Welcome to Ashford Hollow

Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. recently released Uniformed Crime Report (UCR) statistics revealing a 3.2% decrease in crime in the city for 2015 compared to the previous year. You can watch the announcement here: https://youtu.be/LXI6eLPgAD4

Burglary, theft and auto theft categories all showed decreases, with a combined 4% reduction.

Despite a 25.7% increase in murders and 23.1% increase in rapes reported, total violent crime UCR categories of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault were level with a 0% change compared to 2014 numbers.

Robberies and aggravated assaults generally make up more than 90% of violent crimes reported each year.

In 2015, robberies were up less than 1% ( .9%) and aggravated assaults decreased by 3.2%.

The most promising news is that home burglaries were down double digits for the second consecutive year with a 17.6% decrease last year, following a 13.8% drop in 2014.

NEW CRIME MAPS TO TRACK CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Tracking neighborhood crime is now easier thanks to new mapping functions available on the HPD website.

The same UCR reports and statistics will still be found on the website, however the previous map function has been replaced with the newer CrimeReports.com, which allows citizens to search for crimes in their area, receive crime alerts via email, and submit anonymous crime tips directly to Crime Stoppers.

A second map, provided by RaidsOnline, is also available through the HPD website. The website has multiple graphing and analytical tools provided by BAIR Analytics. This will allow users the ability to view density maps, and view and graph multiple data points.

Crimes.com and RaidsOnline are providing these new mapping functions to the City for free. The data is updated every 30 minutes.

Watch this short video on how to use the new features at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOEf9GC0GTo.

Explore the new crime maps at

http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cs/

Area Safety Update from HPD

At the September 2015 PIP meeting, HPD reported there has been an increase in "slider" crimes in our area of the city. Sliders are crooks who generally target women who leave their purses in an unlocked vehicle while they pump gas. To view a channel 2 news segment about the crime, click here.

HPD advises women to put their handbags out of sight and not leave their handbag on the passenger seat AND to lock their vehicle while pumping gas. Sliders look for an opportunity to commit the crime. Don't make it easy for them - lock your vehicle while at the gas pump.

HPD Active Shooter Video:
HPD Active Shooter Video- In an era when senseless killing seems to be far too common, the question is, "if you are the victim of an active shooter, will you know what to do?" HPD supports the "Run, Hide, Fight" method of dealing with an active shooter and produced a video in co-operation with the City of Houston.

To view a video produced by Alon Stivi about surviving an active shooter, click on this link.

Home Burglary Prevention Tips from the Houston Police Department

Whether leaving for the day, a week, a month or just a few hours, the Houston Police Department (HPD) suggests a few precautionary measures to make your home as burglar-proof as possible.

Many intruders enter through weak doors. Having strong doors and doorframes, including garage doors, is essential to your security. Steel doors and frames provide good security because they are harder to destroy. If you have hollow-core doors, it is recommended that you replace them with a sturdier type. There are wooden doors being manufactured to withstand a tremendous amount of pressure from would-be burglars.

Make sure to secure windows. Sliding glass doors can be secured with a locking device placed along the track. A broomstick or a wooden rod may work just as well if placed on the track between the doorframe and the door. Glass sliding doors are usually secluded from public view and special care must be taken to secure them. Bolt locks can be installed to help prevent the door from being opened or removed from its track.

Burglaries can occur when you are out during the daytime as well as just before dark. Burglars will sometimes log your departure and arrival times from and to your home. Here are some tips to help ruin their plot:

Install lights in areas around doors, walkways and driveways and put them on a timer to turn off at dawn.
Put a padlock on your fence and choose a reputable alarm company to protect your home.
When traveling, keep your home looking occupied - have someone cut your grass and pick up your mail and newspapers.
Put lights on a timer or have a neighbor turn your lights on and off.
Keep a current inventory of all your valuables. Include photos or video, and all serial numbers of all electronic equipment.
Secure any cash or jewelry left behind in a bonded storage unit.
Don't publicize your travel plans and the dates that you will be away from your home or provide updates during your vacation on Facebook, Twitter or other forms of social media.
Lastly, get to know your neighbors and report any suspicious activity immediately. Protect not only your own home, but also your neighbors' home and property.

For more information on home burglary prevention tips, view a YouTube video HPD crime prevention specialists made on protecting your home (click on this link). To learn more about HPD, visit www.houstonpolice.org and/or call the HPD Public Affairs Office at 713.308.3200.

Look Before You Lock: Keep Children Safe from the Heat

Loook before you lock flyer More than 550 children have perished in the United States since 1998 due to being left or trapped in vehicles. From 2009 - 2011, the Houston Fire Department (HFD) responded to nearly 100 children under 8 years old left in cars. More than 50 percent of these children are simply "forgotten" by their caregiver. The temperatures in a car, especially during the Houston summer months, can reach deadly levels in just a few minutes.

City of Houston Emergency Medicine Physician Director/Public Health Authority Dr. David E. Persse, cautions that if a child is trapped inside a car, it can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke, leading to permanent disability or death in a matter of minutes. Heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, can cause shock, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and damage to the brain, liver and kidneys.

In an effort to alert drivers to the dangers of leaving children locked in cars, HFD, State Farm Insurance, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) and The Woman's Hospital of Texas (Woman's) have teamed together for a new safety campaign - "Look Before You Lock." To remind drivers to be aware of their passengers, this important message will be posted in shopping malls in the Houston area during June, and new parents at TCH and Woman's will be given rear-view mirror hangers to remind them to "Look Before You Lock!"

For all drivers it is recommended to place a computer, phone, purse or wallet in the back seat as a reminder that there is a child in the car. Statistics also indicate that about 30 percent of injuries are due to children playing in an unattended vehicle and nearly 20 percent are due to caregivers intentionally leaving their children in the vehicle.

If anyone sees an unattended child in a car, call 911 and stay until help arrives. To learn more about HFD, visit www.houstontx.gov/fire.