Home

Crime prevention

Posted January 15th, 2009 by lindasue

We are taking additional steps to increase the safety of our homes and are asking for your assistance.    You will soon notice No Trespassing signs in your yards.   These must be in place for the Trespassing Waivers we are filing for each of our homes.   This waiver is filed with the police and gives them permission to question and  take in anyone who is loitering around our properties if they cannot prove that they either live there or have legitimate business being there.

As always, please report any non-emergency criminal activity you witness or discover to (615) 862-8600.

Please let us know if you need additional outside lighting or shrubbery trimmed.

  • In parking lots, always be aware of your surroundings
  • Don't display large sums of cash. Use credit cards and personal checks whenever possible.
  • Always have your car keys in your hand when walking in parking areas.
  • When possible, take walks or run with a friend or spouse.
  • Most malls provide security personnel to escort you to your vehicle. Don't be ashamed to ask!!
  • Never leave valuables in plain view inside your vehicle. This is what many criminals look for, an easy target.
  • Always scan the parking lot or the street around your house for suspicious persons or vehicles before you park and exit your vehicle.
  • Report all suspicious persons and vehicles to Metro Police and your neighborhood watch or association immediately.

Neighborhood associations and neighborhood watches are essential to a safe neighborhood.   Please consider joining your neighborhood watch or association and reporting any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity.   They will share your info with your nieghbors as well as pass it along to the police.

For Sylvan Heights, contact:
Svetlana Stepanovic
svetstep@yahoo.com
615-498-4544

http://www.sylvanheights.org/

http://www.sylvanheights.org/watch.cfm

http://www.sylvanpark.org/

EMAIL 

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/nashville/sylvanpark/


Please take an active interest in any persons hanging around alleyways or houses where they appear not to belong, or who act uncomfortable when seen. All non-emergency situations like this should be reported to 862-8600 (emergency situations should of course be reported to 911).

Our experience is that the Metro police respond quickly to reports of suspicious activity. If you have a different experience, your Sylvan Park Neighborhood Watch would appreciate hearing about it at 780-1199. Of course, we'd also like to hear of exceptional performance as well.

We appreciate and need your help in keeping Sylvan Park a great place to live.

BOLO Program

Sylvan Park was one of the first neighborhoods to become involved in the Be On the LookOut program sponsored by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

Several residents of Sylvan Park have been through police training sessions and have been issued official BOLO identification cards, magnetic car signs, hats and jackets. They were also issued special cell phones that can only call the two police numbers (911 and 862-8600).

These residents now patrol the Sylvan Park area at different hours of the day and night, to report situations warranting further attention. They do not attempt to apprehend or arrest anyone.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Sylvan Park BOLO Patrol, contact Doug Eckert at , or attend a Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association meeting at Cohn Adult Learning Center, held the second Monday night of every month at 7 p.m.
How and where can I report street drug (or gambling, narcotics, prescription drug fraud, or other vice) activity?

There are several things you can do:

To report narcotic and street prostitution, you can call the police precinct in which the activity is occurring:

 Central: 862-7611
 East: 862-7600
 Hermitage: 880-1776
 North: 862-4410
 South: 862-7744
 West: 862-7747

Crime Stoppers Gang Hot-Line

In 1999, the Gang Hot-Line was established to enable citizens to call in and report gang activity or information on gang members. Callers will remain anonymous to prevent any fear from retaliation. All information will be given a file number, and the same file number will be used on any related additional information from a caller.

A special telephone line has been installed in the Metro Police Department for citizens to call and report gang information, the Gang Hot-Line, 862-GANG (862-4264). It will be manned between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Operation Identification

