The Grand Forks Police Department offers a free survey to the citizens and businesses of Grand Forks.  Below is some of the areas that we focus on while conduction the survey.  If you would like more information or a survey completed please contact the Education and Outreach Bureau at (701) 787-8031.

IDENTIFY ENTRY POINTS

The physical design of your neighborhood, it’s layout, lighting, building, and maintenance can effect the levels of crime and fear in your neighborhood. The quick response to the small problems of broken windows, graffiti, trash, etc. can stop the escalation toward bigger crime problems occurring. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED, takes this one step further.

CPTED looks at the entire neighborhood to identify areas or elements that may have the potential to attract crime. Knowing simple CPTED design principals can lead to solutions that can be undertaken to reduce fear and prevent crime in these areas. CPTED can also help you plan ahead for future development in your neighborhood. There is much information about CPTED available online if you want more details than this booklet can provide. There are some basic strategies however that you can incorporate into discussions with your neighborhood or Block Watch group for shared areas such as parks or alleys. There are also strategies you should consider for your personal property.

NATURAL SURVEILLANCE

CPTED does not promote the “fortressing” of properties, quite the contrary. The ability to see what is going on in and around a property should be your first priority. Perpetrators of crime are attracted to areas and residences with low visibility. This can be counteracted in the following ways:

• Lighting – street lights should be well spaced and in working order, alleys and parking areas should also be lit. Lighting should also reflect the intended hours of operation, i.e. lighting of playfields or structures in local parks may actually encourage after hour criminal activities. Motion-sensing lights perform the double duty of providing light when needed and letting trespasser know that “they have been seen.”
• Landscaping – Generally uniformly shaped sites are safer than irregularly shaped sites because there are less hiding places. Plants should follow the 3-8 rule of thumb; hedges no higher than 3 feet, and tree canopies starting no lower than 8 feet. This should is especially important around entryways and windows.
• Fencing – Fences should allow people to see in. Even if the fences are built for privacy, they should be of a design that is not too tall and has some visibility.
• Windows – Windows that look out on streets and alleys are good natural surveillance, especially bay windows. These should not be blocked. Retirees, stay at home parents, and people working from home offices can provide good surveillance for the neighborhood during the day.

NATURAL ACCESS CONTROL

Access Control refers to homes, businesses, parks and other public areas having distinct and legitimate points for entry and exits. However, this should also be balanced to avoid “user entrapment,” or not allowing for easy escape or police response to an area. Generally crime perpetrators will avoid areas that only allow them with one way to enter and exit, and that have high visibility and/or have a high volume of user traffic. This can be assured by:

• Park designs with open, uninhibited access and a defined entry point. A good example is a park with transparent fencing around the perimeter, and one large opening in the gate for entry. Putting vendors or shared public facilities near this entrance creates more traffic and more surveillance.
• Businesses with one legitimate entrance. Avoid recessed doorways.
• A natural inclination is to place public restrooms away from centers of activity, but they can become dangerous if placed in an uninhabited area. Restrooms that are down a long hallway, or foyer entrances with closed doors, are far away from the entrance of a park, or are not visible from the roadway can become problem areas.
• Personal residences with front and back doors that are clearly visible and well lit.

TERRITORIALITY/DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Territoriality means showing that your community “owns” your neighborhood. While this includes removing graffiti and keeping buildings and yards maintained, it also refers to small personal touches. Creating flower gardens or boxes, putting out seasonal decorations, or maintaining the plants in traffic circles seems simple, but sends a clear message that people in your neighborhood care and won’t tolerate crime in their area. These kinds of personal touches work in business communities as well. More complex design efforts can also be undertaken for more dramatic changes. These are some things that should be considered when planning for future growth:

• Front porches and apartment balconies add to street surveillance.
• Traffic plans that consider the size of the neighborhood. People drive by “feel” more than speed limits, so a wide, two lane residential street can lead to speeding. Traffic circles, or increasing the size of curbs can help to calm traffic.
• Institutional architecture that respects the neighborhood identity and does not dwarf the current scale of the neighborhood.
• Clear transitions between private, semi-private and public areas.

This program allows citizens and business owners to register the locations of their out door video surveillance systems with the city of Grand Forks. When a crime occurs, police will be able to identify the locations of video surveillance systems and enlist the assistance of citizens to help us collect video evidence.

Using the geographic locations of the registered cameras, we will be able to directly e-mail citizens in an area in which a crime occurred. A common e-mail may ask the citizen to check their video surveillance system for a specific date and time for video capturing a suspect, getaway car or a crime. If the citizen finds any video evidence, they can contact us to make arrangements for video retrieval.

Registration is simple and only takes a few minutes. You will provide basic information and tell us where your -cameras are located. There is no cost associated with registration and your information is confidential. You may delete your registration at any time by contacting Sgt. Kris Brown at (701)787-8085 or email: kbrown@grandforksgov.com

When your business accepts checks, you must comply with the following if you would like the matter be considered for prosecution:

1. DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS WITHOUT VALID IDENTIFICATION.
2. Do not accept two-party checks, postdated checks, or checks that you must hold for some time before you present them for payment.
3. Carefully consider taking any out-of-state checks. This office's power to obtain jurisdiction over residents in other states is very limited. The Court generally does not extradite from another state for misdemeanors and some felonies.
4. Present all checks to your bank for payment within 14 days of receipt.
5. Once the matter is presented to the States Attorney’s Office for prosecution, the merchant (or collection agency) may not accept payment from anyone on the check without the knowledge and consent of the States Attorney’s Office.

