Recently, there have been some post about D2D salesman who are allegedly misrepresenting themselves and companies. Specifically, ADT Security and Comcast have been mentioned. Because of the nature of D2D sales and Independent Sales Organizations(ISO's) its almost impossible to pinpoint who is responsible. So I think its time to take a hard look at who's who and what's what.

The first group that needs to be looked at is:

1. 3rd Party Energy Companies - Many of the companies (IGS, Direct Energy, Veridian, Ambit, etc) have both ISO's and direct reporting D2D salesman. The D2D salesman are independent contractors(commission)  so they might be a little more aggressive in their sales approach. Walking 8-10 blocks in the cold weather and no sales doesn't make anyone happy. ISO's hire independent contractors and some might not be well suited for this kind of work and not well trained. In the D2D situation, they should have branded clothing as well as a picture ID. The better ISO's also have their reps wear picture ID's with the company name and contact information.

Please be alert as most Chicago area residents are opting into the City of Chicago energy plan with Integrys. Integrys does not use sales reps and some 3rd party D2D reps are engaging in slamming. Slamming is they are illegally changing residents energy providers without their knowledge. Some of the providers have exit fees and tie you into contracts. Over the next couple of days, please check your utility bill and especially any senior, to ensure you or they have not been slammed.If you feel you are a victim contact the Illinois Commerce Commission(ICC). Also, you can check energy rate from various providers at Plug In Illinois.

2. Home Alarm Companies-  Whether it's ADT, Protection One, Monitronics or Viviant, etc have both ISO's and direct reporting D2D salesman. ADT does not have D2D salesman while the others have D2D salesman are independent contractors(commission)  so they might be a little more aggressive in their sales approach. ISO's hire independent contractors and some might not be well suited for this kind of work and not well trained. In the D2D situation, they should have branded clothing as well as a picture ID. The rep should introduce himself as a rep from the authorized dealer of XYZ company and not as an employee. The better ISO's also have their reps wear picture ID's with the company name and contact information.

3.Satellite Television- The companies in this category are DirecTV, Dish Network. Neither company has a direct sales staff but use ISO's.  ISO's hire independent contractors and some might not be well suited for this kind of work and not well trained. The companies allow ISO's to wear branded clothing. The better ISO's also have their reps wear picture ID's with the ISO's company name and contact information.

4. Cable TV/Internet/Telephony- The companies include WOW, Comcast, AT&T, Clear/Sprint. All these companies have both D2D sales employees and ISO's. Comcast, WOW, and AT&T require all D2D reps and ISO's to wear picture ID's. The ISO's must represent themselves as such. Currently Comcast and WOW have sales reps and equipment retention reps. You will only get a call from an equipment retention rep only if you are deliquent or disconnected service and did not return equipment(settop boxes, internet modems, etc). Clear/Sprint has ISO's.

Hopefully, this clears up any confusion and equips residents to be prepared. The first rule is always follow your gut. If you have doubts or suspicious about anyone knocking on your door ask for ID or ask them to leave the information and you will call them if interested.