Lakewood Civic

Let the Baytown police know if you can identify this subject in the photo and video below. He was spotted on the victim’s  camera on S. Burnett, when a burglary of a motor vehicle was reported. Across the street,  there was a theft of lawn from a motor vehicle, during night shift.

Many citizens in Baytown have home alarm systems that are not registered/permitted with the city.

This is a contact issue for the police department: When the signal or call comes in they attempt to contact the homeowner and many are at work or not at home and they do not have a second or alternative contact number to reach someone.  Many of these are false alarms and are taking officers off the street to check out a false alarm.

Refer to “Alarm Permit Information and Instructions” per the Baytown city website. Here are the highlights:

1. All residential alarms that can emit a signal intended to summon police or fire services must have a city permit issued. Responsibility for obtaining an alarm permit is upon the alarm system user.  Failure to comply, per Baytown Code of Ordinance, Chapter 30, Article II, may result in a misdemeanor violation punishable by fines not to exceed $500.

2. The application for the Alarm Permit is on line and at City Hall.  There is no fee to obtain or renew an alarm permit.  However, excessive false alarms at the alarm site will be assessed fines.  There is a matrix for false alarm fines on the website.

3. The permits are valid for 1 year and must be renewed at least 10 days prior to the permit’s expiration date.

For any questions on alarm permits or applications please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (281) 420-6504.

Officer Steward Beasley wanted to share some info with our neighborhood:

“We have been finding card readers or skimmers in town for several years. If you are not familiar with skimmers, they are simply a device that has the ability to read and store your credit/debit card information. Your card information can then be pulled from the skimmer and loaded onto a blank card such as a gift card, essentially cloning your card.

As I mentioned, we have been finding these for a number of years. However, the frequency in which we are finding them is increasing. Moreover, the technology is becoming better and the ability to detect them is becoming more difficult.

The pictures below are of a skimmer that was located at an ATM at one of the banks in Baytown. Because this is an ongoing investigation I am not authorized to give specifics of the case. My intent is to show that this is a real threat and it is here in town.

We have also recovered skimmers from inside stores. In the pictures below, the faceplate is fake but professionally fabricated to look identical to the original.

Make a habit of inspecting the card reader before you insert your card. If anything looks suspicious notify an employee or call the police. Reconcile your accounts daily if you are a person who uses your card frequently and look for charges that are not yours. Remember your card will still work, if it has been cloned.

If you want to learn more about these and other trending crimes as well as how we catch these criminals you should sign up for the Baytown Citizens Police Academy. The first class starts Tuesday, January 31. Contact Officer Beasley if you are interested in joining the upcoming class.

If you guys could get this passed on to your folks I would appreciate it. Let me know if you have any questions.”

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

Hey everyone.  We have seen a few cases of cars being burglarized where the method of entry was a universal remote key. It appears the suspect has a key fob that he is able to program for any vehicle that he wishes. Most cases, it appears he is targeting vehicles which may have firearms inside as that is all that was taken. Many of the victim’s vehicles had a “thin blue line” sticker or some sort of tactical sticker on them. This is not specific to Baytown. Cases are being seen throughout the Houston area.

Please don’t leave weapons in your vehicle. If you are a weapon carrier, don’t advertise such via stickers on your car. This doesn’t make you tough or feared, it makes you a target.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department

This case actually happened just outside the city limits in Harris County and the police were not notified. We only found out through a family member.

Please pass this along to your neighborhood watch groups and let them know there is a con man in the area.

Male subject in a blue truck approaching elderly residents outside their home and striking up a conversation about how he did roof work for them 3-4 years ago when no such work was ever done. Male builds a rapport with elderly victim and offers to do “more work” for victim, quoting a very low price for something that would normally cost much more. (Example: $48 to black top driveway) if elderly victim agrees to the deal, male does shoddy; bogus work in about an hour or less and tells victim the price is now $500. If victim refuses to pay he threatens to call police on them.

If anyone has had this type of encounter or should anyone be solicited for something like this, please contact the police.

Stewart Beasley

Crime Prevention Officer

Baytown Police Department