SEQUIM — Police Chief Sheri Crain reports that crime retains “pretty normal trend lines” and “no explosion of calls,” though burglary and fraud are concerns.
“Burglaries and frauds are a serious problem for us,” Crain told the Sequim City Council on Monday.
Burglaries and other thefts rose to 365 in 2009 from 353 in 2008.
Forgery and fraud swelled to 57 reported incidents last year, nearly double the 29 reported in ’08.
Crain delivered the 2009 Sequim Police Department’s annual report to the City Council on Tuesday.
The report, which had been released in early July by former Police Chief Bob Spinks, shows Sequim officers handled 6,409 incidents last year, up slightly from 6,396 in 2008, and that the town has seen an 11.5 percent increase in core incidents since 2005.
Crain said reported robberies and rape are on the decrease, as is aggravated assault.
No homicides occurred during the past three years.
Sequim police remind residents that they are vulnerable to scammers and con artists merely by having computers, phones and mailboxes.
Anti-scam tips
The Sequim Police Department, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the National Crime Prevention Council provide these tips:
• Do not give private information over the phone or on the Internet unless you initiated the contact; it is illegal for telemarketers to request that information to verify a prize or gift.
• Be wary of mail or e-mails promising “free” vacations, foreign lotteries, cashier check scams, work at home offers or schemes that ask for your money up front. In short, never send money to anyone you don’t know.
• Beware of cheap home-repair work that otherwise would be expensive.
• If you receive an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam or a con.
Victims and those who suspect theft should file a police report at 360-683-7227 and phone one of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax at 800-525-6285, Experian at 888-397-3742 and TransUnion at 800-680-7289 to place fraud alerts on their accounts.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
