12/31/10:

To All Our Neighborhood Watch Personnel:

Our Latest and Greatest Crime Bulletin

With the holiday season winding down, it's time to issue our new Crime Bulletin:

- Armed Robbery:

                Two suspects held up a cab driver  in Ocean Pines at knifepoint.  It appears these are the same

                suspects involved in another robbery in Ocean City.  We are working on several leads on this ca.se

- Telephone Scam:

                A local resident was the victim of a telephone scam.  The suspect identified himself as the

                grandson of the victim.  He then stated that he was in London, England at a friend's wedding

                and had been involved in a traffic accident and needed $2,400 wired to him to cover the              

                damages.  The local resident then wired the money to the scammer!!!  Needless to say,

                another bogus caller was $2,400 richer. NEVER send money through wire transfers without

                double or triple verification, especially when it is as a result of a telephone call.

-  Alcohol Party:

                Some parents don't get it!!  They think that if they host an alcohol party for underage drinkers

                then they can control the consequences.  What they don't understand is the criminal   

                consequences of their actions, or the civil liability that could occur should someone be injured.

                A local alcohol party resulted in 11 citations for underage drinking to teenagers, 4 citations to

                adults under 21 years of age, and one adult being cited for providing alcohol to minors.

- Assaults on Parents/Guardians:

                On two different occasions, local police arrested juveniles for assaulting their parent or

                guardian.  Police are often called to settle family disputes involving juveniles, and unfortunately

                some juveniles have been known to use violence when parents attempt to enforce rules.

- Arrests on Warrant:

                On two separate occasions, police arrested wanted suspects on arrest warrants in other

                jurisdictions.  One warrant was from Baltimore County for Theft Scheme, and the other warrant

                was from Delaware for Home Improvement Fraud.

- Dui Arrests:

                Several more arrests were made for Driving While Intoxicated in Ocean Pines.

-  Attempted Scam:

                A resident received a phone call from "Amanda" who stated she was doing a school project.

                The suspect then asked the victim numerous questions until the victim hung up the phone.

                Suspect then called the neighbors and asked questions about the victim, and even called the

                victim's daughter in Colorado.  This was an obvious attempt at identity theft.

                NEVER give out personal information over the telephone to unknown individuals. 

- Snow Storm:

                Everyone knows the wonderful efforts that our Public Works Department gives us during snow

                storms.  Did you know that the Police Department also works during these events?  Officers

                respond to stranded motorists, pick up medications for house-bound individuals, and tow

                vehicles off the Parkway to enable Public Works to keep our roads clear.  Recently several

                officers braved very bad weather to make it to work, and one was stranded at the Police Station

                after working her shift.  I am very proud of these dedicated individuals who brave very bad

                roads to, "Protect and Serve" our community!

- Police Fatalities Jump 37 Percent in 2010:

                One hundred and Sixty Police Officers died in the line of duty in 2010.  That is a dramatic jump

                from one hundred an seventeen deaths in 2009.

Happy New Year to ALL! 
Take a Bite Out of Crime!!  Join Neighborhood Watch.
David C. Massey, Ed.D.

Chief of Police

Ocean Pines Police Department