October is National Crime Prevention Month

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michelle Armour
  • 66th Security Forces Squadron
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council designated October as Crime Prevention Month. Every year since then, October has become the official month to recognize crime prevention by promoting awareness of important issues such as victimization, volunteerism and the creation of safer, more caring communities.

The monthlong effort spotlights successful crime prevention efforts at the local, state and national levels. At Hanscom, crime prevention is a key pillar of the 66th Security Forces Squadron law enforcement efforts to ensure a safe community.

Although Hanscom has historically low crime rates, offenses still take place on base. Since last October, there have been nine crimes to people and 10 property crimes, to include damage to property and domestic violence, as well as 28 drug- and alcohol-related offenses.

The goal of the crime prevention program at Hanscom is to address the causes of crime, reduce chances for crime to occur and lessen the opportunity and desire for personnel to engage in criminal activity.

There are many ways to deter a crime from happening. Below are a few simple steps individuals can take to prevent crime.

If you are drinking alcohol, plan for a friend or family member to drive you home. Do not drink and drive.

Always secure and lock all doors in your vehicle and ensure it is properly alarmed if you have the capability. Be mindful that the most likely time for a vehicle break-in is at night. However, this does not mean vehicle break-ins do not happen during daytime hours.

When leaving your home, lock all doors and windows. In addition, secure all children’s toys, bicycles and valuable items in a locked garage. Do these things even if you live on base. If leaving for an extended period, let a neighbor know you will not be home so they can be on alert for any suspicious activity.

The earliest detection of a crime leads to a higher ability for security forces to apprehend the offender and obtain evidence in order to prosecute. To encourage reporting, Operation Crime Stop provides a designated phone line to make anonymous reports and tips.

The objective of Operation Crime Stop is to encourage base and community members to report crimes and be able to remain anonymous while doing so. Operation Crime Stop helps overcome reluctance for a witness to report a crime by allowing them to report anonymously.

Reports can include crimes in progress, school crimes, sale of illegal drugs, domestic violence or threatening acts and bullying.

To report a crime through Operation Crime Stop, call 781-225-6920. Otherwise, contact the Base Defense Operations Center at 781-225-5000. People may also dial 911 for any emergency.

While security forces presence is vital in the community to deterring crime, it is everyone's responsibility to be the eyes and ears to report suspicious activity and take proper action to prevent crimes on the installation.

For more information on Operation Crime Stop, or the crime prevention program, contact Police Services at 781-225-5605 or by email at Hanscom.Police.Services@us.af.mil.