What to do if you think you are being followed?
By Lieutenant JD Grady Supervisor of off-duty PID-6 officers
If you have not left a store or business ask to speak to the manager and relate your concerns – ask that you be escorted to you car or the police be called depending on the circumstances.
If you are in your vehicle do not head home, but go to a populated/well lighted location. If you have a cell phone call the police by dialing 9-1-1. Do not head home, instead go to a populated/well lighted area and wait for an officer there.
If you do not have a cell phone when you get to a well populated/well lighted location ask that the police be called. Do not get out of your car unless you think it is safe to do so. If you do not think it is safe to get out, honk your horn repeatedly and flash your lights while in front of the business to get the people who are inside attention. Do not get out of your vehicle, but ask that the police be called.
Pull up as close to the front of a business – but do not park where you would be blocked in.
In extreme circumstances, consider flashing your lights (even in the daytime) and honking your horn as you drive. This will get other motorist attention.
Drive safely – you do not want to get in an accident or run someone off the road while trying to avoid being followed.
Lieutenant Grady can be contacted at PID6Patrol@aol.com.
Home Invasions?By Lieutenant JD Grady Supervisor of off-duty PID-6 officers
Recently phone calls and e-mails have been making the rounds indicating that some neighborhoods in far north Fort Worth, including the PID-6 area, had a rash of “home invasions.” The information being sent out had the best of intentions, but was somewhat short on facts.
While there has been an increase in home burglaries throughout the neighborhoods in far north Fort Worth, including the PID-6 area, they have not been home invasions. Home invasions usually mean a group of individuals, frequently wearing masks, force their way into a home that is occupied and restrain the residents while they ransack the home.
To my knowledge there have been no such home invasions in or around PID-6. What has occurred is an increase in homes being broken into during the daytime, usually between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm where entry is made into the home, usually through the backdoor, many of which had been left unlocked. Arrests had been made recently and the number of these types of burglaries has decreased. Residents are reminded to lock their side gates and backdoors and immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1.
Lieutenant Grady can be contacted at PID6Patrol@aol.com.
