|
 |
|
|
|
|
Known
as obscene or harassing telephone calls, is one which is made by a person who has
the intent to annoy another person with obscene language, or
threatens to inflict injury on the person or any member of his
family. The caller does not need to identify themselves or have
any conversation. It also covers those that repeatedly dial another's
telephone.
What
To Do:
(If you need police response, Dial 305-759-2469.)
-
The
investigating officer will write a incident report and give you
the report's case number.
-
The
officer will advise you to next contact the telephone company.
-
The
telephone company will mail you a packet of material, giving
you advice and requiring you to sign a form giving them
permission to place a "trap" on your telephone line.
The telephone company will ask you to
maintain a diary of annoying telephone calls for comparison
with their records.
-
If
you receive two successful (completed) calls from the same
number; and if these calls have not originated from a pay
telephone, cell telephone, or outside carrier, the telephone
company should notify the Miami Shores Police Department.
-
Upon
release and receipt of the telephone company's confidential
report to the Police Department, the Investigations Section
will re-contact the victim and conduct a follow-up
investigation.
With new technology, you may be able to
obtain the caller's telephone number electronically. Contact
the telephone company for options available.
Back
To Top |
|
|
|
|
An
"assault" is an intentional, unlawful threat by word or
act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an
apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a
well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is
imminent.
A
police officer will take a report. If possible, arrests will be
made. If an investigation is necessary, the case will be sent to
the Investigation Section for review.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
Vehicle
thefts should be reported as soon as possible. The report may be
made by the victim at the Police Department or an officer can be
sent to the victim's location.
You will need to know:
-
License
plate number and state of registration or name and city on the
registration (if the plate number is unknown.)
-
Description
of the vehicle: Color, year, make, model, etc.
-
Where
was the vehicle at the time it was stolen?
-
Are
the keys with the vehicle?
-
Does
anyone else have permission to drive the vehicle?
-
Are
your payments current? (Repossessed?)
-
If
You Find Your Vehicle:
Do not touch or move your vehicle. You
should call to report the recovery; if you do not, your car
will continue to be listed as stolen and you may be stopped by
the police who will assume the vehicle is still stolen; and
you could be treated as a possible suspect.
Back
To Top |
|
|
|
|
It
is a crime for a person to write a check when they know there are
nonsufficient funds to cover the check. Depending on the number of
checks and the amount of the checks, the crime can be a
misdemeanor or felony. If you receive a nonsufficient check on
which you have been unable to collect the funds, you may contact
the Police Department for a special nonsufficient fund form that
will be forwarded to the Bad Check Program at the State
Attorney's Office, or you may go directly to the State Attorney's Office at 1351
NW 12th Street. www.jud11.flcourts.org
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
A
battery is the actual and intentional touching or striking of
another person against their will or intentionally causing bodily
harm to another person.If the crime just occurred and/or if
someone requires medical assistance, call 911.
Conducting the Investigation:
-
A
patrol officer will ask victims and witnesses for details of
the incident.
-
The
officer will write a report and if no arrest is made it will
be sent to the Investigation Section and/or to the State
Attorney's Office.
-
The
investigator will review the case, contact the victim and
witness(es), and send the report to the State Attorney's
office for charges to be filed if possible.
Back
To Top |
|
|
|
|
Bicycles
are easy targets for thieves when unattended. Be sure to lock your
bicycle to a secure object at all times and to have an
identification number etched on your bicycle frame for easier
identification. It is best if you use a driver's license number or
state identification number as those numbers are easier to trace
back to you and return a stolen/found bicycle to its owner. The
Miami Shores Police Department currently has a bicycle
registration program available for residents.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
A
burglary is when a person enters a dwelling, structure, or a
conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless
the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant
is licensed or invited to enter. If you enter
onto the property while the burglar is still present, leave
immediately and dial 911. Do not disturb anything at the scene.
Collecting
Evidence and Making a Report:
An officer may collect evidence and will prepare a report. The
officer will ask the victim to make an inventory to determine what
was taken. Be prepared to supply the make, model, and serial
numbers of the stolen property as well as the value of each item.
Documenting
the Loss:
To document any further property loss discovered after the officer
has left the scene, the victim should complete the Miami Shores
Police Department Property Loss Form left by the investigating
officer or available at the police station. After completing the form, the victim has two options:
Mail
the additional information to:
Miami
Shores Police Department at 9990 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami
Shores, Florida 33138 or
take it to the Miami Shores Police Department to file a
follow-up report.
Follow-up Investigation:
Most burglary and theft cases receive
follow-up investigation based on investigative leads such as
fingerprints, witnesses, suspects, traceable
evidence, etc.
To
Obtain Information About Your Case:
Call the Investigation Section at 305-759-2468, Monday-Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please have your case number ready.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
Child
Abuse
Child
abuse means any willful act or threatened act that results in any
physical, mental, or sexual injury or harm that causes or is
likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health
to be significantly impaired. Abuse of a child includes acts or omissions.
Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for
disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it
does not result in harm to the child.
Reporting
Child Abuse:
Miami Shores Police Department: 305-759-2468 or
Statewide Child Protective Services Hotline: 1-800-342-9152 .
Persons reporting actual or suspected child
abuse incidents are protected by law from civil liabilities and
retaliatory lawsuits, provided the reports are made in good faith
and without malicious intent. The identities of the persons making
the reports are kept confidential and, in some cases, reports will
be accepted anonymously, if necessary.
It
is a crime for a person to fail to report physical and/or sexual
child abuse if that person has a professional/special relationship
with the child (i.e., teacher, principal, school official, doctor,
medical personnel, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc.).
When
a call is received by the Police Department, a police officer is
sent to see the victim and will conduct an initial investigation.
When the police or Child Protective Services receive a
report of suspected child abuse or neglect, an investigation is
launched. Both agencies are concerned with the safety of the child
and share information, although they have different
responsibilities during the investigation. The Police Department,
for example, concentrates on determining whether or not a criminal
offense has been committed. Child Protective Services, on the
other hand, determines the state of the victim's well-being, and
the need for civil intervention. This joint effort is for the
benefit of the victim.
Domestic
Violence:
Domestic violence is abuse committed against an adult or fully
emancipated minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant,
former cohabitant or a person with whom the suspect has had a
child or has had a dating or engagement relationship.
Domestic
Violence needs to be reported!
Call
911 in an emergency.
Because of state law, if a police officer witnesses injuries on a
victim in any domestic violence case, the officer must make an
arrest of the suspect, with or without the victim's desire for an
arrest to be made.
Back
To Top |
|
|
|
|
You
can call the Police Department when your peace is being disturbed.
This includes unlawful fighting in public, loud and unreasonable
noise done maliciously and willingly, or publicly using offensive
words which are likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction.
Call 911 immediately if someone is in danger of harm.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
Call
the Miami Shores Police Department if you see someone wandering, loitering, or prowling without
any visible or lawful business with the owner or occupant of
property which is not theirs. Do not go out
and confront the prowler. Stay on the telephone with the
dispatcher and follow their instructions.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
Robbery
is the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of
another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his
will, accomplished by means of force or fear.
During a robbery:
-
Remain
calm and listen to the robber's demands. If you panic, you
increase the possibility of violence.
-
Avoid
making sudden movements.
-
Do
not resist a robber's efforts to take your property.
-
Do
not offer items which are not specifically requested.
-
Observe
the suspect's physical description (i.e. sex, race, age, and
clothing worn.)
-
Without
placing yourself in danger, attempt to notice the license
plate number and description of the suspect's car, if one is
seen.
After
a robbery has occurred:
-
Go
to a safe location as close as possible to the robbery scene
and call the police department.
-
Keep
all witnesses at the scene until the police can interview
them. If a witness has to leave, get their name, address, and
phone number.
-
Don't
touch or move any evidence.
-
Write
down a complete description of the suspect, weapon, if any,
and vehicle used.
List all property taken, along with serial numbers, when
possible.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
A
person commits a sexual assault when they intentionally or
knowingly do any of the following to another and it is committed
against that person's will:
-
Causes
the sexual organ of another person to contact or penetrate the
mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the
suspect.
-
Touching
of the breast, buttock, or genital area of a person without
their consent.
-
Penetration
of another person by any means.
If
you are a victim of a sexual assault, you should: Call 911.
-
Attempt
to recall as much as possible about the attacker.
-
Preserve
all physical evidence.
-
Do
not take a bath, shower, douche, wash, or change clothes
and/or linens.
-
Do
not touch anything handled by the attacker.
You
may need a medical examination. The examination will
be conducted at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Be sure to take clean clothing to wear after the examination.
Clothing worn during the attack will be turned over to the police
for laboratory analysis.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
|
Vandalism
is deliberate property damage. Most losses due to vandalism are
relatively small and not reported to police. However, the overall
dollar impact is high. National estimates indicate that vandalism
costs 1 to 5 billion dollars annually. These figures are
considered low as they do not include the hidden costs of
vandalism such as rising insurance rates and increased expenses
for security guards, fencing, and special lighting.
If
you are victimized, report all occurrences and repair damage
immediately. Quick repair keeps the vandals from admiring their
handiwork and minimize any social impact the act may have.
-
Secure
property so it is difficult to turn over or otherwise damage.
-
Maintain
surveillance of the property so intruders can be caught in the
act.
-
Install
proper lighting.
School and small businesses are the
hardest hit by vandals. The key to prevention is to remove
opportunity by "hardening the target."
For
more information on Residential or Business Security surveys
please contact the Miami Shores Police Department and tell them
you are interested in receiving a Crime Prevention Survey.
Back
To Top
|
|
|
|
