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CALVERT COUNTY SHERIFF’S
OFFICE
Sheriff Mike Evans
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Calvert County Department of Community Resources
Offers Guidelines for Charitable Giving
Residents Encouraged to Carefully Consider Telephone Solicitations
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – July 6, 2010 –
Based on recent citizen reports
regarding phone solicitations from questionable charities, the Calvert
County Department of
Community Resources offers the following resources and tips to help
avoid charity fraud.
Citizens receiving calls from new or unrecognized charitable groups
can verify the
status of an organization by visiting the Maryland Office of the
Secretary of State Web site at
www.sos.state.md.us/charity/searchcharity.aspx.
The site offers a searchable database listing
charities registered in the state of Maryland. The site also includes
a link allowing residents to
view a copy of the organization's IRS Form 990, a description of the
organization's charitable
programs and other information about the administration and finances
of the organization.
Residents receiving phone solicitations from
unfamiliar organizations should ask the following
questions:
Is the
charity registered with the Secretary of State?
What is
the full name, address and phone number of the charity?
Do you
work for the charity or are you a paid fundraiser?
For what
purpose will my contribution be used? Verify claims that the charity
gives funds or goods to local agencies.
Is my
contribution tax deductible?
What
percentage of its total income does the charity spend on its
charitable purpose? Beware of
organizations that have large overhead, management or administrative
costs.
Residents should also be aware of the following
deceptive practices:
Refusal
of the organization to send written material or financial information;
Use of
high-pressure tactics to secure a donation;
Offers to
send a courier to collect your contribution;
Receipt
of an invoice or statement indicating payment due for a contribution
you never pledged, and/or;
A name or
logo that closely resembles another charity with a similar charitable
purpose.
When dealing with telephone solicitations, residents
should not give out personal information such as Social Security
numbers or credit card information over the phone.
Donors have the right to ask as many questions as
necessary to reach an informed decision. Additionally, donors have the
right to change their minds after having agreed to make a donation. A
pledge to make a contribution is not a legally enforceable agreement.
Further guidelines to avoid charity fraud are available from the
Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/charityfraud/ and from the
Maryland Office of the Secretary of State at www.sos.state.md.us/charity/Givewise.aspx.
To register complaints or concerns, contact the Office of the
Secretary of State, Charities/Legal Services Division, at
www.sos.state.md.us/Charity/Concern.aspx or call 410-974-5534.
For information on Calvert County Department of
Community Resources programs and
services, visit online at www.co.cal.md.us.
Calvert County is Maryland’s smallest county in land
area with 213 square miles. It is home to approximately 90,000
people and has one of the
highest standards of living in Maryland. There are more than 5,000
businesses in the County and a labor force of at least 1.8 million
resides within a one-hour drive. Major industries include defense
contracting, information technology, tourism, utilities, light
manufacturing and administrative services
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This holiday season, don't let the spirit of
giving lull you into giving burglars, muggers, and pickpockets a
better chance to do their dirty work. Crooks love the holidays as much
as everyone else, especially because it's an opportune time for crime.
Here are some tips on how to celebrate safely this holiday season:
If You Are Out for the
Evening
> Turn on lights and a radio or TV so it
looks like someone's home.
> Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you
leave, even if it's just for a few minutes.
> Don't display gifts where they can be seen from outside.
If You Are Traveling
> Get an automatic timer for your lights.
> Ask a neighbor to watch your home, shovel snow, and park in the
driveway from time to time.
> Don't forget to have mail and newspaper delivery stopped. If it
piles up, it's a sure sign you're gone.
If You Are Shopping
> Stay alert and be aware of what's going
on around you.
> Park in a well-lighted space, and be
sure to lock the car, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
> Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or
credit card whenever
possible.
Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don't
overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and
wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the
straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a
store clerk or security guard if you get separated.
Protect Your Vehicle
Loading up on all those gifts is a sign of
progress in the holiday shopping. But if those packages are left out
in the open after they're in the car, your car has become a likely
target for thieves. Remember the old cliché "Out of sight, out
of mind?" The same idea applies to items in your car.
