National Night Out is officially the Cool Thing.

The National Association of Town Watch -- the overseers of National Night Out -- after much consideration and many conversations with the Texas Crime Prevention Association, has agreed to allow Texas to participate in National Night Out in OCTOBER...this year! Yes, that's right. If you attended the annual Coordinators meeting back in October, you will recall that Chief Zacharias announced that we were working on a plan to push for a move to October. NATW initially returned the volley with an offer of a September NNO event nationwide. As of right now, Texas will be the only state in the nation allowed to hold an October NNO with the blessing of NATW. There is a catch. NATW is offering this compromise based upon the many complaints from Texans that more Neighborhood Watch groups and organizations might participate in National Night Out if it were held during a cooler month. So, we, as a state, have to demonstrate a marked increase in numbers this year. They gave us a cooler month. Now, we must deliver. Therefore, as you plan your annual 2008 gathering, I ask that you show your support for this initiative by scheduling your block party for the October, 2008. (The exact date is yet to be determined.) It is our hope that if we do indeed see a significant increase, the first Tuesday in October will become National Night Out in Texas permanently (and we can stay in the pool and sip cold lemonade in August). Put a tentitave mark on your calendar and let's pull out all the stops to make this happen....FINALLY.

A Christmas Tale

I'm going to tell you a little story that will help you remember one of those pesky little holiday safety tips. Remember the one about NOT leaving gifts around the tree in plain view from the street so as not to attract "bottom-feeders?" "P-shaw" to that one, some would say. Well, in the early morning hours of Christmas Eve, way out in the panhandle of Richardson, a resident was awakened by the sound of breaking glass. A bottom-feeder, cruising down the street in his bottom-cruising device, apparently spied the bounty under this resident's Christmas tree, all joyfully displayed in plain view through the front windows. A brick from the flower bed was used to break the glass to allow access to the window locks. The windows were raised and several festivally-wrapped gifts were "grinched."

I don't think this is what Clement Moore had in mind with ..."tore open the shutters and threw up the sash..."

It happens. They are out there. Our safety tips and warnings are real, usually generated from the unfortunate experiences of real crime victims. Quite simply, we can create criminal opportunity and take our chances... or not. Lock doors and windows. Close your garage door. Arm your alarm system. Hide, secure, or remove tempting targets. Padlock your gates and storage sheds. Mark your property. Change a risky habit or routine. Sacrifice convenience for better security. Think (that's all) like a criminal. Report suspicious persons or circumstances to police. Take ownership of your street, your neighborhood, and your city. By doing so, you will make it too risky for criminals to even come to Richardson. Make this a year of change in your personal security habits. 2008 may be the Year of the Rat on the Chinese calendar, but let's make it a lean year for our rats...a very lean year.

John Corbitt, CCPS
Crime Prevention Unit
Richardson Police Department