Thousand Oaks City Watch Information Alert - 5/12/08

Here is the latest "City Watch" alert from Deputy Jim DeSoto of the Thousand Oaks Police Department. If you are interested in receiving these updates directly from him via email, click here for more information.

Crime Fighters,

Nothing is immune from thefts. Your vehicles, your personal identification, copper wiring, construction equipment, and the list is endless. Unless the object is bolted down, there is a possibility that someone might take your possessions. Now, those ‘bolted down’ objects are not secure.

Water Thefts

There have been water thefts from fire hydrants and meter boxes. The fire department, the city of Thousand Oaks, and the police department are the only entities authorized to take water without a meter attached to a hydrant or a meter box. The problem: construction companies have been attaching hoses to fire hydrants without obtaining a meter from the respective water company. Thousands of gallons of water are illegally taken when unlawful connections are made to fire hydrants. In the end, we all pay for the stolen water.

Besides the financial aspect, another concern is the possible contamination of water. Anytime someone links with a back flow device, a risk of contaminating the water supply is encountered. Many types of contracting and construction companies work with chemicals that can possibly get into the water system if water lines are illegally connected.

If you see suspected water theft, especially in construction areas, and the City of Thousand Oaks, the fire department, or the police departments are not around, please call (805-654-9511) and report the incident. The water companies will greatly appreciate it as will your fellow water customers. California American Water has been victimized many times through this type of theft. If you wish to report a suspect or actual theft to California American Water, please call Bill Weiss, Operations Specialist, at 805-498-1266 x 7828. I have included picture attachments of legal and illegal attachments to help you identify what is legitimate and what is prohibited.

911 System

Have you ever wondered how the 911 system works? Or, have you ever hesitated before dialing 911 because you were not sure that your call qualified as an emergency? If so, you now have a resource available to help answer your questions.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Communications Center is focused on providing outstanding service to people who dial 911. As part of this effort, the dispatchers have developed presentations to share “behind-the-scenes” information about the 911 system with members of the public. The program is designed to answer common questions and reduce the apprehension that some callers may have when dialing 911. The dispatchers will identify situations that are appropriate for 911 and will discuss some of the questions callers may be asked, in addition to discussing tools used to communicate with TTY users and non-English speaking callers. They will also explain the differences between using wireline and wireless devices to dial 911 and how it impacts the call-taking process.

Presentations are available for schools, churches, Spanish speaking communities, neighborhood watch groups and other service groups that have an interest in learning more about the 911 system and the resources that are available. Presentations for school age children include age appropriate information, workbooks, coloring books and stickers that illustrate the proper use of 911.

911 is a valuable tool and the public should use it whenever they need assistance from law enforcement, fire or emergency medical services.

If you would like to schedule a presentation with a member of the Community Outreach Program, please call 805-654-2774.

TOPD Explorer Program

We build and shape our collective future in several ways. Many of us have children which we instill character, ethic, morals, public service, and other important attributes. The teaching never stops. The Thousand Oaks Police Department offers an Explorer program where persons between the ages of 14 and 21 are educated in police activity and community service. They will be introduced to a law enforcement career and have a deeper understanding and appreciation on life’s challenges and important job skills. If you know someone who has an interest in law enforcement or think this Explorer program would be beneficial, please contact Sr. Dep. Hutton or Dep. Zadeh at 654-3311 or 645-9847. Sr. Dep. Hutton and Dep. Zadeh do a superb job as liaisons and guiding and working with our youth. Please visit the website at www.vcsdoptions.org/explorers.php for more information.

Continue your contributions in making our city a great city.

Take care, Jim (DeSoto)