Always lock your vehicle and store all items
out of sight. Breaking into an empty car isn't worth a thief's time.
However, anything left in plain view – from
your holiday gifts to spare change, sunglasses, CDs, cell phones or
briefcases – may tempt a thief.
Help prevent your vehicle from being stolen by
always locking your car and using anti-theft devices. And although
it's cold, never leave your vehicle running while you run inside
your home or a store – even if for only a
minute or two.
After you’ve opened the
gifts burglars know that many households have new, and often times
expensive, items in their homes following the December holidays –
especially items such as new computers and peripherals, stereo
components, televisions, cameras and other electronic equipment. In
too many cases, residents make it easy for burglars to figure out
which homes to target by putting boxes that identify their new gifts
in plain view with their other garbage. Avoid becoming an easy target
for post-holiday burglars by not leaving boxes for new electronics and
other items in the alley or other garbage pick-up locations for
several days at a time. Instead, break down any boxes you are throwing
out, put them in garbage bags and place them inside a trash can. (In
many cases, especially with computer equipment, you might consider
keeping the boxes for safe storage, shipping or moving in the future.)
Think about keeping broken-down boxes inside –
in a garage, for example – until the evening
before your regular garbage pick-up. Some burglars actually look
inside garbage cans for evidence of holiday gifts. And, of course, if
you see someone suspicious, call the Calvert County Sheriff’s
Office’s non-emergency number (410)535-2800.
If you see a burglary in progress, call 9-1-1.
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Identity
Theft Protection
Identity
thieves use low-tech methods as well as sophisticated Internet
scams to acquire an individual’s sensitive personal data online.
All citizens should closely protect any documents, banking cards,
or sensitive numbers that can be used by thieves for their
personal gain.
The following are the minimum basic guidelines recommended
by
Help Net Security to reduce the risk of identity theft:
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Examine your credit reports periodically for unauthorized or
criminal activity.
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Review financial statements and transactions regularly for illicit
or unknown charges.
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Install security software on business and home
computers and keep it current.
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Use an updated web browser to capitalize on its safety features.
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Exercise caution before opening attachments and links in e-mail and
instant messages.
·
Secure sensitive online data with file
encryption software.
·
Shred documents containing personal or financial information before
discarding.
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Avoid sharing personally identifiable information unless absolutely
necessary.
·
Remain alert to the preponderance of older and newer scams to
counter fraud.
Sergeant Michael
P. Bomgardner
Calvert
County Sheriff's Office
Community
Action Team
1/23/10 |
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CALVERT COUNTY SHERIFF’S
OFFICE
Sheriff Mike Evans
Below is an excerpt from an article
in Reader's Digest this month.
Please pass this information along to the people in your neighborhood
13 Things Your Burglar
Won't Tell You
(1) "Of course I look
familiar" - I was here just here last week cleaning your carpets,
painting your shutters or delivering your new refrigerator. Hey, thanks
for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last
week. While I was in there, (2) "I unlatched the back window"
to make my return a little easier. (3) "Love those flowers."
That tells me you have taste, and taste means there are nice things
inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what
type of gaming system they have. Yes I really do look for
(4) "newspapers piled up" on the driveway. And I might leave a
pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove
it. (5) "If it snows while your out of town, get a neighbor to
create car and foot tracks into the house." Virgin snow drifts are
a dead give away. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance,
don't let your alarm company install (6) "the control panel"
where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy. A good security
company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second
floor, which often access the master bedroom and your jewelry. It's not
a bad idea to put (7) "motion detectors" up there too. It’s
raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your
door - understandable. But understand this: (8) "I don't take a day
off" because of bad weather. I always knock first. If you answer,
(9) "I'll ask for directions" somewhere or offer to clean your
gutters. (Don't take me up on it.) Do you really think I won't look in
(10) "your sock drawer?" I always check dresser drawers, the
bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. Here's a helpful hint:
(11) "I almost never go into kids' rooms." You're right: I
won't have enough time to (12) "break into that safe" where
you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with
me. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm
system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of
town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates (13)
"the flickering glow" of a real television.
