|
|
Theft of Recyclable Materials Recycling materials are being stolen at an increasing rate in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. Materials range from copper wire and pipe to auto parts, to curbside recycling materials to even decorative park and yard fixtures. You can avoid theft by taking measures such these: *Park your vehicle inside whenever possible, use a steering wheel lock and/or alarm system if possible. *Consider etching your driver's license number on parts that have been targeted by recyclers, such as the catalytic converter. *When re-piping or remodeling, have pipes and/or wire installed in the interior of your building or home. *Paint, insulate or firmly secure existing pipes and wires in several places to make it difficult for theft. *Decorative outdoor metallic fixtures should be securely fastened, bolted or cemented. *Wait until the morning of scheduled pick up to put out recyclable materials. *Lock or secure dumpsters and bins when possible. Recycling poachers look for items of value such as aluminum cans, bottles and personal information. This crime problem has a far-reaching and negative impact on neighborhood public safety, the environment and consumer recycling efforts. As a result, you and your neighbors are exposed to increased noise, litter and possible trespassing on private property. Taking recyclables is in violation of local and state law. Municipal Health Code Sec. 293.1 states that it shall be unlawful for any person other than an authorized City employee or the City’s authorized curbside recycling program collectors to take, remove, move or otherwise appropriate the container in which recyclable materials are placed for collection and the matters contained therein. Upon conviction, a person is subject to the following penalty: *Infraction - fine not exceeding $250.00 for the 1st offense. 2nd or additional offense by a fine of not less than $100 or not exceeding $250. *Misdemeanor - a person can be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $500, or both. You and your neighbors can prevent the theft of recyclables by: *Placing your recyclables on the curb by 6 am the day of pick-up. *Shred paper with personal information. *Organize a SAFE Neighborhood Watch on your block and communicate with your neighbors and the police regularly. Call SAFE at (415)553-1984. *Never confront or stop poachers! If they are aggressive or threaten your safety, call 9-1-1 *Observe and report recycling poachers to the SFPD by calling (415)553-0123. *Call Sunset Scavenger at (415) 330-1300 or Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling at (415) 626-4000 during business hours to report the theft of recyclables. *Report online at http://www.sunsetscavenger.com/recycling_theft.htm S.F. SAFE Beware of Telephone Scam A warning from the California Highway Patrol: If someone calls up claiming to be a CHP officer, phone company employee or even a jail inmate and tells you to hit "star 72" on your phone, don't do it - it's a scam. Some people learned the hard way when they got huge phone bills for unauthorized calls, authorities said. The CHP is taking particular umbrage because some scam artists have masqueraded as one of their own, calling with supposed bad news such as the involvement of a relative or close friend in a crash. The scammer tells the person to contact another "officer" by dialing star 72 on the keypad, followed by another phone number. But star 72 is a custom feature for call forwarding. When someone punches in star 72, it causes all incoming calls to ring at the other number. Another person in on the scam is then able to accept collect and third-party calls - and the victim gets stuck with the bill. "We're trying to get the word out that the CHP will never call somebody and tell them your loved ones been involved in a crash and that they need to call this number," said CHP Sgt. Trent Cross. There are variations of this scam. Callers have pretended to be inmates who contact people "accidentally" and then say they need help calling relatives because they can make only one call. Scammers have also pretended to be phone-company technicians who need to check phone lines for problems and tell people to hit star 72 or 72 pound, depending on the service provider, so they can get "remote access." Others have pretended to be calling from a pay phone and claiming they need help to make an emergency call. Authorities recommend that anyone who is asked to punch a strange code into the phone hang up and report the call to law enforcement. Those who believe they have been victim to the scheme should press star 73 or 73 pound to turn off the call-forwarding feature. Mr. No-No's Halloween Safety Tips Halloween is such a fun time for millions of children across the country. Unfortunately, there are thousands that end up in the emergency room due to preventable accidents. So before you start picking out the perfect costume for your little goblins and begin gathering goodies, Mr. No-No has a couple of great safety tips that can help you to have a fun and safe Halloween. Decking out the Pumpkin: *Have the little one's draw the design and you be their carving assistant. Let the little goblins push in the carvings (the eyes, nose, mouth, etc.). *You scrape the guts; they pull out the guts. *Use battery operated artificial light inside the jack-o'-lantern. When Picking Out a Costume: *Pick a costume both you and your little ones can easily get in and out of. *Wear bright colors (Add a splash of neon color to your costume if black). *Don't get Wands, swords, pistols, etc… (Kids can get hurt & you end up caring them anyway). When Trick-or-Treating: *Always have them within view! Tell your little ones, "If you can't see me, I can't see you." *Nothing should be in your child's hands except for their basket. *Everyone should have a type of light stick on them at all times. Before the Sugar Rush: *Check all the treats! Throw away all suspicious and unwrapped candy. *Completely sealed candies; Submerge your candy in a bowl of water… if you see air bubbles or wet candy, throw it away. *Take treats to a court house or an airport and get it x-rayed if available. After the Sugar Rush: *Settling their tummies: Drink a glass of water or warm milk after filling up on candy. *Brush teeth immediately after eating candy. *Before bedtime do something relaxing; like read a good Halloween book. To learn more about how children can become more proactive in their own safety, you can visit them at www.MrNoNo.com Happy Halloween, Mr. No-No Fire Danger in McLaren Park McLaren Park is not only dying, but has the potential to go up in flames! I've been working on this for two years and have gotten nowhere. I was able to get them to remove tall grass from one side of the park (on La Grande Avenue) behind homes but not all. I was worried about the fire hazard. People barbecue and there isn't even access to water anywhere. When I moved here 17 years ago, it was because of the park ... and now it is dying. I contacted (Supervisors) Sandoval and Maxwell, the director of Rec and Park, and the Mayor's office, Friends of McLaren Park, Friends of the Urban Forest. I contacted the fire department in are area and the captain said it was from gardeners piling clippings. The captain before him, a year ago and other firemen said it was a tragedy waiting to happen. However, they can protect the homes. Someone is intentionally lighting fires now. The captain says it's the homeless lighting fires. If so, that is not okay. These fires are strategically located at clumps of burnt tress and right on the trail. It's obvious it is intentional. He ended with there is nothing they can do. No homeowner would get away with this.The problem is it comes out of the taxpayers pocket. No one ever would of thought the homes (in 1991) could burn in Oakland. The homes in Broadway Terrace area were not even in a area with a lot of trees. Children use this park. There are no warning signs about the dangers, especially on a windy day. Enough said. On the 20th there was another two acre fire behind the school on Brazil in the underbrush. What if this were at night and no one saw it.until the next day? The fire department was called again because hot spots were giving off smoke. Onnyx Walker |