Community Outreach Unit & Crime Prevention
Mission & Goal of the Community Outreach Unit
The overall mission and goal of the community outreach unit is to work with Crime Prevention as well as other organizations such as the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office Hope One Van which can provide support services for victims of domestic violence or those struggling with addiction.
Mission of the Crime Prevention
The Cape May County Sheriff's Crime Prevention Unit exists to reduce criminal victimization, reduce unwarranted fear of crime, and improve the quality of life of the citizens of Cape May County.
Goals of the Crime Prevention
Our mission will be achieved by addressing each segment of the County population with specific and appropriate educational programs, support services, and expertise.
Specifically we offer:
- Child Safety Programs
- Child Fingerprinting
- Sheriff's Say No To Drugs and Pass Jail Program
- McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog
- Stranger Awareness
- Latchkey Kids
- Internet and E-mail Safety
- Eddie Eagle Safety Program
- Gun Safety / Awareness
- Turn Off the Violence
- Bicycle Safety
- Child Safety Seat Program
- Project Lifesaver
- Cell Phone Safety for Kids
- School Safety
- School Security Surveys (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Method)
- Safe School Program
- Tip Boxes
- Hot Line (in conjunction with Crime Stoppers of Cape May)
- Physical Security Planning Manual
Fingerprinting Program
For over fifteen years the Sheriff's Office has offered the service of child fingerprinting to the parents of kindergarten age students in Cape May County Schools.
This year the Sheriff's Office has announced that there will be a change in the Fingerprint Program as they seek to offer a more effective and efficient service that will help parents and aid law enforcement in cases of child abduction or disappearance.
A much smaller print card containing spaces for the child's physical description and a picture will be sent home with each kindergarten student and the parents or guardian of the child will do the printing. A disposable ink strip and towelette will be in each print card with easy to follow instructions
Surveys conducted through the summer have found this method to be well received by parents. They specifically liked the idea that the new card is small enough to be carried in a purse or glove box and can be presented to law enforcement immediately should a child wander away or be abducted on a shopping trip or vacation.
Internet and E-mail Safety
Viral e-mail, Spam mail or phishing mail is on the rise. Hackers use these e-mails to con you into believing that there is something wrong and your attention is required. Sometimes these e-mails are disguised as an e-mail from your bank or credit card company. These e-mails will try to get you to log on from a link that they provide. Hover your cursor over the e-mail / link to see where that link is actually going to take you. An example would be that the email appears to from "YourBank.com" but when you hover your mouse over the link it says "johnQcitizen@gmail.com". This is obviously not from YourBank's website. Look for clues or other indications that the message is not legitimate such as misspelled words, bad or awkward grammar in the message or odd domain names that could be one letter different from the real one.
•If the link is leading somewhere you don't recognize DON'T CLICK ON IT. If you use their link it will copy the information such as your bank account number, logon and password and any other information you may type in. It will then send that information to the hacker who now has full access to your account.
•The FBI will NOT email you to inform you that they have a warrant for you and that you must send a $300.00 money order or by Western Union to prevent your arrest. It just does not work that way, If the FBI has a warrant for you they are not going to announce it.
•Fedex, UPS and other legitimate delivery companys will not send you a vague email asking you to confirm your address along with your social security number and date of birth. Think about it, why don't they know your address?, how did they get your email address then? Why would they need your social security number and date of birth to deliver a package? The legitamate companies will usually try to contact you by phone if there is a problem and will always refer to the tracking number of your delivery.
If you receive an email of this type or you are just not sure, the safest thing to do is use the logon link that you know is legitimate or an app that has already been set up to access your account and see for yourself. You may always call your bank or credit card company directly using the number provided on your credit card or bank card. Do not call any of the numbers provided by the spam or phishing e-mail Delete the e-mails immediately without clicking on any of the links and don't forget to empty that "deleted" folder. You can also block the sender but this is usually pointless as the hackers will send it again using a different e-mail address.
Here is sample list of some common subject lines for viral e-mail.
