All posts by Kirk Hall

Covid-19 Thoughts

Public Service Announcements, Safety

Today (28 April 2020) I had to venture out, and what I saw appalled me.  Traffic was still not heavy, but it was a lot heavier than it should have been. It also seemed that I was the only one wearing a face mask. I saw people in vehicles (I know that you don’t have to wear mask as long as you stay in the vehicle, but how many of those people were carrying mask with them to wear when they reached their destination), on the street, in businesses and even waiting for buses, all without masks. To me it was an indicator that the people I was seeing did not care if they were carriers of the Covid-19 virus, and were willing to spread it to others, just so they did not have to wear a mask.

I understand the desire of people to get out of the house, see friends, do the normal things we all did before the Pandemic hit.  Unfortunately, the Pandemic is NOT OVER, and stopping the precautions prematurely, will surely backfire.  I hope I am pessimistic, but I am looking for a strong resurgence in the Covid-19 infection rates  in the near future, because of the premature stopping of the precautions.

Our Neighborhood has a large percentage of  seniors, who are more vulnerable to serious complications if they contract Covid-19. We still do not know enough about Covid-19 to deal with it as we would other diseases. We do know that it is highly infectious and easily transmitted. We know that wearing face masks helps protect others if we are unknowing carriers of the virus, by keeping the virus in our coughs and breathing from traveling far enough to infect others (hopefully).

Please do not listen to the politicians, who want to please their supporters by declaring that it is OK to stop the precautions we have been taking, even though it is these same precautions which have helped slow the spread of this disease. Listen to the scientists who are recommending caution and saying that if we are not careful Covid-19 infections will come roaring back and more will die. This is shown historically during the 1918 influenza Pandemic. Seattle and San Francisco relaxed restrictions after the Armistice that ended WWI.  That resulted in a 2nd wave of infections which destroyed many more lives.  Don’t let this happen to us.

My wife commented that resuming normal life too soon is like sending all the firefighters home as soon as the forest fire is beaten down.  Experience has shown that hidden hot spots can easily reignite the fire and unless precautions have been taken to keep firefighters on hand until it is certain that the fire is completely out you have to fight the fire a second time.

FAKE Covid-19 Testing

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements, Safety

I just read a report from Kentucky about FAKE COVID-19 testing stations.  These people are charging up to $250 per test.  They set up in parking lots, often after convincing churches or similar organizations of their legitimacy. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/fake-coronavirus-testing-sites-probed-in-kentucky/ar-BB128lBH?ocid=spartandhp .

Please be aware and spread the word about these lowlifes. Their test are junk and they may give you a false sense of security if they do get back to you and say you are clear.

Smash & Grab

Neighborhood Security, Public Service Announcements

Recently there have been a rash of smashed car windows within 2.5 miles of our neighborhood.  I was informed the other day of an incident which was just .30 miles from our neighborhood.  At least some of these “Smash & Grab” attacks were against cars which had visible items in them.  Others were probably designed to get personal information to use in identity theft or just to rifle the cars for anything left in the glove compartment, console, trunk, etc.

We are all guilty of leaving things in our cars. Sometimes we say to ourselves “My laptop will be alright if I just throw my coat over it.”  Unfortunately the coat may be what the thief is looking for, and the laptop will be just the cherry on top.

Be proactive in securing your car.  NEVER leave it unlocked.  Keep items out of sight.  Try to park in areas where your car is less likely to be vulnerable. Hope for the best.

Soldier in Iraq helps capture crooks burglarizing his Illinois home

Neighborhood Security, Safety

I saw this today (23 Feb 2020).  Score ONE for the good guys.  The headline actually read : “Soldier in Iraq captures crooks burglarizing his Illinois home with doorbell camera app”.  Just shows you the weird way  the media uses the English language, because obviously the crooks were not using a doorbell camera app to burglarize the soldier’s home, but were rather caught on the doorbell camera during the burglary.  A report can be found at : https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/soldier-in-iraq-captures-crooks-burglarizing-illinois-home-with-doorbell-camera-app/ar-BB10izZI

From the video attached to the report it appears that either the soldier has multiple doorbell cameras or several other cameras by a company which started by manufacturing doorbell cameras.  The main point is that security cameras do work.  Not all the time, but often enough they provide valuable information through which police are able to solve the crime.

There are now several “doorbell cameras” being offered for sale.  The most of them have a resolution of 720P with a few having a resolution limit of 1080P, which is fine for close up work (as in viewing a person standing still in front of the camera).  When those people are on the move, or further away, things tend to get blurry. For better security you need additional cameras. Today the standard for security cameras is 4K and anything less than 4MB  or 5MB should not be considered, with one exception.  I have several WYZE cameras for inside surveillance.  They are only 1080P but have several advantages like sound activation as well as motion detection, are relatively inexpensive, offer free 14 day storage  for life, and will send messages to your smart phone. With these cameras if someone breaks into your home and steals or destroys your cameras, your images are stored off site and can be recovered anytime within 14 days.

