News – Page 17 – Flagler Beach Police Department

July 28, 2014

ATM Scam Prevention

Automated Teller machines (ATM’s) have become a part of everyday life and unfortunately there are those individuals within the criminal element of our society that have devised sophisticated methods designed to obtain your personal banking information. The ultimate goal of these individuals is to relieve you of your hard earned money and this information is being provided to increase public awareness regarding ATM scams. The following active “Scams” are being utilized throughout the Country;

“The Loop”: A simple blocking device is inserted into the card slot of the ATM machine in order to trap ATM cards. Unknowingly, a customer places their card into the ATM machine and enters their PIN information, while someone nearby observes and obtains the PIN information.

“Card Skimmers”: Skimmers are devices designed to read and copy the private banking information stored in the magnetic stripe on the back of all ATM bank cards. Skimmers are always attached to or put inside the credit card slot, in order to read and copy your card’s information as it is entered. The skimmer copies your account number, account balance and PIN number. These devices may also be found mounted alongside ATM machines labeled as “card cleaners”.

“Shoulder Surfing”: ATM PIN numbers can also be obtained by mounting a wireless video camera inside the ATM area. Once the victims PIN number has been obtained the suspects either replicate the stolen ATM card or follow the victim, steal the credit or debit card and then go straight to an ATM before the card is cancelled.

“Distraction Theft”: Distraction thefts do not involve the tampering of the ATM machines, they involve interrupting you while you’re withdrawing funds. The distractor may pretend to sell or give you an item, they may tell you that you dropped some money or ask you for a charitable donation. The common thread in all these “scams” is that they occur after you’ve entered your ATM card and PIN number.

In order to protect yourself from becoming a victim of an ATM “Scam” we respectfully recommend the following tips:

Avoid Outdoor ATMs: Indoor bank lobby ATMs are typically safe to use because they’re in view of bank employees and they usually have constant camera surveillance.
Look for Red Flags: There’s often an indication that the ATM machine may have been tampered; so look for loose, crooked, damaged or scratched ATM’s.
Camera Check: Look for additional cameras beyond the basic and obvious ATM security camera.
Keep it Secret: Perhaps the simplest way to protect yourself is to shield the PIN pad with one hand when you enter your PIN.
Do your Homework. Regularly checking your account balance and bank statements. This will help you spot any discrepancies and you should report any unauthorized charges to your bank.
Stay Vigilant: Be aware of your surroundings and be on guard for distractions. Whenever possible have someone you know with you at the ATM so they can alert you regarding approaching persons.

Should you have any questions about the ATM scams or tips listed above, please feel free to contact any member of the Flagler Beach Police Department so we can assist in preventing you from becoming a victim of theft.

Additional information regarding ATM “Scams” can be obtained by visiting the following websites;

http://atmscams.com

ATM Theft: 8 Tips to Protect Yourself From the 5 Most Common ATM Scams

http://fightfraud.nv.gov/scams/2008-07-22ATM.htm

July 14, 2014July 14, 2014

Sea Dune Parking

The following information is being disseminated to proactively provide valuable information to the public in regard to protecting our Sea Dunes while parking on SRA1A.

Residents and visitors should be aware that parking on the Sea Dunes is a violation of Florida State Statute 161.053 and Flagler Beach City Ordinance 5.02.04. Sea Dunes are a beautiful natural resource to our City and compliance with parking restrictions is our ultimate goal.

On SRA1A from South 7^th Street to South 28^th Street there’s no parking on the east side of the roadway and vehicles parking on the east side of SRA1A north of SR100 should park as indicated in the sample photo’s below. Flagler Beach Police Officers monitor Sea Dune parking throughout the year and once again our goal is to preserve the dunes with compliance from motorists.

Your assistance in helping protect our Sea Dunes is greatly appreciated and if you have any questions about the information listed above, please feel free to contact Captain Doughney or any member of the Flagler Beach Police Department.

June 6, 2014

Bicycle Theft Prevention

The Flagler Beach Police Department has noticed an increase in thefts of bicycles in our residential neighborhoods. The theft of bicycles from residential neighborhoods can be considered “crimes of opportunity” and the following information is being disseminated to the public in an effort to reduce the “opportunity” from occurring.

o Don’t leave bicycles unattended. If you can see an unattended or unlocked bicycle from the roadway, then a would-be thief can see it too.

o Close your garage doors. Unsecured bicycles in open garages are easy targets.

o If you leave your bicycle in a carport or outside for any period of time, lock it up.

o Always lock your bike’s frame and wheels with a high-quality, modern U-lock (with a disc/flat key).

o Use a U-Lock instead of a cable lock. U-Locks are solid steel and are very hard to cut. Cable locks can be cut easily.

o Record your bike’s serial number and take a picture of the bicycle.

o Be a good neighbor and watch for suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

o Contact your local Law Enforcement agency to report suspicious activity.

Some poor examples of locking your bicycle;

The correct way to secure your bicycle; both the frame and the wheels are locked.

If you have any questions about the information, please feel free to contact Captain Doughney or any member of the Flagler Beach Police Department.

April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

Traffic Safety – Motor Vehicle, Bicycles & Pedestrians

Spring is upon us and with the warmer weather comes the opportunity for our citizens and visitors to explore and enjoy our beautiful City. The following information is respectfully provided so that motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians travel safely while on our roadways and enjoy all that our City has to offer.

Under Florida State Statute a bicycle is considered a vehicle and a person in control of a vehicle on a street or highway is considered a driver. The following information is covered by Florida State Statutes.

