Code Red’s Use Expands To Crime Prevention

By Andrew Gorosko

The town has broadened the use of its Code Red emergency notification network, employing the automated telephone calling system to disseminate information on crime prevention.

Earlier this month, following a continuing series of incidents involving unknown persons stealing valuable small items from within unlocked motor vehicles, Police Chief Michael Kehoe employed the Code Red system to issue a townwide crime prevention message to residents.

 In that recorded telephone message issued on August 14, Chief Kehoe stated that during the past several months, there has been a noted increase of thefts of items from vehicles, generally occurring overnight from unlocked vehicles parked in residential driveways. Most of the thefts occurred in Sandy Hook.

Items taken included small valuables such as global positioning system (GPS) automotive navigation units, digital media players, and satellite radio units.

In the message, the police chief urged residents to keep their vehicles locked when unattended and to report any suspicious activity to local police.

The series of thefts from motor vehicles is under investigation by police.

This week, police reported two cases of someone entering unlocked vehicles on Beechwood Drive overnight on August 23/24 and stealing items from one of the vehicles. Missing are a satellite radio unit and a cellphone.

 In an interview, Chief Kehoe said the use of the Code Red system for crime prevention was “advisory” in nature, warning people to keep their unattended vehicles locked to prevent thefts of items from the vehicles.

There have been so many such incidents in the past several months that it became necessary to use the notification system to issue a broad crime prevention warning, he said.

Many people were simply unwisely leaving their vehicles open when unattended, leaving themselves open to possible thefts, he said.

“This [system] is a conduit to get information out, other than [through] the media,” he said. Police wanted a direct way to contact the public on the matter, he said. Use of the Code Red system was warranted under the circumstances, he said.

The Code Red system creates a multiplier effect under which people who receive the recorded telephone messages speak to their neighbors, spreading the word, he said.

“We’re investigating each and every case,” he said of the recent rash of thefts from vehicles.

The Code Red system is a useful device, the police chief said. “It serves the community well…It could help us solve crimes,” he said.

The August 14 telephone call alerting residents of the theft problem was the fourteenth time that the town has used the Code Red system since acquiring it in March 2007.

Code Red statistics indicate that the August 14 message was placed to 8,852 telephone numbers. Of those calls, the message was received at 6,647 telephones, either in the form of a person answering the telephone, or an answering machine recording the message. All telephones are not connected to answering machines or voice mail devices.

The last time the town used the Code Red system was in November 2007 to place two limited-area calls in Sandy Hook, where a person was missing from the Honey Lane area. In that case, 373 calls were placed, and 303 and 306 calls were received, respectively. One call announced the person’s disappearance. The second call announced that the person had been found.

Other past Code Red calls have involved notification of a prison training session at Garner Correctional Institution in August 2007, in which 820 calls were made and all 820 messages were received.

The Code Red system also has been used for notifications to residents about a water supply problem in 2007, a tornado in May 2007, the opening of an emergency shelter after flooding in April 2007, and the closure of roads after flooding in April 2007, plus some test messages that were issued when the Code Red system started operation.

Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead said he would be asking the Code Red organization for details on why only about 75 percent of the telephone numbers that were called on August 14 with the crime prevention message received that call.

Mr Halstead urged that residents and businesses register to receive Code Red calls by visiting the town’s website on the Internet at www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/index.

People without Internet access may register for the Code Red program at the fire marshal’s office at the town offices at 31 Peck’s Lane, telephone 270-4370.