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.
Commercial Crimes Unit - Working for You!
August, 2008
It's the time of year for back to school shopping and soon enough, holiday shopping.
Now it's safer than ever to visit the mall and local merchants serving the Tigard
community.
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. To date, the team has
forged ties with more than 550 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.
In the first six months of this year, the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU) achieved
impressive and measurable results. The team investigated 78 cases and made
arrests in 72 of those cases. Offenses included shoplifting, employee theft,
graffiti, vandalism, burglaries and copyright infringement related to counterfeit recordings.
This team of law enforcement officers brings over 80 years of investigative skills
to a previously underserved segment of Tigard's community.
This ground-breaking program 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.
Officers 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 law enforcement from neighboring cities, as well as the Oregon State Police,
the Port of Portland, the FBI, the Department of Justice and even the New York
Police Department!
So the moral of the story is this: If you're a shopper, get out there and spend!
A healthy economy is great for Tigard. But if you're a crook, look out.
Your days are numbered and the Commercial Crimes Unit is going to find you
another line of work…perhaps making license plates?
Fox12 Story about Lincoln Center Burglary
May 15, 2008
Watch the video...
Tigard Police Arrest Burglary Suspect
May 12, 2008
The continued success of the Tigard Police Commercial Crimes Unit became evident
when members of the special unit arrested a man alleged to have burglarized
the Tigard Toys 'R Us store. Jarrod Miles Moore, 33, of Amity, OR was arrested
by Tigard Police without incident. Read more...
Credit Card Fraud/Shaving
March 30, 2008
In an article in The Oregonian on Sunday, March 30, 2008
concerning credit card fraud and the "shaving" of credit card numbers, you may have
wondered if this is occurring in the City of Tigard.
Although we've taken no reports recently, it has occurred and
will undoubtedly occur again as we go into the summer
months or get closer to the Christmas holidays.
Read more...
|
|
|