A bicycle operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from 500 feet to the front and both a red reflector and a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from 600 feet to the rear. The lamps are permitted to flash. Additional lighting is permitted.
A bicycle rider or passenger under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted, fastened securely and meets federal safety standard for bicycle helmets.
A cyclist may not wear a headset, headphone or listening device, other than a hearing aid, while riding.
A driver, which includes a bicyclist, must obey all applicable traffic control devices. This include stop signs and traffic signals.
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other non-motorized vehicle.
Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or bicyclist.
Cyclists may ride two (2) abreast only within a single lane and when not impeding traffic. Cyclists may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
A pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than a (marked or unmarked) intersection crosswalk or a marked mid-block crosswalk shall yield to all vehicles on the roadway.
When a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
When a pedestrian is trying to cross a public street or highway, guided by a dog guide or carrying in a raised or extended position a white cane or walking stick, an approaching driver is obliged to bring his vehicle to a full stop before arriving at such intersection or place of crossing and, before proceeding, shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian.
If a mobility-impaired person (using a guide dog or service animal, a walker, a crutch, an orthopedic cane, or a wheelchair), is in the process of crossing a roadway at an intersection, drivers approaching the intersection must stop before arriving at the intersection and take reasonable precautions to avoid injuring such a pedestrian

If you have any questions about the information listed above, please feel free to contact Captain Doughney or any member of the Flagler Beach Police Department.

3ft crossing

April 3, 2014

Auto Theft Prevention

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Report there were an estimated 721,053 thefts of motor vehicles nationwide in 2012; totaling 4.3 billion dollars in losses. The following proactive tips are provided to assist with the prevention of auto thefts.

Turn your car off. Never leave your car running and unattended. Vehicles are commonly stolen at ATM’s, convenience stores, etc.
Lock it up. Lock your vehicle, roll up the windows, close the sunroof and make sure you take the keys with you. If you have a garage, use it. When your vehicle is parked in the garage roll the windows up and lock it.
If your vehicle has an alarm or an anti-theft device, use it.
Hide your valuables. Items of value that are left in plain view attract thieves.
Don’t hide keys. Thieves know where to look, so please don’t hide keys in or on your vehicle.
Park in well-lit areas with plenty of pedestrian traffic, or when possible, in attendant lots. If you have to leave a key with the attendant/valet, leave only the ignition and door key.
Consider installing a GPS tracking system. When your car is stolen, this tracking system will emit a signal to the Police of your vehicle’s location. This may help the Police recover your vehicle faster and may minimize the damage to your car.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) recommends a “Layered” system of protection and a brochure outlining the “Layers” of protection can be accessed and downloaded from the NCIB website. The attached link is provided in regard to the brochures; https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/brochures

Should you have any questions about the tips listed above, please feel free to contact any member of the Flagler Beach Police Department so we can assist in preventing you from becoming a victim of auto theft.

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014

City Ordinance Awareness – Animals

The 1^st day of spring is a week from today and very soon we’ll see an increase in visitors and residents walking their companion animals throughout the City. The following information is being provided in an effort to increase visitor and resident awareness regarding City Ordinances related to Animals and their owner’s responsibilities.

Sec. 5-16. Duty to remove animal waste: The owner of every dog shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his dog(s), except on the owner’s property. Any person walking a dog on the public beach or public property must carry the appropriate equipment to remove and dispose of any excreta deposited by his dog(s). No owner of any animal shall permit or allow the accumulation of animal droppings, feces, urine, or other animal waste on any property.

Sec. 5-20. Dogs and other animals in Wick line Park or Veteran’s Memorial Park: It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having under his or her control any dog or animal to permit such dog or animal in Wickline Park or Veteran’s Park. The provisions of this section shall not be intended to apply to seeing-eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons, when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place.

Sec. 5-26. Duty of care: It shall be the duty of every animal owner or person having charge, care custody, or control of any animal to prevent his or her animal from causing physical injury to any person, or damage, injure, harm or destroy the property or animal of another person.

Sec. 5-27. Leash requirements: No animal shall be allowed on any public beach or public property or right-of-way unless the person having charge, care, custody, or control of such animal has the animal on a leash not exceeding eight (8) feet in length.

Sec. 6-5. Dogs on beach: It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having under his or her control any dog or animal to permit such dog or animal upon the Atlantic Ocean Beach within the corporate limits of the city, from North Tenth Street to South Tenth Street.

The provisions of this section shall not be intended to apply to Seeing Eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons, when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place. Dogs must be on a handheld leash/harness, not to exceed eight (8) feet in length, and under the control of the owner/handler.

Sec. 5-29. Noisy animals; nuisance: It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care and control, any animal, in a continuing or repeating manner, to bark cry, howl, screech, squawk, scream, whine, or cause noises which disturb the comfort, peace, quiet or repose of any person residing in the vicinity. Upon the receipt of documentation of a complaint from a law enforcement agency or a statement signed, sworn and notarized by three (3) or more residents of Flagler Beach who reside in separate dwellings in the vicinity of the animal(s) or incident(s), alleging that a violation of this section exists, the animal control/services officer shall have reasonable cause to determine that a violation of this section has occurred. The statements must set forth the pertinent facts relating to the incident(s), including the time, date, and location, the address or location of the owner of the animal(s) as well as the address or location of the complainants.

Sec. 5-30. Confinement of dangerous animals: (a) The owner of any dangerous animal shall confine the animal within a building, cage or other secure enclosure and shall not take said animal from said building, cage or secure enclosure unless said animal is securely leashed, tethered, chained, muzzled, anesthetized and/or otherwise restrained so as to protect persons and other animals; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to law enforcement or rescue animals actually engaged in law enforcement or rescue operations. The owner of any dangerous animal shall also post appropriate signage on his or her property at the entrance to any building or enclosure in which the animal is confined notifying the public of the dangerous animal.

Should you have any questions about the aforementioned City Ordinances, please feel free to contact the Flagler Beach City Clerk’s Office or the Flagler Beach Police Department for assistance.