Police Work With Local Businesses to Warn, Inform

Roughly four months ago the Chapel Hill Police Department, through its community service department and a brainstorming session headed by Police Chief Gregg Jarvies, created an e-mail listserv to update businesses of pertinent information from the police.

For example, the service department will e-mail the listserv about recent crimes, customers writing bad checks and false solicitors.

Art Englebardt, a crime prevention specialist with the police department, works to maintain the link between businesses and police.

"Basically what we're trying to do is set up a direct line with businesses and the police department," he said.

Englebardt said he praised the listserv for its convenience and practicality.

"With 1,300 businesses in town you can't call all of them," he said.

But Englebardt said the listserv has to be used carefully to maintain its effectiveness and that it is only a part of the police department's strategy to reach out to the community.

"You don't want to constantly bombard people because if you do it too often they don't look (at the e-mails)," he said.

Englebardt said the police department also aims to educate business owners about preventative measures through programs the department offers throughout the year.

"We offer seminars, and we do business surveys," he said.

Englebardt also said the department had upcoming programs on shoplifting, employee shoplifting and self defense for business people to attend.

But some business owners believe the police department is limited in what it can do to prevent crimes against businesses.

"There's only so much you can do if someone wants to smash your glass," said Julie Jennings, owner of Uniquities, located at 452 W. Franklin St.

Uniquities had its front glass door broken Aug. 29.

Jennings said her alarm went off and police responded quickly.

She also praised the program as beneficial to the community and business owners.

"I think it's helpful, she said. "I think it makes people feel more in touch."

Chris Rice, the owner of Carolina Brewery, located at 460 W. Franklin St., agreed that the police department was making positive strides in dealing with business-related crime.

"The more we can do as merchants to keep in touch is definitely good," he said.

Carolina Brewery was broken into Aug. 19 and experienced about $11,450 in damage to office equipment and computers, police reports state.

Englebardt said the program would be expanded to include e-mail listservs specific to businesses of a certain type.

He cited apartments, hospitals, pharmacies and real estate agencies as sectors that would receive information pertaining to their interests.

Although Englebardt believes the new exchange of information will be good for the business community, he said both entities face inevitable difficulties in curbing business-related crimes.

"If you have a guy who's going to throw a brick through a window, all the warnings in the world won't stop it."

The City Editor can be reached

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