Hope all of you are having a safe summer. I have just a couple of things I would like to mention in this letter.

We have had some B&E’s at various times in the south half of the county. One group was apprehended (juveniles), but there seem to be several “groups” around. Most are kicking in doors and going in to get money, electronics, and what ever they can get rid of quickly. We have been receiving good descriptions and our detectives along with surrounding agencies are actively working these cases. Sadly, I am sure with the state of the economy, we will continue to have more of these cases.

Lately we have been getting many calls about target shooting. You must be at least 450 feet from the nearest house (unless given permission from the resident). You need a backstop of some type to shoot into; this could be a mound of dirt, woodpile, etc…Cannot shoot after sunset. There is no restriction on the type of weapon being used. However, always be aware of your surroundings and know your backstop, and where you are shooting! Obviously the type of ammo being used will affect the distance the projectiles travel. If a round were to hit a home, vehicle, or a person the shooter could face serious charges. Please be considerate of your neighbors.

We recently had a rash of credit/debit card frauds. The victims had all made transactions at area Wal-marts. Victims found charges on their cards made in the Louisiana area. We are working with the security division at Wal-mart but have not yet been able to find out how the cards were compromised. Just make sure when using your cards you always keep it in your sight and make sure you get your own card back.

Our department provided information to Macomb County Sheriff’s Office about a person sending pornographic video of himself to a person he thought was a 14 year old girl, actually an undercover officer. The man was arrested when he arranged to meet “ the girl” in person. Parents, please make sure you know what your kids are doing on the Internet, and communicate with your children about this type of crime.

I need to remind all the groups to check your “neighborhood watch” signs. The road commission has provided me a list of all the signs that are bad and need to be replaced. At some point they will remove the ones that are in bad shape. In the past group members usually contributed $5 to provide the signs in their areas. I believe the signs are around $40.00-$50.00, and the road commission will install them for us.

Stay Safe

Deputy Sharon Worthington

Clinton County Sheriffs Office