Welcome to the Reading Police Department's Crime Prevention area. Here, we'll offer you tips to keep your home and yourself from becoming a victim of a crime. This page is made available with the help of Crime Prevention Officer Lt. Detective Richard W. Robbins.
TIP OF THE WEEK
"LOCK YOUR VEHICLES WHEN THEY ARE IN YOUR DRIVEWAY"
THE READING POLICE DEPARTMENT URGES ALL READING RESIDENTS TO PAY STRICT ATTENTION TO LOCKING YOUR VEHICLES AT NIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN UNDERGOING AN INCREASE SURGE IN CAR BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF READING. WE ADVISE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE VALUABLES OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES. THE SMALL INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE YOU NOW COULD SAVE YOU A LOT OF AGGREVATION LATER. REMOVE ALL PDA'S AND GPS DEVICES FROM YOUR VEHICLES AND REPLACE PLUG COVERS WHEN YOU REMOVE THESE PORTABLE DEVICES. CALL THE POLICE IF YOU SEE OR HEAR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SURE IT MAY BE IMPORTANT, STATISTICS REVEAL THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT YOUR FIRST INSTINCTS ARE USUALLY CORRECT.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE OUR EYES AND EARS. PLEASE CALL US!
CARJACKING SCHEME INFORMATION
Lieutenant Tony Bartolom - Florida Highway Patrol
Bureau of Investigations
P.O. Box 593527 Orlando , FL 32859
CLICK ON THE ADOBE PDF ICON ABOVE ABOUT THIS NEW SCHEME.
Crimes Against Property
Without a doubt, your best defense against a break into your home are the following four items:
Good locks on solid entry doors.
Getting to know your neighbors and watching each other's property.
A reliable alarm system.
Motion detector lights outside your home at night.
Never hesitate to report strange, unfamiliar or out of place persons or vehicles in your neighborhood to the police. By doing so, an officer can respond and take note of the person's presence in the area. The police are ALWAYS happy to respond to such calls. You can assist the police by being the eyes and ears of the police as we can't be in all places at all times. You may make such reports anonymously if that is your wish.
Sgt. Robbins and his staff are happy to assist neighborhood residents by attending Crime Watch meetings hosted by you or one of your neighbors in your homes. By doing so, you have the opportunity to meet those neighbors around you, ask questions of police officials and make each other aware of ways to keep your homes safe from burglars.
Feel free to contact Lt. Robbins at the Reading Police Department if you have any other questions at: 781-944-1212
To prevent your car from being stolen, take the following preventive actions:
ALWAYS lock your car when leaving it, even if only for a moment.
DON'T leave packages and valuables visible inside. Lock them in the trunk.
CONSIDER using an anti-theft device such as an alarm, the "Club" or a LOJACK unit.
At night, park your car in a well lighted area.
Crimes Against the Person
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is an issue that more people are aware of each and every day. The following are some penalties for violation of a "restraining" or "protective" order:
Violation of Protective Order, MGL c209A, s.7 & c208, s.34C - Imprisonment for not more than 2 1/2 years or a fine of not more than $5000 or both.
Stalking, MGL c265, s.43(a) - Imprisonment in the State Prison for not more than 5 years or a fine of nor more than $1000., or imprisonment in House of Correction for not more than 2 1/2 years or both
Stalking in Violation of a Restraining Order, MGL c265, s.43(b) - Imprisonment in State Prison or jail for not less than 1 year and not more than 5 years. NO SENTENCE UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE REDUCED LESS THAN THE MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM OF ONE YEAR.
Stalking - Subsequent Offense, MGL c265, s43(c) - Imprisonment in the State Prison or jail for not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years. NO SENTENCE UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE REDUCED LESS THAN THE MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM OF TWO YEARS.
Assault, MGL c265, s.13A - Imprisonment for not more than 2 1/2 years in the House of Correction or a fine of not more than $500.
Assault and Battery, MGL c265, s.13A - Imprisonment for not more than 2 1/2 years in the House of Correction or a fine of not more than $500.
Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, MGL c265, s15A(b) - Imprisonment in the State Prison for not more than ten years or a fine of not more than $1000., or imprisonment in jail for not more than 2 1/2 years.
Threatening to Commit a Crime, MGL c275, s.2 & s.4 - Imprisonment in the House of Correction for not more than 6 months or a fine of not more than $100.
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