LEBANON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT asks you to

Support our local DARE program

With decreased funding it has become extremely difficult for all police departments to offer DARE to our schools. This event is our major fund raiser.    Please post this flyer. Please forward to your friends. Tell all your friends to attend and donate if they can.  If you have car and wish to show it contact Steve Erb (contact numbers on the flyers).  This will be a fantastic event for all ages. 

Any questions contact E&E or this office.

See you there!

William L. Harvey -Chief of Police

Lebanon City Police Department

400 South 8th Street

Lebanon, PA 17042

Office (717) 272-6611 Fax (717) 272-6758

LEBANON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT    

Crime Prevention Tip

For Immediate Release: May 23, 2006

Prepared by: wlh

Latest Updates on Veterans Affairs Information Security

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has recently learned that an employee, a data analyst, took home electronic data from the VA, which he was not authorized to do. This behavior was in violation of VA policies. This data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses, as well as some disability ratings. Importantly, the affected data did not include any of VA's electronic health records nor any financial information. The employee's home was burglarized and this data was stolen. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the VA Inspector General's office, have launched full-scale investigations into this matter. Authorities believe it is unlikely the perpetrators targeted the items because of any knowledge of the data contents. It is possible that they remain unaware of the information which they possess or of how to make use of it. However, out of an abundance of caution, the VA is taking all possible steps to protect and inform our veterans.

The VA is working with members of Congress, the news media, veterans service organizations, and other government agencies to help ensure that veterans and their families are aware of the situation and of the steps they may take to protect themselves from misuse of their personal information. The VA will send out individual notification letters to veterans to every extent possible. Additionally, working with other government agencies, the VA has set up a manned call center that veterans may call to get information about this situation and learn more about consumer identity protections. That toll free number is 1-800-FED INFO (1-800-333-4636). The call center will operate from 8 am to 9 pm (EDT), Monday-Saturday as long as it is needed.

Here are some questions you may have about this incident, and their answers.

I'm a veteran. How can I tell if my information was compromised?

At this point there is no evidence that any missing data has been used illegally. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs is asking all veterans to be extra vigilant and to carefully monitor bank statements, credit card statements and any statements relating to recent financial transactions. If you notice unusual or suspicious activity, you should report it immediately to the financial institution involved and contact the Federal Trade Commission for further guidance.

What is the earliest date at which suspicious activity might have occurred due to this data breach?

The information was stolen from an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs during the month of May 2006. If the data has been misused or otherwise used to commit fraud or identity theft crimes, it is likely that veterans may notice suspicious activity during the month of May.

I haven't noticed any suspicious activity in my financial statements, but what can I do to protect myself and prevent being victimized by credit card fraud or identity theft?

The Department of Veterans Affairs strongly recommends that veterans closely monitor their financial statements and review the guidelines provided on this webpage or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).

Should I reach out to my financial institutions or will the Department of Veterans Affairs do this for me?

The Department of Veterans Affairs does not believe that it is necessary to contact financial institutions or cancel credit cards and bank accounts, unless you detect suspicious activity.

Where should I report suspicious or unusual activity?

The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following four steps if you detect suspicious activity:

Step 1 – Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com ; P.O. Box 740241 , Atlanta , GA 30374-0241
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com ; P.O. Box 9532 , Allen , Texas 75013
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com ; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790 , Fullerton , CA 92834-6790

Step 2 – Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Step 3 – File a police report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

Step 4 – File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by using the FTC's Identity Theft Hotline by telephone: 1-877-438-4338, online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft , or by mail at Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW , Washington DC 20580 .

I know the Department of Veterans Affairs maintains my health records electronically; was this information also compromised?

No electronic medical records were compromised. The data lost is primarily limited to an individual's name, date of birth, social security number, in some cases their spouse's information, as well as some disability ratings. However, this information could still be of potential use to identity thieves and we recommend that all veterans be extra vigilant in monitoring for signs of potential identity theft or misuse of this information.

