Weekly Tip - Back to Basics with Burglary Prevention

Residential burglary prevention continues to be a focus of the Arcadia Police Department. Increased patrol presence, Investigators working surveillance, follow-up on leads/tips, and recovered stolen property, are all pieces to a much larger puzzle when it comes to preventing residential burglaries and property crime. One of the most important pieces of this puzzle is the resident. It is very important to discourage the would-be thief and make their job as difficult, time-consuming, and as noisy as possible.

Get back to basics...lock your doors, close your windows and secure them, set your alarm!

For additional tips visit our previous prevention post HERE.

Weekly Tip - Don't Fall for a Scam this Tax Season!

Tax season is here! While many folks will have legitimate contact with their tax accountants and the IRS, we would like to remind you of recurring fraud schemes where scammers reach out to you. One of the most widespread attempts to come between you and your money is by use of phone calls to you where scammers claim to be representing the IRS. Many times, they will threaten you with a lawsuit or pending criminal action if you don't send payment immediately. These calls can be automated and recorded, directing you to call. Don't fall for these scams!

The IRS will not:

• Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.

• Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.

• Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.

• Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

Visit the IRS website for additional information on scams.

Weekly Tip - Don't Break Any Hearts on Valentine's Day

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Valentine's Day this Friday!  But, please don't let any hearts be broken by driving under the influence and causing someone to be injured.  If you are out celebrating the holiday with a loved one, make sure to get everyone home safely!  That broken heart could even be your own, should you be arrested for DUI.

Don't Drink and Drive!

Arcadia Police Announce Name for New K9

The votes are in and the name has been selected......We are excited to introduce K-9 Kaiser!  The Arcadia Police Department would like to thank the students and staff of the Arcadia Unified School District for their participation. 

Officer Cvetkovich and Kaiser are currently in K-9 school and will be ready for patrol in early May.  We look forward to sharing their progress through their training and once they hit the streets. Please follow our K-9 program on their Instagram Page at @arcadiapolicek9. 

Weekly Tip - Involved in a Collision?

Traffic collisions can be stressful and confusing. Take the time to be prepared ahead of time so that collecting information accurately and completely will be easy. Check with your insurance agent or a local body shop, sometimes they will supply you with a pre-printed checklist that you can keep in your glove box. Another resource is the DMV. There is a page devoted to collision information, including reporting requirements to the State. See the DMV page HERE.

The first thing to do is to check for injuries to you or any other involved driver or passenger. If someone is injured, call 9-1-1 and report the collision immediately. If there are injuries that require medical attention, leave the vehicles in place until police and fire personnel arrive.

If no one is hurt and the vehicles are able to be moved, remove them from the roadway. Pull to the side of the road, into a parking lot, or on to a side street - out of traffic. Evaluate the damage and if there is substantial damage or injury, the police should be called to the scene. If the damage is minor and no one is injured, exchanging information between drivers is acceptable. Most drivers believe that a police report is always required. This is NOT the case and some agencies will not even respond to minor collisions. Absent prosecution for major collisions, death, hit and run, unlicensed drivers etc, the police report is simply paperwork for the insurance companies.

When exchanging information, record the following:

•Date, time and location of the collision

•Name, address and phone numbers of all drivers and passengers

•Drivers license numbers for involved drivers

•Insurance company name, policy number, and policyholder for all drivers or vehicles

•Complete vehicle information of involved vehicles to include the license number, make, model, color, a description such as a pick-up, four-door, etc and the name of registered owner if different

•Description of any damage

•Photographs of damage, or lack thereof, other parties and scene if safe to do so

•Note lane position of each vehicle and where the vehicles were prior to and at time of the collision

•Note any unusual conditions such as inoperative lights, vision obstruction

•Note/photograph any physical evidence like skids or debris resulting from the collision

Remember, you must carry with you and present to a police officer, your driver's license, proof of insurance and current vehicle registration when stopped by an officer or involved in a collision.

In California, it is a crime to not stop if you are involved in a traffic collision.  As mentioned above, usually traffic collisions are just paperwork for insurance companies.  When you fail to stop when involved in a collision, you can be charged criminally.  The fact that you don't have a valid driver's license or current auto insurance is not worth being charged with a Hit-and-Run. 

Be safe, slow down, and wear your seat belt!!