ATTENTION REQUIRED: INFO ON YOUR IMPENDING REFUND
ATTENTION REQUIRED: INFORMATION ON YOUR LATEST REFUND
ATTENTION REQUIRED: you are legally obliged to review the status of your shipment
AUTOMATED letter: refund information
AUTOMATED notice in regards to your item’s status
AUTOMATED notification: refund information
AUTOMATED notification: refund information
AUTOMATED USPS notification: your shipment has been postponed
AUTOMATED USPS OFFICIAL LETTER CONCERNING YOUR SHIPMENT
AUTOMATED USPS statement: your package has been delayed
AUTOMATIC letter: money back information
AUTOMATIC notice concerning your package’s location
AUTOMATIC notice: refund information
AUTOMATIC notification in regards to your package’s status
AUTOMATIC notification regarding your order’s location
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED: your parcel’s been delayed
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED: your parcel’s been delayed
IMPORTANT USPS customer support letter
IMPORTANT USPS REFUND INFO
IMPORTANT USPS REFUND INFORMATION
IMPORTANT USPS system notice
Major problems reported to the USPS support team
Major trouble reported to the USPS customer support
Official letter from USPS support team
Official letter in regards to your parcel
Official notice from USPS support team
Official notification concerning your package
Official notification from USPS
Official notification from USPS customer support team
OFFICIAL USPS MONEYBACK INFO REGARDING YOUR ITEM
OFFICIAL USPS MONEYBACK INFORMATION
Official USPS notification concerning your package
PROMPT ACTION NEEDED: your order’s been delayed
PROMPT ATTENTION NEEDED: your item’s been delayed
There has been an issue with your package
There’s been an issue with your package
URGENT USPS customer support letter
URGENT USPS customer support notification
URGENT USPS MONEYBACK INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ITEM
URGENT: notice of postponement of your order
USPS CLIENT IMPORANT NEW DETAILS REGARDING YOUR PACKAGE
USPS CLIENT IMPORANT NEW INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ITEM
USPS customer support notification: your order has been postponed
USPS OFFICIAL LETTER regarding your parcel
USPS official letter: big problems with your shipment
USPS official letter: serious issues with your order
USPS official letter: serious problems with your shipment
USPS official notice: serious trouble with your parcel
USPS official notification: serious issues with your package
USPS system notice: your package has been delayed
USPS system notification: your package has been delayed
USPS URGENT LETTER concerning your item
USPS USER URGENT NEW INFO IN REGARDS TO YOUR PARCEL
WARNING: DETAILS ON YOUR IMPENDING REFUND
WARNING: INFORMATION ON YOUR LATEST REFUND
WARNING: ISSUES WITH YOUR SHIPMENT
WARNING: PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PACKAGE
WARNING: TROUBLE WITH YOUR ITEM
WARNING: TROUBLE WITH YOUR SHIPMENT
WARNING: you are legally obliged to check the status of your order
Senior Citizens Safety
- Annual Seminars on Various Topics
- Anti-Fraud, Telemarketing Scams, and Home Repair Scams
- Nursing Home Safety for Residents and Administrators
- Communicating with Seniors
- Active Membership on Senior Citizen Targeted Board
- Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
- TRIAD- Composed of AARP, National Sheriff's Association, and National Association of Chief's of Police
- Annual Training
- Attendance annually at a Regional TRIAD Training Conference
Other Community Safety Related Projects / Programs
- Security Surveys of City Housing Authorities via Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Technique
- Assorted Public Service Announcements on Seasonal Crime Prevention
Speakers Bureau
Various topics related to Sheriff's Office and Crime Prevention
To Contact the Crime Prevention Unit for Literature or presentations call
Safe Schools Program
The Cape May County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Cape May County Crime Stoppers has instituted a Safe Schools Program throughout Cape May County.2
The Sheriff's Office offers free security surveys for County Schools along with tip boxes, and a hot line for students that may have information about potential problems.
To date several county schools have requested and received the security survey and have employed the "Tip Box" and "Hot Line".
Tip Line number is
The survey emphasizes access control, surveillance, and to protect students, faculty, and visitors.
Other Crime Prevention and Safety Programs
Crime Stoppers - A community program geared toward public involvement in the fight against crime. It offers cash rewards up to $1,000.00 and anonymity to citizens who furnish information leading to the arrest of criminal offenders and to capture felony fugitives.
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that depends on the involvement of private citizens and business for information and donations to help fight crime or potential terrorism in our communities.
Crime Stoppers SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM TIP LINE is a community program geared toward identifying groups or individuals who may through their actions or words have indicated they may be a potential threat to a school or group of schools. When a call is received by Safe Schools Tip Line, it is logged with the date, time, and a brief summary of the callers information. Callers remain anonymous, with no pressure to reveal their identity. Caller ID is NOT used on this line.
To report crime or suspicious activities call
To make a tax deductible donation to help fight crime send your donation to:
Cape May Co. Crime Stoppers Inc.
P.O. Box 104
Cape May Court House
New Jersey 08210
Check out the Crime Stoppers USA website.