Please know that these are just things to think
about to keep your home and your valuables safe. You can order a device
called the "FakeTV" for $49.99. This gives the illusion that
you have left a TV on which is a big deterrent. The website is
www.faketv.com. The Community Action Team will come out and conduct a
security survey of your home free of charge. To have a survey conducted
you can e-mail your request to catteam@co.cal.md.us
9/3/09 |
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Community Action Team
Thanks to Todd Ireland, from the Calvert
County Law Enforcement "Community Action Team" for speaking at our
August 2009 NECA business meeting.
The Community Action Team is
comprised of personnel from both the County Sheriff's Office and the
Maryland State Police.
He discussed crime trends and
criminal matters in Calvert County, addressed Community concerns,
and answered our questions
with respect to law enforcement in Calvert County.
Community Action Team of Calvert
County (CAT) Team has a email for any
concerns: catteam@co.cal.md.us
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PLEASE - DO NOT WALK or
CLIMB on the sandbags,
tires or berms
in front of the homes along the waterfront - this area is
EXTREMELY FRAGILE!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PARENTS - PLEASE warn your children to
stay away from this area. |
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Neeld
Estate Old
Photos
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CALVERT
COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
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Neeld Estate Beach - 1930's
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What
did you do today to help save the Chesapeake Bay?
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Old Photos Wanted
Help preserve the history of
Neeld Estate and Plum Point
Share your old Neeld Estate Photos
with the community
email photos to:
neeldestate@yahoo.com
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What
We Do Matters!
Our landscapes are connected to the Chesapeake Bay.
Prevent pollution and runoff with a healthy yard.
You can help the Bay and improve
water quality by using Bay-Friendly Techniques with your own home
landscape. These techniques reduce the biggest pollutants in the Bay,
sediment and nutrients, (nitrogen and phosphorous),
by restoring natural filters.
Bay
Friendly Landscaping
DO
SOMETHING TODAY
TO SAVE THE BAY! |
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If you MUST FERTILIZE
your lawn...
Do so in the FALL or Not at all
Fertilizer runoff is
very harmful
to the Bay
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Attention Dog Walkers:
"If your dog leaves it. . . Please Retrieve it"
SCOOP the POOP -
It's A Law
Help keep our pets from polluting
the Bay
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Calvert County has a
Leash Law
for pets.
This law applies to EVERYONE-
residents & guests in
Neeld Estate.
There have been many complaints from
property owners about the dogs
running loose in the neighborhood and on
the beach.
PLEASE obey the rules !
410-535-2800 - Call to report loose dogs
Calvert
County
Animal Control Ordinances
Section
VII - Defecation, Removal of Excrement
A. NO person owning,
keeping or having custody of a dog or cat shall allow or
permit excrement of such animal to remain on public
property, private property without the consent of the
owner or occupant hereof or allow the excrement to cause
foul odor on the owner's property.
B. Any
person owning, keeping or having custody of an animal
shall immediately
remove the excrement deposited by the animal if
deposited on property other than the owners.
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The Neeld Estate
Beach
is PRIVATELY OWNED
by the Neeld family and
can ONLY be used by
Residents of Neeld Estate
and their Guests
Anyone else is
TRESPASSING
on Private Property
"Violators will be prosecuted by authority
of Plum Point Corp."
(Posted on the signs leading
to the
beach)
WARNING: NO
PARKING in
front of the Chains at the
Beach Entrances
Chips Towing - 410-257-6121 or
301-855-8343
Keys to unlock the chains are
available from: The Gean's
&
The Surgent's

Please take the time to read the signs
posted at the
entrances to the beach... and please be a good neighbor
and follow the rules as they are posted.
This sign was posted by Plum Point Development Corp.,
(the Neeld family owns the beach)
**Note: A Beach
Committee has been formed to address
the issues of trespassers parking
on private property and using the beach. New signs are being made
and will be placed in the community.
Kirby Gean, Sign Committee
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