Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday Safety Tips – On-Line Awareness

The on-line holiday shopping season is in full swing and each year scammers and hackers are looking for different, inventive ways to gain access to your personal information.  Please be alert and aware as you shop and interact on-line.  The following safety tips are provided to help keep your personal information safe.

How to Protect Yourself – Do’s:

  • Learn how to spot common scams and fraud. Find out the warning signs of internet fraud, phishing, and other on-line scams.
  • Update your computer software. Download the latest versions of your operating system, malware, virus protection, etc.
  • Talk to your kids about being safe and responsible on-line. If you’re a parent, help protect your kids on-line by teaching them about the risks.

 

How to Protect Yourself – Don’t:

  • Don’t use the same passwords for multiple accounts. Try to make your passwords unpredictable and avoid using names, dates, or common words.
  • When shopping or banking online, only use websites that use encryption to protect your information as it goes from your computer to their server.
  • Don’t share your passwords or sensitive information with anyone you don’t know or trust.

 

Watch What You Post On-Line

 Please be aware of posts that you comment on or posts that ask you what was your favorite teacher’s name, your first pets name, the High School you graduated from, your City of birth, your Mother’s maiden name,  etc.

These types of questions are asked when setting up accounts as security questions.  The answers that you give can inadvertently assist hackers in either accessing your existing accounts or opening credit lines in your name.  The key to preventing these type of scams from occurring is to be alert.

 

If you have any questions about the tips provided in this Public Service Announcement, please feel free to contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

 

Toys for Tickets Results

3rd Annual – “Toys for Tickets” Results

 

The Flagler Beach Police Department is proud to announce the completion of its 3rd annual “Toys for Tickets” program.  This year’s response from our community has been incredible!

 

The campaign began Monday, November 13, 2017 and concluded Tuesday, December 12, 2017.  During the thirty (30) days that encompassed this year’s holiday program, Officers from the Flagler Beach Police Department issued a total of three hundred and sixty (360) “toy waivers” along with warning citations for non-criminal state traffic and city parking offenses.  The “toy waiver” afforded each motorist the opportunity to donate a new, unwrapped toy, instead of facing a potential civil fine.

 

“Our Officers have embraced this program, reflected in their proactive efforts to enforce the law and to do so with the “pay it forward” spirit of the holidays,” stated Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney.  “A family from North Carolina that received a written warning mailed back the toy waiver with a $100 check.  That’s pretty cool and shows that what we’re doing is making a positive difference during the holidays.”

 

All toys from this initiative were donated to the local non-profit charity “Christmas Come True” for dissemination to local families.  Ms. Nadine King, founder of Christmas Come True” enthused, “We love our community. Their generosity this year has been absolutely fabulous.”  The local charity’s elves are facing the happy but monumental task of the wrapping the donated toys.

 

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s campaign for their generosity and willingness to making a difference on Christmas morning for the children of our community.

 

For additional information regarding the results of this year’s program, please contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

 

Force Main Break

On December 10, 2017 at approximately 5:00 AM, a ten inch (10”) steel sewer force main ruptured at the intersection of South 22nd Street and Daytona Avenue.  The rupture occurred approximately four feet (4’) below ground surface.

City Staff responded within thirty (30) minutes and began making necessary repairs.  The force main break was repaired by 2:00 PM that same day with minimal sanitary service interruption to the public.

During the force main break, approximately 10,000 gallons of wastewater was spilled.  Most of this was vacuumed up, and lime was applied to the affected area.  None of the spill reached the Intracoastal Waterway.

Both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Flagler County Health Department were properly notified.

The City apologizes for any inconvenience to residents in the affected area.

Winter Holiday Safety Tips

Winter Holiday Safety Tips

The winter holiday season is always a special time of year and the following safety tips are being provided in a proactive effort to make this the safest season possible.  We can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware; so please share this information with family, friends and neighbors. The Flagler Beach Police Department would like to wish everyone a safe, prosperous and joyous holiday season.