If you are looking to bring charges against someone who gave you an nonsufficient funds check, please click the link below for paperwork and instructions on what to do. 

2023 nsf_check_prosecution

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid "automatic pilot"
• Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, business-like image.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.
• Stick to well-lit areas.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Consider wearing clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.

SAFETY ON THE STREET

• Before you leave home decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet out of habit. For example, if you are going to the grocery store for a few items, you can carry cash, a single check, or credit/debit card, I.D. and keys in a pocket.
• Wear clothing and shoes that are comfortable, low profile and appropriate for the weather. This may not be the most fashionable choice but it is the safest.
• Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts. Walk confidently. Scan your surroundings and make eye contact with people.
• If you must carry valuables like important papers, jewelry, cash etc., chose to wear clothes with inside pockets or use a small bag with a long thin strap to be worn under your coat or clothes.
• Never carry a wallet in back pocket of pants or jacket or sweater pocket. All cash should be carried in front pockets of pants.
• Carry your keys and ID separately. If someone gets your keys and ID, they may go to your home or business and access that location with the keys.
• If you must make a large, cash purchase, plan ahead and take a companion along. There really is safety in numbers. If you do not drive or cannot get a ride use a taxi rather than a bus to minimize waiting time.
• If you use bank machines (ATM’s) choose one located in a well-lit, busy spot like inside a grocery store. Put your card and cash away before leaving the machine.
• Don't display large sums of cash and don’t carry any more cash than is necessary. Use checks where possible. Most stores accept checks, check cards and debit cards as well
• Never leave your purse unattended, even if it is in a shopping cart.
• Carry your purse very close to you preferable with the strap over your shoulder and the purse to the front of your body. Don’t dangle it from your arm.
• Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.

SPOT AND AVOID POTENTIAL TROUBLE

• Be aware of your surroundings and know who is nearby.
• Pay attention to the uncomfortable feelings that often warn us of potential danger.
• Don't be afraid to cross the street, return to a business, or ask for help based on a "funny feeling". You may be right!

RESPONDING TO A CONFRONTATION

• If a robber grabs your bag, resist the impulse to play tug of war. If you hang on, chances are you will be knocked down, hit, or kicked and the robber will get your bag anyway.
• Victims sometimes tell a robber they have no money. This technique may backfire. It is safer to give up a few dollars. Carry a little money in an accessible place for just this purpose. Keep it separate from other funds.
• If someone demands your property and displays or implies in anyway that they have a weapon, hand the bag or wallet to them.

Burglaries

We have recently had an increase in residential burglaries.  There are a number of things that citizens can do to help prevent this type of crime. 

What can you as a citizen do:

At Home:

• Lighting
  • Consider motion lighting around your house and garage.
  • Areas will light up as people approach.This will draw attention to a potential intruder.
  • Good lighting will allow neighbors and patrolling police officers to see your property and report/investigate any suspicious activity.

• Check your locks
  • Deadbolts should extend at least an inch into the door frame.
  • All exterior doors should have deadbolts, including entry doors into a garage.
  • Windows should be closed and locked at night and when no one is at home.Consider locking when people are home as well.
  • Lock your vehicles and any sheds/outbuildings you have.
• Landscaping
  • Do not let shrubs and trees get overgrown.
  • Shrubs should be no higher than 3 feet and the canopies of trees should be trimmed up to at least 7 feet.
  • This will allow for open sight lines to and from a business/residence.
  • This will also prevent hiding spots close to your property.
  • Overgrown vegetation can also obstruct lighting.
• While you are away……
  • Have a neighbor collect mail and newspapers.
  • Consider putting interior lights on a timer.
  • Be careful how you communicate online about your vacation.
    • Be aware of who can follow your social media accounts and don’t advertise your absence from home.

 Constructions Sites

• Mark company tools and maintain an inventory.
• Lock and properly utilize storage areas each night.Use heavy duty locks.
• Consider parking a piece of heavy equipment in front of storage doors.
• Security fencing should be considered for long term sites.
• Make sure the site is well lit and easily observable by other citizens in the area.
• Construction trailers should be locked with disc locks.These are harder to cut.
• Trailers should be placed in a well-lit area.

 Storage Facilities

• There should be controlled entry into the area.
• Fencing around the facility should be see through so that suspicious activity is easily observable.
• Units should be secured with disc locks.
• The entire facility needs to be well lit.
• There should be no access from one unit to the next.

 What can the Police Do (Aside from Patrol and Prevention)

• We offer education on burglary prevention.
• Trained officers can come to your residence or business to conduct a crime prevention review.
  • This is free of charge
  • We can work with you to set up a time that works best.
  • We can assess everything from locks to landscaping on your property