The following information was sent via 'Citizen Alert' from the Matthews Police Department:
Recently there has been a growing trend in robberies that is causing concern. On January 12, 2009 a man was robbed at gunpoint in his driveway while unloading packages from his vehicle. This was the incident that the Matthews Police Department reported through Citizen Observer yesterday, January 13, 2009.
Although there have only been a couple other cases similar to this one in Matthews, there have been more in the surrounding Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. A citizen being targeted in their driveway or home has not been a typical form of robbery in the past. We want to stress to the community not to be fearful about dangerous crimes, but aware that they do exist so precautions can be taken.
The recent trend is that criminals drive through residential neighborhoods in the evening hours after sunset when there are not many people outdoors. When they locate a person just arriving at home, they use the element of surprise to take advantage of their victims. Most people feel more secure when they are home and their attention is diverted when getting in or out of their vehicle.
The best means of preventing this type of crime is a keen alertness to your surroundings and recognizing suspicious activity. To assist in these efforts we suggest having sufficient lighting around your home and driveway. Consider using motion detector devices on outdoor lighting, which can also alert you to recent movement in the area. Watch for vehicles following you, or in the area as you approach your home. Consider driving past your home toward a populated area until you determine that the vehicle or person in the area is not suspicious.
In the event you are confronted by an assailant comply with their demands and try to deescalate the situation to reduce violence.
There are different individuals committing these crimes and often use different vehicles. The location and times in which the incidents happen are random in nature. For that reason, it is important to be aware that although not frequent, robberies can occur in any neighborhood. Please look out for yourself and your neighbors, and report any suspicious activity to the police department immediately. To contact the Matthews Police Department directly, call 704-847-5555.
