Anna Crime Watch

Follow these links to view the robbery and help identify the suspect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H3jcE7rnWc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-ogoW3EFc

 Press Release 

Anna Police are asking for help in identifying a suspect caught on video robbing a local truck stop.  On 04/23/09 at about 9:40 PM, Anna Police officers were dispatched to Love’s Travel Mart, 715 S. US HWY 75 in reference to an aggravated robbery that had just occurred.  A white male in his early 20’s was observed entering the truck stop via the south entrance.  The male was carrying a black jacket that contained either a rifle or shotgun.  He is seen in the video watching the clerk and patiently waiting for customers to clear out.  He approached the counter and laid the black jacket down on the counter.  He displayed the barrel to the clerk and demanded that she hand over the contents of the cash drawer.  He then apologized and left the store via the south entrance in an unknown direction.  The male is described as a white male in his early 20’s, 5’06 to 5’08 tall, approximately 170 to 190 lbs.  He had short brown hair and had a mustache.  He was wearing a green stocking cap, white sunglasses, a white tee-shirt with the word and logo for “Wonder Bread” on the front.  The shirt had either black or dark blue trim on the collar and sleeves.  He had on blue jean shorts, white calf height socks and dark tennis shoes.  He was carrying a black jacket and is armed with an unknown type shotgun or rifle.  Anyone who recognizes this individual or has information about this robbery is asked to contact the Anna Police Department at 972-924-2848 or Dispatch @ 972-547-5350.

The City of Anna is putting a new automated weather warning system into service.  It will utilize the Code Red Emergency Notification System and is known as “CODE RED WEATHER.”

Previously Anna emergency services personnel had to manually launch a weather warning.  Now, Code Red Weather will automatically notify those residents in the path of a dangerous weather event such as a flash flood, severe thunderstorm, or tornado.  This automated feature should make the notifications more timely.

All Anna area citizens must register if they want the service! Even if they registered previously, they should visit the City’s web-site (www.annatexas.gov), click on the “Code Red” link on the home page and re-register.  

The old system will only be in use until the end of April. If you want continued weather warnings, you will have to re-register.

Any citizen needing assistance with Code Red Weather registration can call the Anna Police Department during normal business hours for assistance.  972-924-2848

A comprehensive Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, whether it is a high crime area or not, will bring many rewards to your family, and your neighbors.

Sergeant Jeff Caponera has made a getting started packet available for neighborhoods interested in setting up their own watch groups, or increasing participation for already established watch groups.

Please take the time to download the PDF by clicking on the following link: Anna Neighborhood Watch Packet.

When you open the PDF, save it to your personal computer and print it out. The packet includes watch meeting sign in sheets, phone tree forms, meeting notice flyer, and other information that will help make your next neighborhood watch meeting a success.

If you have any questions about starting a Neighborhood Watch in your area or about the packet, contact Sergeant Jeff Caponera at 972-924-2848.

On 09/01/2008 at about 0209 hours, Anna Police Officers were dispatched to the 2100 Block of Penton Linns Drive in reference to possible shots fired.  Dispatchers received several 911 calls from residents reporting hearing 2-3 gunshots.  The female resident of 2106 Penton Linns Drive reported that she had observed a black male standing in her garage when she went to close it for the night.  She immediately alerted her husband.  Her husband and a visiting neighbor went outside to investigate.  As they were checking the perimeter of his home, the husband could hear the dogs two doors down barking incessantly.  As they approached the home, a black male emerged from between the two homes and opened fire with a handgun.  As the suspect fled, the homeowner gave chase.  During the foot chase, the homeowner reported that the black male fired two to three more shots at him.  The chase ended at the corner of Niagara Falls Drive and Stanley Falls Drive, when the homeowner tackled the subject.  The two became involved in a fight but the black male suspect escaped and then ran to a dark green Ford Explorer that was parked on Niagara Falls.  The suspect entered the Explorer and then left the area at a high rate of speed.

The homeowner was treated for his injuries at Presbyterian Hospital in Allen and was released.

Two neighboring homes sustained damage from the suspect’s gunfire: a vehicle in the garage of a neighborhood home had the back window shattered when a stray bullet entered through the garage door; at the second home, the bullet entered through the front window and struck a wood filing cabinet.  Residents at both homes were home at the time the shooting occurred, but no one was injured.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 20’s.  His height is between 6’00 and 6’02 and his weight was described as 210 to 220 lbs.  He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and unknown color or type of pants.  The vehicle is a dark green 90’s model Ford Explorer (Unknown TX tag).  The color on the hood of the truck is faded.  Suspect was armed with a small handgun and should be considered dangerous.  The suspect possibly received facial injuries from the confrontation.

