On behalf of Mayor John Antaramian, City Administrator Nick Arnold, the men and women of the Kenosha Police Department, myself and your fellow citizens of Kenosha. I want to thank you for getting involved in your community. Crime prevention is a community wide issue and your dedication and commitment will make Kenosha one of the safest and best places to live and work.

Neighborhood Watch Newsletter

If you go away for an evening, make sure house exterior doors and windows are locked. Even if you're only gone for a few minutes. Turn on lights and a radio or television so your house or apartment appears occupied.

Going away for a few days? Place automatic lights on some interior lights and entertainment items. Have a neighbor or a family member watch your house, pick up mail, and newspapers. Make your house appear occupied.

Ask for identification of those strangers soliciting for charitable donations. Fraudulent individuals may try to take advantage of your generosity. Question how donated funds are used, if contributions are tax deductible, etc. If you are not satisfied with the answers, don't donate.

Mark valuable items with a unique identification number and record serial numbers.

Don't leave boxes from large purchase items, (TV's, VCR's, computers, etc.) out on the curb for pick up. Break boxes down and hide descriptive markings.

• They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit and bank cards.
• They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information.
• They complete a "change of address form" to divert your mail to another location.
• They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving."
• They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer
  or someone else who may have a legitimate need for, and legal right to, the information.
• They find personal information in your home.
• They use personal information you share on the Internet.
• They scam you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies you do business with.
• They get your information from the workplace in a practice known as "business record theft" by: stealing files out of offices where you’re a customer, employee, patient or student; bribing an employee who has access to your files; or "hacking" into electronic files.

How identity thieves use your personal information:

• They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there’s a problem.
• They open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth and SSN. When they use the credit card and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.
• They establish phone or wireless service in your name.
• They open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
• They file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they’ve incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
• They counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
• They buy cars by taking out auto loans in your name.
• They give your name to the police during an arrest. If they’re released from police custody, but don’t show up for their court date, an arrest warrant is issued in your name.