Cutting Edge Fee Takes Effect
In order to fund the Commercial Crimes Unit, the former
Business Tax program was updated by Resolution 07-54
and Ordinance 07-15 both dated 8/14/07 and became effective
January 1, 2008.
Page Updated: 9/2009
Tigard Police Investigating Burglary-Two Suspects at Large
August, 2009
Tigard Police are investigating a burglary that occurred at Pacific Star Communications.
An employee working alone reported a possible intrusion to the business located at 15055
SW Sequoia Parkway in Tigard at approximately 2PM on Sunday, May 10th. Police found no
signs of forced entry or other indications the building had been entered by an
intruder. It wasn't until the following business day that it was evident someone
had entered the building and removed 13 laptop computers from the business.
Video surveillance obtained from inside the business clearly indicates two men
roaming the office areas. One image also depicts a subject rolling a chair
which may have been used to shuttle the laptops to an exit point.
Tigard Police is asking the help of the public to possibly identify the two
subjects depicted in the photographs. If you have information, please contact
Ofc. Mike Webber at 503-718-2717 or webber@tigard-or.gov
.jpg)
Commercial Crimes Unit - Working for You!
Last Updated: May, 2009
- In the year 2007, the year prior to the development of the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU), the City of Tigard had an overall yearly total of 589 shoplifts reported.
- In 2008, CCU partnered with the mall security team and loss prevention managers to reduce the amount of crime to their businesses. The result was that CCU was able to recognize, identify patterns of behavior, and track activity consistent to that of organized shoplifting rings. That was addressed as a serious problem.
- Several meetings and training opportunities were offered to educate the mall employees and security staffs on how to recognize, identify, and track criminal behaviors that are a sign of theft or the potential for theft.
- As a result of CCU, presence and teamwork, shoplifting in 2008 has dropped an overall average of 16% since March. We have seen a consistent reduction in reported shoplift cases on a monthly basis. Overall, we are down by 92 cases from 2007, with 497 reported shoplifting cases in 2008.
- The Commercial Crimes Unit participates in on going quarterly meetings with mall security staff and loss prevention managers and continues to partner to reduce crime in our retail business community.
- In 2008, CCU reviewed over 600 cases, wrote 253 police reports, assigned 146 cases and cleared 98 of those cases for a 68% clearance rate.
- The ability of CCU to investigate business related crimes led to these successes; otherwise a majority of these cases would not have been investigated due to lack of manpower and high call volume.
Thanks to the newly established Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU), a division of the
Tigard Police Department, local retailers have a partner in crime fighting.
The CCU officers work directly with merchants to solve cases that in the past
wouldn't have been pursued due to lack of resources. This team of law
enforcement officers brings over 80 years of investigative skills
to a previously underserved segment of Tigard's community. To date, the team has
forged ties with over 800 Tigard business owners.
Especially gratifying in challenging economic times, this unit assists merchants
with reducing crime before it happens as well as aggressive identification and
incarceration of suspects. They are working with retailers to minimize opportunities
to become victims of crime and providing a valuable service, which promotes
a healthier business community.
This ground-breaking program was launched in January 2008 after
new mapping tools showed an unsettling crime trend targeting Tigard's commercial district.
Statistics showed that property crimes were investigated less often to
devote police resources to traffic management and violent crime investigation.
Rather than add a new tax, the Tigard Police looked at the possibility of a unit
paid by, and dedicated to merchants. Funded by Business License fees, the Commercial
Crimes Unit's sole function is to assist retail and commercial business entities fight crime.
Commercial Crime Team Members go out to the businesses to work directly with merchants on assessing risk,
instituting prevention measures and dedicated investigative tools. This program has
gained the attention of other law enforcement agencies throughout the nation.
The officers assigned to the Commercial Crimes Unit have already combined forces
with over 45 law enforcement agencies, eBay, Craigslist, several major
airline companies, as well as the Oregon State Police, the Port of Portland,
the FBI, Secret Service, the Department of Justice and even the New York Police Department!
|
|
|