 

 

 

Portable Camera Stations Graham Washington

Interesting Things, Public Service Announcements

I was recently chastised by one of our neighbors because of my post about home security cameras and how the police are depending on them more and more to help them solve crimes.  While I was communicating with Dav Eide who runs the technical side of our Neighborhood Camera Network and Blog he sent me the below information:

Ironically, when I was shopping with Peggy Ann yesterday at the Graham Fred Meyer, I captured some photographs of a portable camera station.

The checkers at the Fred Meyer said this equipment was placed due to a big increase in homeless folks in the area and shoplifting at that store.

The checkers said the cameras stations were helping. See attached images. I was thinking about posting the pictures.

So, bottom line.  I’m sorry if my mentioning Security Cameras so frequently upsets some of our neighbors, but in today’s world I think it is important that we provide the police all the help we can give them.  Home security cameras will provide some of that help.

Portable Camera Station- Graham Fred Meyer

FM-1

 

Car Theft 122nd & Shaw Rd.

Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security

Last night I got a notification on my “Ring” network that a red 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, WA Collector Plate Number 58139 was stolen from the vicinity  of 122nd and Shaw Rd.  This is very near our Neighborhood. Below is the full notice:Car Theft 13 FebThe police are asking for the public’s help by checking their Security Cameras  for the red Corvette. There was no picture in the “Ring” post.  I checked our neighborhood cameras from 12:36 PM to 2:19 PM on the 13th and did not find any Corvette.

Woman Killed In Home Invasion

Neighborhood Security, Safety

A woman was killed in a home invasion robbery in Lakewood, WA on 11 February 2020. The police said that there is no suspect description yet, but officers were canvassing the complex for video surveillance and witnesses.

This is just another example of how home security cameras are actively searched for by the police when serious crimes occur. In this case the victim obviously did not have security cameras, but the police are searching for neighbors who do, in the hopes that they will show the killers.

If you do not have security cameras, you ought to at least know which of your neighbors do have active cameras, as opposed to fake cameras which do have some deterrent properties but provide no evidence the police can use.  Remember, even if you do not have security cameras your neighbors might.  If the cameras were installed over 5-10 years ago, they probably need to be upgraded. Most older cameras do not have the clarity of modern cameras and may not provide usable information to our local authorities.

Mail & Package Thefts – AGAIN!!

Neighborhood Events, Neighborhood Security, Safety

Any of you who have a “Ring” doorbell have probably noticed an increase in mail and package theft being reported.  In several instances when prowlers noticed the “Ring” camera they made an abrupt turn and left. I have to wonder how many saw other security cameras mounted and never even approached the house where they would have been picked up by the “Ring”camera.

Most of the mail thefts appear to have happened at night, but package thefts normally occur during the day.  Unfortunately it is a fact of modern life that many houses are vacant during the day because all of the adults work.  That is when these sorry excuses for human beings come visiting to steal items you have worked to purchase.

In previous post I have made recommendations for avoiding being a victim of these thieves. You might go back and review these.

Dumpster Divers and Recycling Bin Explorers, Paper Shredding Anyone?

Neighborhood Security

I was talking with one of my neighbors when they told me that people had been observed in Manorwood going through the recycling bins.  It occurred to us both that the only reason people would be interested in what was in the recycling bins would be if they were looking for personal information, in order to steal identities.

It seems that every day there are more reports of identity theft. What we throw away in our recycling bin may be just what the identity thief is looking for.

For example, occasionally credit card companies will include a blank check in their credit card statement, to enable their customers to get cash advances simply by filling out the check and cashing it. The check is usually at the end of the statement along with some uninteresting verbiage, and is easy to overlook.  If you happen to throw that check away and along with it a sample of your signature, you may have given an identity thief an early Christmas present.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, perhaps it is time to think about getting one.

[1] Drawbacks – (1) You have got to discipline yourself to take the time to shred documents.  (2)  Shredded paper can no longer be recycled, it must be put in a sealed bag before it is put in the garbage.

[2] Positives – You may just save yourself a LOT of grief (but if you do you’ll probably never know that you escaped the crooks).

Officer Cooper Dyson – Additional Information

Neighborhood Events

Julie and Jim Zanner have sent this information about Officer Cooper Dyson and his parents; and would like to share it with the community.

There has been at least one sheriff car by their driveway on vigil for 24/7 since the accident, I believe they will be there for a few more days. We have spoken to the officers on duty and took coffee etc. My daughter, on Shawnee, saw on Facebook where you can donate to help the family. Cooper’s wife has a 3 yr old son, and she is expecting a baby girl in less than 2 weeks.

If anyone would like to help the family, they can go to the Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers website and donate. We have already donated some money already, and at this website we specified that the money go to the Cooper Dyson family.