Assault spurs safety talk

In the wake of the assault of a local high school student in Cedarhurst one evening last week, adults and teens from Bais Tefilah met to hear a police officer discuss safety this past Monday night.

Over thirty Bais Tefilah members and their children listened attentively as Fourth Precinct Police Officer Robert Chimienti spoke seriously, but with humorous asides, about the importance of awareness and safety measures, noting that “90% of victims display a lack of common sense.”

With personal comments, Chimienti ran through a vivid list of steps to take to prevent becoming a victim. “It’s a different world from when I was a kid. If I was home by dinner with clean hands life was good,” he said.

“Cell phone tickets are through the roof,” marveled Chimienti. “They just keep

paying the tickets. People don’t look. It’s an electronic world, people are less sensitive to what’s out there.”

A victim of robbery shouldn’t resist, it’s the price of life versus the pocket book, he stressed. Be a good witness, don’t try to fight. If you can get away from something, get away. Trust your instincts. “I’ve been a cop for 29 years-trust your gut,” he added.

He suggested having your keys ready and not stand by the door searching in your bag. Don’t hide keys outside the house, people might be watching; he recommended giving a key to a trusted neighbor. Keep the house well lit, no bushes near the house for burglars to hide, an up to date alarm system, a surveillance camera or motion detector lights. If the door is ajar or a window broken when you come home, don’t go in--call 911.

As for carrying a purse, “don’t bring a lot of things in the wallet; if you don’t need it, don’t carry it,” he said. Don’t wear it slung over your shoulder or around your neck, he warned, tuck in under your arm. When going places, use the “buddy system. Try to travel with a friend, there’s strength in numbers. Bad guys don’t like confrontation.” If you think you are being followed, call 911.

Travel on well-lit streets and park in well-lit areas. He pointed out that when parking during the day, park near a street light if you will be returning to the car after dark.

“I don’t like ATMs. Go to the bank and get the money you need. If you do use an ATM, check the mirror to see if someone is behind you. Don’t let people into the kiosk. If you feel uncomfortable, take your card and say that it’s not working and leave.”

As for car safety, have the keys ready before you get to the car and be prepared to use the panic button, he emphasized. Check for flat tires and don’t be fooled by someone who is ready to help you change a tire that wasn’t flat before you went into the ATM. It’s a big scam, he noted, one changes the tire, the other steals the purse off the car seat. Also, he stressed checking the back seat before entering the car, “it could save a life.” Always have your cell phone charged and keep a few dollars, $5 to $20, in a pocket. If wearing a diamond ring, turn it around when out shopping. Look between parked cars. He also stressed the importance of locking your car, that thieves try the handles to see if they can steal easily from the car. He suggested keeping baby wipes in the car to wipe off the suction mark from the GPS. The robbers look for that knowing that a GPS is probably in the car; they can sell it for $25.

He said there will be holiday patrols in unmarked cars. He pointed out that the 4th precinct has over 60 houses of worship. He said that the precinct should be called if a street light is out. Residents should file a vacant premise report at the precinct when they go on vacation, but let police know if someone might visit. He noted that a car left in the driveway serves as a good decoy.

Overall, he said, “It’s a good precinct to live in. The cops are proactive.”

“I organized the meeting” because of the incident, said Zev Odinsky, a Bais Tefilah member. “It bothered me that none of the yeshivot did much about it, even the shuls. People should be aware of safety concerns.” He did note that HAFTR put out a community ealert.

“This was for the safety of the kids,” said Stephen Bach, another member. “And it was an opportunity to bring the members together for an educational program. They wanted from high school age and up” to attend. “I think we should be proactive, know the dangers and not sweep it under the rug.”