The Plantation Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit is located in the Citizen Outreach Center in the Westfield Broward Mall, 8000 W. Broward Boulevard, at the North Entrance of the Mall, between Sears Garden Center and Dillards. This unit has implemented numerous community based programs throughout Plantation which all strive to address quality of life issues in Plantation’s neighborhoods.

Trespass Program

The Trespass Program is a Law Enforcement/Community cooperation initiative that enables the Police to enhance probable cause requirements upon detecting suspicious activity in a community. This is facilitated through a written agreement (affidavit) between the Community Association, Homeowners Group or Management Group and Law Enforcement Officials which authorizes Police Officers to act as the community’s representatives when enforcing Florida State Statues relating to trespassing.

Multi-family properties, businesses and HOA’s may participate, but only common areas are covered; the individual residential units are not (i.e. individuals invited to visit an occupant cannot be barred from the entire complex). For more information contact trespass@psd.plantation.org.

Neighborhood Watch Program

Neighborhood Watch is a community action program that relies on mutual cooperation aimed at reducing crime in the neighborhood watch community. This program establishes a formal network for concerned citizens to communicate with other neighbors and the police and in turn become more aware of the activity that occurs in their neighborhoods.

Shoplifting Program

The Shoplifting Program is an aggressive anti-retail theft initiative directed at awareness and deterrence tactics for the businesses of Plantation. The program educates store employees, making them aware of the methods and tactics that shoplifters use to commit retail theft. Once the employees of a business establishment complete this training, the store is issued a sign from the Crime Prevention Unit, to be displayed in the front window, indicated that the store has entered into a partnership with the Police Department to prosecute shoplifting offenders.

Child Identification Program

A collaboration between the Plantation Police Department and the Missing Children Awareness Foundation, Inc., this program provides parents with a personal identification card for their child or children. This card contains a record of all physical, dental and other identifiable information about the child’s features, abilities and habits. The card also contains a hair sample for DNA testing and also includes a recent photo, thumb print and important child safety tips.

Kids Info: The Plantation Police Crime Prevention Unit provides Child ID Cards for parents that can be vital in the event the child becomes missing. The Child ID Card system provides parents with a durable photo ID that they carry with them to provide valuable information to law enforcement officers in the event of an emergency.

For more information please contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 954-916-5601 or email JSchlegel@psd.plantation.org.

Operation Identification

Being caught in the act is a thief’s greatest risk and their second highest risk is being caught “red handed” with the incriminating evidence, the property they have stolen. With modern mass-produced appliances, electronics and products looking identical, the police have no way of identifying recovered property as stolen goods unless the serial number is available or the item has been marked with a property owner’s unique number. Every year, law enforcement agencies across the country auction millions of dollars worth of recovered lost or stolen property because of the lack of identification. If an item has been marked, however, the information can be entered into state and national law enforcement computer networks to trace these goods in any matter of seconds and the owner can be identified. This knowledge alone may act as a major deterrent to a potential thief since items that can be traced back to their original owner’s bring a lower price on the street, making the thief’s efforts less rewarding.

 Fraud Prevention/ Mitigation

Every year, many citizens of Plantation become victims of fraud and identity theft. The Plantation Police Department Economic Crimes Unit would like to share the following tips with you to help you avoid becoming a victim of fraud:

1. The Plantation Police Department and other law enforcement agencies DO NOT attempt to collect payment for any fines/court costs/bail bonds/warrants etc.

2. Legitimate businesses will NOT force you to make payments for tech support services, goods, or other services via gift cards or cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) Payments should NEVER be spread across multiple gift cards, and you should NEVER have to travel to a Bitcoin ATM to make the payments.

3. Legitimate businesses or government agencies will never call you and ask you to confirm your personal information such as full name, Social Security Number, date of birth, address, security questions, etc. Always handle these transactions in-person at your local bank branch or government building.

4. The United States Postal Service provides a service known as “Informed Delivery”. This service will send you an email with a list of all mail that should be delivered to your mailbox, and help you to find out if items are missing.

5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

If you receive a phone call from a person who is representing themselves as an officer and instructing you to make payments, IT IS FRAUD.

If you have unfortunately become a victim of fraud, please click here to view a list of helpful resources we have compiled to help you navigate the process of repairing the effects of fraud and reclaiming your identity.

Contact

If you would like more information regarding these or any other crime prevention programs, community meetings, or tours for youth groups, please contact the Crime Prevention Unit at JSchlegel@psd.plantation.org.