 "Photo: David Walters/The Daily Gamecock")
"This is a crash course on crime prevention," Corporal Amanda Jordan said.
Richland County Sheriff's Department's Community Action Team hosted a crime prevention class Thursday evening at the Ballentine Recreational Center in Irmo to help citizens learn more about Internet safety and how to stay safe in the spring.
The meeting had a town hall feel with Jordan knowing most of the members in the room. It began with the members going around the room stating their names and what neighborhood they live in. Jordan wanted everyone to see how diverse the group was and the importance of joining together to fight crime.
Most of the attendants were the crime watch members or homeowner's association members in their neighborhoods and had come to learn how to keep themselves and their neighborhoods safe.
"You guys are our best eyes and ears, our first line of defense," Jordan said. She said it is important to report any suspicious activity within your neighborhood.
"The more bad guys that see that citizens know their role in crime prevention, the less crime there will be," Jordan said.
The most common springtime crime is garage theft. As the weather gets warmer and people work in their yards more, they are more likely to leave garage doors open and unattended. By simply keeping the garage door shut, homeowners protect themselves from having lawn mowers, power tools and other valuables stolen.
Auto break-ins have also been on the rise. Jordan said it is important to take all valuables out of the car. Most break-ins happen between midnight and 5 a.m. With the economic downturn, securing GPS systems, laptops and other things commonly left in the car is especially important since many people are now looking for a quick buck.
"My challenge to y'all is to take these safety tips and guidelines back to your community," Jordan said.
Internet safety was also a big part of the class. With many grandparents in the audience, Jordan worked to inform them about how to stay safe online, and make sure their grandchildren were doing the same.
She gave tips such as teaching their grandchildren to limit the amount of personal information given out, only view secure sites and avoid chat rooms.
Sheriff Leon Lott also provided ComputerCOP software for everyone in attendance. The software monitors all sites visited and also allows the user to set up parental controls on the computer.
Jordan said she hopes to offer two more community safety courses, one before local schools start and one around the holiday season. Each of the courses will have a focus that is reflective of the time of year.
"We want you to be well prepared, armed with knowledge and knowing what to do," Jordan said.
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