What is the Department of Veterans Affairs doing to insure that this does not happen again?

The Department of Veterans Affairs is working with the President's Identity Theft Task Force, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate this data breach and to develop safeguards against similar incidents. The Department of Veterans Affairs has directed all VA employees complete the "VA Cyber Security Awareness Training Course" and complete the separate "General Employee Privacy Awareness Course" by June 30, 2006 . In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs will immediately be conducting an inventory and review of all current positions requiring access to sensitive VA data and require all employees requiring access to sensitive VA data to undergo an updated National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) and/or a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) depending on the level of access required by the responsibilities associated with their position. Appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, have launched full-scale investigations into this matter.

Where can I get further, up-to-date information?

The Department of Veterans Affairs has set up a special website and a toll-free telephone number for veterans that features up-to-date news and information. Please check this webpage for further updates or call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636).

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For Immediate Release: April 18, 2006

Prepared by: wlh

Don’t Get Caught “Phishing”

“Phishing” is another internet scam where you get what looks like a legitimate e-mail from a company that you may deal with. They are asking for you to “update” or validate your personal information, especially bank or personal account information. This often is a look-alike website. These scammers are very cleaver, be internet smart! If you have a question of this company; call them first but, do not click!

Do not clink on that link! Just following that link my allow them to read information from you internet service or even your computer (especially if you have not undated your virus protection or defense network). Remember legitimate companies will not e-mail you to ask for personal information. Do not give out your information to a company that you do not regularly deal with or one that you do not know!

Be internet savvy and internet smart!

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For Immediate Release: January 11, 2006 @ 1534 hours

Diversion Theft Warning

The Lebanon City Police Department warns residents of a two person female team that may be working the Lebanon City and surrounding area performing a diversion theft on unsuspecting home owners. There has been one reported victim at the time of this release and this was a senior citizen.

Their tactic is for one actor to distract the homeowner, enter the home then engage the resident in conversation. While the second actor then slips about the home committing the theft.

These perpetrators are described as follows:

The first one was a white female that is very heavy set. She wore glasses and make-up. She wore a three-quarter length material coat and very well dressed.

The second one was dark skinned and dark hair. She was approx. 5’2” in height and 120 pounds. She spoke with a “foreign accent”. There was no further clothing description.

The LCPD reminds you that if you do not know who is at your door, you DO NOT have to let them in your home! You are by no means obligated to allow anyone entrance into your home. Call 911 and notify your police department if you are suspicious or anyone coming to your residence.

Should anyone have any information on this crime or further information of other

victims in Lebanon City contact 272-6611.

For Immediate Release: December 29, 2005

Crime Prevention Resolutions for 2006

With the ringing in of 2006 how many of us will be making a New Year’s resolution? Well, how about a few “crime prevention or safety resolutions” for the New Year? Safety and Crime Prevention is everyone’s business! It is more than just security; it is the responsibility of all levels of and agencies of government. It is linked with solving social problems and is cost-effective! And it just makes sense or could it be dollars and cents?

Everyone should ask their business, school, church, organizations and friends this year to make a safety-crime prevention resolution! It can be simple, cost effective and maybe even fun as well. Here are but just a few suggestions:

At the end of meetings or the work day; ensure all participants are escorted to their vehicles safely

• Wear and make all occupants wear their seat beats…no trip is too short!
• Bicyclists wear your helmets and get your bikes registered
• Engrave or mark your valuables
• Shred old mail and documents with your personal information on it
• Always take your keys and lock your car
• Teach your children about personal safety…they are never too young to learn!
• Enroll in First Aid & CPR classes
• Get to know your neighbors
• Form or join a Neighborhood Association or Crime Watch
• Every meeting or action plan should have a “safety statement” to remind its members; the most valued asset of any organization is its membership!
• Be a friend, become a designated driver or call a cab for a friend in need
• Make 2006 a Safe and Crime Free Year!

From the Men and Women of the Lebanon City Police Department