Lakewood Civic

Thanksgiving and Christmas are quickly approaching. With this time of year comes busier than normal schedules, unexpected stops, and other obstacles that alter our every-day routines. We are all creatures of habit. When we deviate from those normal routines we sometimes overlook safety precautions we would have typically done. So, as we start counting days ‘til Christmas keep a few things in mind;

• Would-be thieves and burglars are being extra vigilant for people who are not paying attention. Watch your surroundings.
• Do not leave things of value in your car.
• Thieves have already been seen in the Houston area following the UPS and FedEx trucks. Leaving packages on your front door is not a good idea.
• Report suspicious vehicles and persons to the police.
• Make sure door-to-door solicitors have a permit from the city. If they don’t, call the police. Many times these are burglars.
• Remember to lock your doors and windows at your home.

Your neighborhood continues to be relatively quiet. I have said this many times, there is a direct correlation between crime rate in an area and the number of suspicious persons/vehicle calls… the more the police are called to investigate suspicious activity, the lower the crime rate. Please continue to be diligent in your reporting things that you deem suspicious.

Stewart Beasley

Subject: skimming devices

Hey guys. Pasadena and Nassau Bay PD are investigating skimming devices on ATM machines. Which means they are probably in Baytown too. Please pass along the info below to your groups. Below is info along with pictures of the device and people Pasadena would like to identify. You can pass that info along as well. Thanks for your help.

I often warn of “skimming devices” when I speak to groups. Skimmers are simply a device that reads and stores your credit card or debit card information. That info can then be downloaded onto blank card. At this point your card has been “cloned”. Your real card is still in your possession and will work. However, the clone card will also work and money will come from your account.

Pasadena PD and Nassau Bay PD both discovered a skimming device on ATM machines in their cities. The pictures attached are of the skimming device which also included a camera. The camera allowed the bad guys to video the PIN number associated with the card. They would also like to identify the persons pictured.

When using your cards for purchases:

• Look closely at the card reader at each location you use your card
• If something looks suspicious or tampered with, as in coloring, added hardware, entry made into sealed container, don’t use the machine and call the police
• Reconcile your accounts regularly. Remember your card will still work as long as you have money. You may not even know bad guys are using your card until you are declined.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

Incident Summary

          Pasadena PD is investigating a skimming device and spy camera that was installed onto an ATM inside a Valero located at 6335 Spencer Hwy. They are attempting to identity the two individuals in the above photo, who appeared to have installed the device. If you can identify these subjects please contact Detective Reyes.

Pasadena Police Department

Detective Mauricio Reyes

Sunday, June 21st, the LaPorte police caught a Burglar who had been operating in the City of La Porte for 2 days. His M.O. is to knock on the door of his target residence and if no one answers, he forces the door, either with a pry bar or by kicking the door in. We have recovered some property in the cases, but we still have some property not yet recovered. In addition, we have a vast amount of recovered property not believed to be related to La Porte cases, this property includes handguns, jewelry, etc. We also have a large amount of pawn slips, from pawn shops all over the surrounding Houston area and even a pawn shop in Buda Texas. There are several different names on the pawn slips.

Lessons to take away from this info:

1. Day time burglars are going to knock on your door. This has been their modus operandi forever and continues to be effective. If someone comes to your door uninvited and without the proper solicitation paperwork call the police.

2. If you are a victim of a crime, report it to the police. We catch bad guys regularly who are in possession of items that do not belong to them yet we have no victim to return them to.

3. Write down serial numbers for items and take pictures of jewelry. Serial numbers are not usually on the paperwork or the receipt from the purchase. The only thing that identifies your laptop, gun, or whatever, from anyone else’s is the serial number. Write it down and keep it in a safe place.

4. Pay attention to what is going on in your neighborhood. Burglars know people are away on vacations, baseball tourneys, and many other things. Report suspicious behavior and persons to the police.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

Lakewood Civic Association Annual Meeting
May 19, 2015

Welcome—President Randy Dickey welcomed those present and passed out agendas for the meeting.

Treasurer’s Report—Treasurer Frank McKay distributed copies of the annual financial statement, dating from 5/1/2014 – 4/30/2015. This report reflected an ending balance above last year.

Board of Directors: Randy reported that Elaine Brainard, Dell Cantrell, Spencer Carnes, Tim Christiansen (newly elected members), Mary Bagwell, Mary Ann Beltz, Randy Dickey, and Frank McKay (“carry over” members with one more year to serve) will serve as this year’s board of directors.

Deed Restrictions—Randy provided a brief overview of the basic approach the board plans to take. He noted that the attorney the board has retained to assist in this process is currently reviewing the board’s last set of revisions. He went on to explain that the subdivision of Lakewood consists of numerous sections and that the deed restrictions often vary from section to section. In some sections a 50% majority approval is needed for passage of deed restrictions; in others, that percentage is 67%.

City Charter Amendments—Randy Dickey, a member of the City Charter Amendments Committee, briefly discussed the scope and purpose of this committee which has been meeting for slightly over one year. He noted that the charter is similar to a constitution rather than a set of ordinances. In its 67 years, Baytown’s City Charter has been modified only four times. It is currently extremely out of date with regard to elections, annexations, and other city operations.

City Council Representative Report—District 3 City Council Representative Brandon Capetillo’s “State of the District” report touched on many topics. Some of them included: street improvements, “all access” and “senior access” parks, Garth Road’s traffic issues, the selection of the new City Manager, November’s bond election, and Evergreen Golf Course’s viability as a municipal course.

Lakewood Clubs—Representatives of the following presented brief reports:
Lakewood Garden Club—President Joanne Springer reminded those present that this group continues to encourage a sense of neighborhood pride through its Yard of the Month designations and awarding prizes in various categories for outstanding yard decorations at Christmas.
Boat Club—It was pointed out that a new system has been initiated that involves issuing new keys every year. Plans to upgrade the gate and install a new sign were also shared.
Lakewood Pool Club—James Springer passed out flyers with information regarding membership fees, hours, and rental fees.

Beginning the week of June 22, 2015, TxDOT will begin roadway improvements at the intersection of Rollingbrook and Decker Drive at the ExxonMobil Refinery North Gate. The eastbound Rollingbrook exit from Spur 330 will be closed from 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. daily for safety of the public while the retaining wall is demolished.

Construction on Decker Drive includes the addition of one lane on Decker Drive Eastbound from Spur 330 Rollingbrook Exit to San Jacinto Ave and a dedicated U-turn lane on Decker Drive Westbound. This construction is expected to last several months.

Please plan alternate routes during this time; Baker Road and Airhart exits will remain open. Please use caution and follow all traffic signs in the area.

New officers and positions were elected on June 11, 2015.

The 2015 -2016 Lakewood Civic Association Board member positions are: