An important part of any community is a good quality of life. Residents should feel safe to live in and walk around their neighborhood. In modern times we rarely find communities who don’t lock their doors at night.
Our community of Shorewood on the Sound is no different. We have seen increased crime as the areas around us develop and spill into our quiet corner of Burien. It is not all from outside our area!
Some of the crime is most likely perpetrated by “person or persons unknown” living (or visiting) in our community, according to the King County Sheriff Department Crime Prevention Coordinator for Burien. He based his observation on the types and locations of incidents and many years of experience. We have to stop this from becoming a norm.
What is the answer?
Many things – and they all start right here in Shorewood.
- We do not have strong Block Watch areas.
- We all don’t know who our neighbors are and who their children are.
- It’s not nosey, it’s neighborly.
- How can we tell if something or someone looks out-of-place if we don’t know what should be in place?
Block Watch is such a simple program that takes so little time and yields a huge benefit – increased safety in your own neighborhood.
I encourage you to learn more about the Block Watch Program and organize one in your own neighborhood.
Safety Resources
Online Reporting System – You will be able to report your incident without waiting and be able to print a copy of the report WWW.ReportToSheriff.org
When can you use the online reporting system?
- It’s not an emergency
- It’s not an in-progress crime
- There is no suspect information and no evidence
- Have a valid email address
The King County Sheriff Website has some good information. We have copied some of it and presented it here. Visit their site for more information.
Vacation House Check – did you know if you are going to be out of town for a period of five (5) days or longer, the Burien Police Department provides vacation house checks? Fill out and submit the form.
City of Burien Crime Statistics Map
- King County Sheriff Table of Contents & Phone Numbers
- Community Involvement & Block Watch Program – Learn about Community Oriented Policing and how you can make your neighborhood a safer place with a Block Watch program
- Home Security – Basics Some basic tips to keep your home secure
- Home Security – Doors & Locks Learn about doors and the types of locks you can use to secure them
- Home Security – Windows Read about ways to secure your windows and things to consider when evaluating an alarm system for your home
- Vehicle and Bicycle Safety Guidelines to help prevent a vehicle or bicycle theft
- Personal Safety Ways to keep yourself safe in your vehicle, in your home and on the street
- RCW 9.35 Identity Crimes
- ID Theft Affidavit
- Pretexting – Your Personal Information Revealed
- Public Law 105-318 – Identify Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998
- ID Theft – When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name
- Identity Crisis – What To Do If Your Identity is Stolen
- Getting Purse-onal
- Public Law 104-208 – The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Fair Debt Collection
- Fair Credit Reporting
- Electronic Banking
- How to Dispute Credit Report Errors
- Avoiding Credit and Charge Card Fraud
- Credit and ATM Cards – What To Do If They’re Lost or Stolen
Child Safety
IF YOU ARE A PARENT, YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD
Most parents want to educate their children about sexual abuse, but they don’t know how. Remember, you can’t tell a child too much. Knowledge doesn’t stimulate inappropriate behavior-ignorance does. Parents who talk openly with their children will be approachable (“askable”) parents, and children will feel more comfortable in bringing their worries and concerns to them in the future.
HERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS EVERY CHILD SHOULD KNOW
- Their own address and telephone number.
- Where to go in an emergency.
- Not to talk to strangers.
- Never to get into a stranger’s car.
- Never to accept candy or gifts from strangers.
- To always play in safe places.
Sex Offenders
Sex offenders have always lived in our communities. However, it wasn’t until passage of the Community Protection Act of 1990 (which mandates sex offender registration) that law enforcement agencies routinely tracked where sex offenders were living.
The King County Sheriff’s Office is releasing information on registered sex offenders in King County in accordance with the Community Protection Act of 1990 and related statutes. This information is not intended to create alarm or panic. Our intent is to inform our citizens and to enhance community safety and awareness.
These individuals have served the sentence imposed by the courts and in compliance with the Community Protection Act, have advised the King County Sheriff’s Office that they will be living in King County. Please note that these individuals are not wanted by the police at this time. In addition, because there are no court ordered restrictions about their residences, the King County Sheriff’s Office has no legal authority to direct where a sex offender may or may not live.
Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated. In fact, such abuse could end law enforcement’s ability to notify the public. The King County Sheriff’s Office believes the only person who wins if community notification ends is the sex offender, since sex offenders gain their power through secrecy.
Click here to check a Zip Code Map
A search performed by Zip Code on April 5, 2002 resulted in a 66 (+5) registered sex offenders in our Zip Code (98146) and all adjacent Zip Codes. There are also almost 200 homeless/transient registered offenders in the area. This is all the more reason to know your neighbors, especially if they have children.