ANAPR STAFF REPORTS
“Report For Reward” Program rewards local Diamond Bar residents.
Diamond Bar – Four Diamond Bar residents were recently rewarded $500 each for reporting suspicious activity that lead to the arrest of three suspected burglars.
The financial awards were approved by a committee consisted of a sworn member of the Sheriff’s Department and Diamond Bar City staff under the Report for Reward program that went into effect Nov. 15, 2013.
The Report for Reward program aims to help combat residential and vehicular crimes within city limits by providing members of the public with a monetary incentive of up to $500 for information leading to the arrest of individuals who damage or destroy property while attempting or executing a residential or vehicular burglary, according to the City newsletter. The program is open to everyone, but City and Sheriff’s employees are not eligible for a reward.
Citizen Barbara DeCarbo was recognized as the first recipient of the Report for Reward program and was thanked for her services to the city at the Dec. 17 City Council meeting.
At the meeting, DeCarbo described the incident she reported to the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Station. She said she was home one September afternoon when saw a man walking on the sidewalk in front of her neighbor’s home and then walk to the side of the house to the backyard. Knowing that her neighbors weren’t home, she called the Police to give them information about the suspicious man and the suspicious vehicle that had been driving back and forth on her street. Sheriff Deputies responded quickly, which resulted in three male suspects being arrested that day.
DeCarbo then asked the community to please get to know their neighbors and get involved. The City Council agreed and Mayor Carol Herrera added that with 16,000 residential units in the city, it is impossible to have a deputy patrol each one.
The City website also states that one of the best ways to safeguard your neighborhood against burglaries is to get to know your neighbors and watch out for each other’s property. “The more eyes you have looking for suspicious or criminal activity, the better protected you and your neighbors will be against burglaries.” It also says to make sure to also trust your instincts, and immediately call the Sheriff’s Station if something does not look or feel right.
Suspicious activity that should always be reported includes unfamiliar persons on foot, bicycle, or vehicle driving through residential streets below the speed limit or lingering in an area, seemingly without a purpose. City officials say that when calling the Sheriff’s Station (909) 595-2264 (9-1-1 if the burglary is in progress or it is an emergency), try to provide as much as information as you can about what you are observing, such as description of the individuals, and the car color, make, model and, if possible, a license plate number.
The City also asks to consider joining or starting a Neighborhood Watch group in your area by calling Community Relations Deputy Aaron Scheller at (909) 839-7079.
The Report for Reward program was established after being approved by the Diamond Bar City Council – by way of Ordinance No. 08(2013) – during its regular meeting of October 1, 2013.
To encourage wider participation in the Report for Reward program, City staff and Sheriff’s deputies in late November 2013 met with Diamond Bar employees the United States Postal Service and the City’s contract street sweeping company to inform them of the program and guide them on how to detect suspicious behavior while out in the field, according to the newsletter. Additional meetings are planned with other City vendors and area service providers in the coming weeks. Community groups who would like a presentation on the Report for Reward program may contact City Hall at 909.839.7000.
For more information about the program, including answers to frequently-asked questions, please visit the City website at diamondbarca.gov/RFR.