What is Operation Identification?
Operation Identification is a theft prevention program that involves marking property with an identifying number to alert thieves that all valuables in the home are marked for identification purposes. Operation Identification is an excellent community project which promotes neighborhood cooperation and citizen awareness of crime prevention strategies.
Why is it important for me to participate in OP ID?
When an item is recovered by the police department every effort is made to locate the owner. In many situations this is attempted primarily by checking the item for identifying marks and checking the serial number in the computer to determine if the item has been reported stolen. When an owner reports an item stolen to the police and he does not have the serial number(s), the item will not be traceable via the serial number to the owner. However, if an owner has the serial number of the stolen item and this number is checked in the computer by law enforcement officers, this item will show up as a stolen item with owner information. This will allow us to return items to their rightful owners and aid in the prosecution of defendants.
How can I participate?
Four (4) Police Precincts and Ten (10) local libraries in Davidson Co. will allow you to check out an engraver, free of charge, for the purpose of identifying and marking your personal property. This would be a great opportunity for organized neighborhood watches and other groups to share the engraver with its members. Practice using the tool and then engrave property with your Driver's License number followed by the appropriate State abbreviation. XXXXXXXX TN (Where the X's are your driver's license Number)

(Example--TN. for Tennessee) Another way is to use your last name and then your postal zip code (ChongXXXXX-XXXX). You can add your zip code (or the nine digit extended zip code) so you won't be giving out any private information. (This tip comes from Lieutenant Charles Chong with the Honolulu Police Department). Some valuables such as jewelry, antiques, furs, and silverware cannot be engraved without reducing their value and should be photographed or videotaped. Don't wait until you become a victim to protect yourself. Engraving your property should be in addition to keeping a record of serial numbers and model numbers.

Engraving pens are available for checkout (like library books) at the following locations:

Police Precinct Stations
  • South Police Precinct - 5101 Harding Place
  • East Police Precinct - 936 E. Trinity Lane
  • West Police Precinct - 6730 Charlotte Pike
  • Central Police Precinct - 310 1st Avenue South
Metro Nashville Public Libraries
  • Main Library-225 Polk Avenue
  • Bellevue Library-650 Colice Jeanne Road
  • Edgehill Library-1409 12th Avenue South
  • Donelson Library-2315 Lebanon Road
  • Green Hills Library-3801 Green Hills Village Drive
  • Inglewood Library-4312 Gallatin Road
  • Lobby Center Library-2301 Metro Center Boulevard
  • Madison Library-501 Heritage Drive
  • Southeast Library-2325 Hickory Highlands Drive
  • Thompson Lane Library-380 Thompson Lane

Which items should I Mark?
Anything of value that a thief could carry away except guns or items that will be reduced in value -- write down serial numbers on those items. Many items like jewelry will have an inscription like, "To Martha With all My Love" - that is listed as a OAN (Owner Applied Number) and is just as good as a serial number in many instances. Make sure that is listed on any report taken.

  • Bicycles, Radios, Cameras, Televisions, Binoculars, VCR, Watches, Stereos
  • Hand and Power Tools, Computers, Gardening Tools, Typewriters
  • Kitchen Appliances, Musical Instruments, Sports Equipment

In addition to engraving your property, it is extremely important for you to keep a written inventory. This should include Model numbers, Serial numbers, and a complete description of the item.

Write down the serial numbers of any and every firearm you own. You can get it back if it's stolen if you record the serial numbers, model and brand name. Smith & Wesson Model 3903 - 9mm serial number 15R45678 for example. Everything electronic - VCRs, Computers, Monitors, Cameras, Radios and the like. Engrave numbers on power tools as they may have non-unique numbers. Take the manuals and registration cards when you buy something and put everyone in the same box or bag in one closet - in one place. When items are stolen - make SURE the officer or Teleserve operator gets the serial numbers. You can get your property back if recovered if you have this proof. Police will arrest persons trying to sell your valuables and you will get them returned.
IDENTIFY YOUR PROPERTY
One of the best ways that you can assist the police in recovering your stolen property is by keeping records. Record this information on a property record sheet which is provided. Be sure and use additional sheets if necessary.
WHAT IF YOUR PROPERTY IS STOLEN?
Contact the Police Department at 862-8600. Be prepared to provide the police with the serial and model numbers along with descriptions of your property. Every year police recover hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods. Often the owners have no proof that the property is theirs. A record of your property will solve this problem.

Print out the Record of Valuable Property form, fill it in and store it in a safe place. You will have a good chance to find your recovered property if your property is ever stolen.