Anyone with any information regarding the suspect or shooting incident, please contact the Anna Police Department @ 972-924-2848 or 972-547-5350

What Steps Can You Take to Prevent Becoming a Victim?

“Don’t Lose It! Avoid Becoming the Next Victim”

 Anna Police Need Your Help

The Anna Police Department prides itself in protecting one of the safest cities in Collin County.  In fact, our Vision is to be recognized as an organization that provides unparalleled service through professionalism, training, innovation and partnership with the community. This protection and vision could not be possible without the partnership with you the resident, employee, business owner, or traveler. One crime you can really help us prevent is vehicle burglaries. Vehicle burglary cases can be very difficult to solve as, typically, little to no physical evidence is left behind. These thefts occur during all hours of the day, affecting both residential and business areas. However, in many cases these vehicle burglaries have been crimes of opportunity and could have possibly been avoided if preventative measures were taken.

Vehicle burglary prevention, like all crime prevention, is the act of taking away the criminals ability and/or opportunity to commit a crime. With a little time and diligence, you can make a difference in your vulnerability to vehicle burglary. It generally takes less than 20 seconds to secure your valuables, but if your valuables are left in plain sight it takes on average 30 seconds for a thief to break in and steal them.  In just this past year alone, burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles in Anna and surrounding areas have risen dramatically. For example in Anna, in the first seven months of 2008 there were 67 reported thefts from vehicles, up from 18 total in 2007 – a 372% increase in 7 months time.

The Anna Police Department’s “Don’t Lose It” theft prevention campaign is one way of educating citizens how the simple act of placing valuables into the trunk of their car or out of sight before reaching your destination or the act of taking valuables with you from the car can significantly reduce the likelihood of being a victim of theft.

Don’t hesitate to call the police to report suspicious persons wandering around parking lots/neighborhoods (particularly after hours) and/or looking into cars as they walk by.  Anna Police officers cannot be everywhere, so we count on good people to be our “eyes” and “ears” and report these types of suspicious activities as they are occurring.  The Anna Police Department continues to proactively impact crime through directed patrol tactics, specialized deployments, apprehension of suspects, and public education and awareness efforts.  We are asking that every citizen do their part in helping to fight crime by taking both preventative action and spreading the word about this ever growing problem. Working together we can make a difference.

Should you have any questions concerning vehicle burglaries, other crimes or neighborhood watch, please contact the Anna Police Department at 972-924-2848. Should you need to report an in-progress crime, call 911. For non-emergency reports, please call 972-547-5350.  This is also the number we suggest you program into your cell phone for emergency or non-emergency calls within the city. Doing so can reduce unnecessary delays due to cell towers misrouting your call to another public safety dispatch center.

What is Vehicle Burglary? A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, he breaks into or enters a vehicle or any part of a vehicle with intent to commit any felony or theft.

What Items are Most Commonly Stolen from Vehicles?

• Briefcases
• Cash/Coins
• Cell phones (& chargers)
• CD’s and cases
• Day planners
• Garage door openers
• Gym bags
• iPod/MP3 players and  docking stations
• Jewelry
• Keys
• Laptop computers
• Mail
• Portable navigation systems
• Purses (even if behind the seat)
• Stereo/Faceplates
• Tools
• Third row seats (SUV’s)
• Video monitors
• Wallets (even if under the seat)

How can Auto Burglary lead to Residential Burglary?

Garage door opener + Registration or Mail in car = Residential Burglary

Vehicle Registration - Black out your home address on your DMV registration and photocopy it. Keep the copy, not the original, in your car.

Mail - Do not leave outgoing or incoming mail in your car, especially where visible. This has your name and address on it.

Garage Door Opener - Avoid leaving this in your car if possible.

Keys - Never leave keys in your car.

Remove visible items (particularly portable electronics) from your vehicle. If you leave items visible in your car, you are a target.  Be aware someone may be watching as you put a wallet, purse, or cell-phone under your seat, especially at a gym. Take these with you or lock them in your trunk before arriving to the parking lot.

Lock Your Car!

• Lock your vehicle and take your keys, even during quick errands.
• Lock the trunk, hatchback or tailgate to block access into the car.
• Close all windows, including vent or wing windows and sunroofs.
• Buy an alarm and use it. Many people believe that alarms no longer make a difference; however, they do remain an effective deterrent to a burglar. Criminals will choose the easiest target. If they have two cars to choose from, one with an alarm and one without, they will likely burglarize the one without.

Park Safely!

• At home, clear out that garage and park in it. Lock your car and all garage doors.
• Park in a well-lit area.
• Park where others will easily and frequently see your car, which is called “Natural Surveillance”
• Avoid alleys.