Regardless of where one lives around the world, theft is bound to occur, and military installations are no different.
Harry Eckman Jr., Directorate of Emergency Services deputy chief of police and Military Police Investigations supervisor, fears that residents often develop a false sense of security due to living with the installation's access control points. He said some perceive it as being a "gated community."
According to DES, the installation has had approximately 113 thefts over the past year from residences, storage sheds, barracks or vehicles.
"Although this is a slight increase from the year before, this is still a remarkable statistic and one that the community can be proud of collectively," Eckman said. "It takes everyone working together to keep our communities theft free and safe."
He said the Fort Leonard Wood community, in general, does a great job securing valuables and watching out for others in their community. He also said it can be easy to forget to shut the door to a shed or leave a window down in a vehicle, creating a target of opportunity for someone looking to steal something of value.
"Being a victim of a crime is never the fault of the victim," Eckman said. "Just because someone fails to secure their house, storage shed or vehicle does not give anyone else the right to exploit that fact and commit a crime. However, in almost every case where a misdemeanor theft occurs, there were things that the victim could have done in an attempt to prevent the incident from occurring."
There are several things DES recommends residents get in the habit of doing in order to prevent becoming the next theft victim.
At home:
-- Secure valuables from your yard
-- Lock up bicycles kept in carports
-- Secure storage buildings
-- Do not keep valuables in plain view
-- Secure windows and doors
In the car:
-- Do not keep valuables, such as military equipment, cell phones or laptops, in plain view when leaving your vehicle for any amount of time
-- Roll up your windows
-- Lock your doors
In the barracks:
-- Secure your valuables
-- Do not keep valuables in plain view
-- Secure windows and doors
Eckman also recommends purchasing a low-cost video surveillance system, which can help solve a crime and act as a deterrent.
It is also recommended that individuals document all high-value items with pictures and serial numbers to assist in the recovery if they are stolen and to help in identifying the suspect.
"If an unfortunate event occurs and someone falls victim to a theft, try to remember everything about the incident. Sometimes just a very vague description of someone you saw just prior to the theft can be all that is needed to solve the crime," Eckman said. "Our investigation section does a super job at getting after those crimes that have some lead, no matter how small it is, which can be investigated. In fact, the sections solve rate for this year is just over 64 percent."
Unfortunately, theft of property is not the only thing individuals should be concerned about. DES warns that credit- and debit-card theft and unauthorized use has become a major concern.
Eckman explains that even though most customers of most credit/debit card companies are financially protected when it comes to fraud, customers may liable for unauthorized charges in cases of negligence or carelessness in keeping their card secure.
"For example, several credit/debit card fraud victims reported having provided their cards/PINs to their friend/battle-buddy or even co-worker to use to buy the victim something from the store," he said. "Others have had their roommate use their card without their knowledge after they copied the card information when the card had been lying out in the open."
Remember these tips for good credit/debit card security:
-- Keep your cards with you at all times, or locked up
-- Never share your card or card numbers with friends, co-workers, etc.
-- Do not write down your PINs, and especially do not have them taped to the card
-- Ensure any websites being used with your card information are legitimate to the best of your ability
-- Immediately report any loss or theft of your card to your banking institution and any theft to the police
"As with anywhere, the police can't be everywhere at once," Eckman said. "We count on everyone taking an active role in watching out for their neighbors and reporting anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to the Military Police Desk."
In non-emergency situations, Fort Leonard Wood's Military Police Desk can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 573.596.6141. Remember to dial 911 for all emergencies.
Social Sharing