Cop's Corner Published Feb. 4, 2010 By 31st Security Forces Squadron AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- On Jan. 23, a dependent of an active duty service member entered the Emergency Control Center and stated person(s) unknown damaged their 2009, Toyota Sequia . The individual secured the vehicle at 1 p.m. and returned at 2:50 p.m. and discovered scratches and dents on the front left side bumper. At Aviano, this is an all too common occurrence. Additionally, it's an infuriating one. Why? Because it is a matter of personal integrity. No one should have to pay for damage to personal property that was caused by another individual who fails to take responsibility. Therefore, if you are the one who happens to ding or dent another vehicle, do the right thing and try to locate the driver or simply leave a note. Furthermore, to decrease your chances of becoming a victim of negligent vehicle damage, try to park in wider spaces or wherever there is less vehicle traffic. Never park next to stray objects such as shopping carts or trash receptacles. On Jan. 27, an active duty service member entered the Police Services Desk and stated two purchases were charged to their Global Credit Union account without their authorization. The first charge was for $462.60 and the second charge was for $275.98. The individual stated the credit card was in their possession the entire time. These days, credit and charge cards are no longer needed to make fraudulent purchases. Only the card number itself needs to be obtained. Therefore take a few steps to prevent numbers from being acquired or unauthorized purchases being made. Carefully maintain a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a SECURE place. Additionally, save receipts and compare them to billing statements monthly. If any questionable charges are noticed, promptly notify the card issuer, preferably in writing. This provides documentation and record of notification. Never give out your account number over the phone unless you're making the call to a company you know is reputable. CRIME PREVENTION TIP OF THE WEEK: According to the National Crime Prevention Institute (NCPI), crime prevention is "The anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk, and the initiation of some action to remove or reduce it." Based on this definition, several helpful methods have been developed to achieve and implement crime prevention. The Four D's of Physical Security serves as an example. Evaluate your actions and security plan to determine if the following could be accomplished: 1) Deterring the criminal from attacking - discourage crime by maintaining visible safety and security measures to include lighting, locks, and blinds. 2) Detecting any possible criminal activity - constantly be aware of suspicious personnel or individuals who may pose as a threat in your area. 3) Delaying criminals - have multiple layers of defense to slow the progress of criminal activity making apprehension or identification possible while protecting yourself. 4) Denying criminal access to particular targets - finances, electronics and jewelry are the most popular items among intruders. Do not keep money or jewelry out in the open or large amounts on hand. Mark electronics with a driver's license number for easy identification.