Holiday Shopping Tips

  • Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.
  • If you must shop at night, park in a well-lighted area. Consider shopping with a friend or family member rather than going alone.
  • Make sure purses and wallets are secure on your person and you are aware of their location at all times.
  • If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located in a store, mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
  • Credit cards offer convenience and security, however, keep track of all cards and keep receipts to compare to your monthly statement.
  • Have keys ready before getting to your car so you do not have to search for them while walking to or standing near it.
  • Report suspicious people or activity to Law Enforcement immediately!
  • Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason, especially in parking lots. At this time of year, “con-artists” may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

 

Home Safety Tips

  • Valuable items, such as televisions, stereos, and computers should be inscribed with an identifying number unique to its owner (do not use your entire social security number).
  • Create an up-to-date home inventory including make, model, serial numbers, other detailed descriptions, and photographs of items of value (including jewelry). This inventory should be kept somewhere safe, out of the house.
  • It is not uncommon for criminals to take advantage of the generosity of people during the holiday season by soliciting donations door-to-door for charitable causes although no charity is involved. Donate to a recognized charitable organization.
  • The motion detector or other alarm system (if you have one) should be activated when you leave home.
  • Mail and newspaper deliveries should be stopped or arrangements for a neighbor/friend to pick them up should be made when you are away from home for a period of time.
  • Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your home when you are away or have a trusted friend or relative house sit in your absence.
  • Make sure all doors and windows are locked when you leave, even if you have an alarm system.
  • Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

 

Hosting a Party

  • Have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests.
  • Find alternative transportation for intoxicated guests.
  • Arrange for an official designated driver for your party who will not drink any alcoholic beverages.
  • Don’t drink and drive.

Active Email Scam

“Active E-mail Scam – Stop the Grinch”

The Flagler Beach Police Department is providing this announcement in an effort to warn citizens in our community that there is an active e-mail “scam” occurring locally. “Scammers” are looking to profit on a deal that’s too good to be true. The good news is that there have not been any reported victims in Flagler Beach.

The current scam involves an e-mail from someone claiming to be from the “Office of Inspection Unit” in Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Airport Maryland. The scammer advises that there’s “a consignment that is in a custody at our bondage security warehouse vault”.  The e-mail continues by stating that “two trunk box consignments bearing a tag identification of your name and e-mail was discovered to contain some reasonable millions sum of money in 100-dollar bills”.  The scammer kindly provides a personal cell phone number for you to contact and the e-mail you’ve received comes from a personal hotmail account.  At this point red flags should be raised, and alarms should be sounding; as you have been targeted in a scam.

 

Please understand that no legitimate Government employee will ever e-mail you about Government business from their personal e-mail accounts regarding Government business, nor will they provide you with their personal cell phones numbers.  These scam e-mails are being sent for one reason and one reason only:  to take your hard earned money.

If you receive an e-mail of this nature we’re asking citizens do the following;

  1. Don’t respond to the e-mail or call the number, and
  2. Delete the e-mail.

 

Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney stated “These scammers had the nerve to e-mail this scam to my work place, so they’re bold and brazen.  The holidays are right around the corner, so be alert, be prepared and stop the Grinch!”

 

If you have any questions regarding this active e-mail scam, please feel free to contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2024.

 

 

City Facilities Recovery Update

Hurricane Irma’s high winds and heavy rains impacted our beautiful city on September 11, 2017, resulting in extensive damage to many City facilities, including the Pier, Library and Museum.  The following is an update on our efforts to repair and reopen these facilities.

Pier:  Several structural integrity studies have been performed by the engineers from Mott MacDonald and repairs are being made by Construct Co. Inc.  The tentative date for reopening the Pier is Friday December 15, 2017.

LibraryThe heavy damage to the roof of the City Library has been repaired, and efforts to restore the interior have begun.  As of today, the timeframe for the reopening is unknown, as this will be determined by the contractor’s progress.  We understand the inconvenience this closure has caused, and its reopening is a top priority.  We will continue to keep the public informed as to a tentative reopening date.

Museum:  The Flagler Beach Historical Museum, located at 207 South Central Avenue, is open! Hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM.  The bathrooms inside the Museum are closed for repairs, but the public bathrooms at the front entrance of City Hall, which is located right around the corner, are open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.   Come visit the museum and see how our great City has progressed “from the Stone Age to the Space Age.”

Thank you in advance for your continued patience as we complete repairs to these facilities.