From: Smith, Yvonne (MPD) <
yvonne.smith@dc.gov>
Subject: Transition to Digital TV and Possible Scams
1) Greeting
Hello Members of the District of Columbia,
During the holiday season, we will share with you continuous safety
tips that we would like for you to share with your friends and family
online and verbally. Through the Internet, with help from community
members and activists like you, MPD believes we can "Take a Bite Out
of Crime." With your help, we can reach more than 40,000 online
residents in the District, alone, by the end of the day.
For more information on crime prevention through outreach, please
contact us in the Community Services and Youth Outreach Division,
where we specialize in violence intervention, senior citizen and
clergy outreach, youth and school programs, and community outreach.
(202) 727-8809.
2) Crime Prevention Video for the Week: Scams to Sell TVs
Watch Video by Clicking this Link:
http://cbs13.com/local/bricks.vcr.stolen.2.464504.html
(Click Blue
Button on the Photo to View the Video)
3) Message to Residents
As you know, the transition from Analog to Digital TV (DTV) is
approaching. The deadline is set for February 2009, but false rumors
have some residents thinking the deadline is in early 2008. This
brings us to our crime concern- This holiday season, there may be
people attempting to sell televisions to residents who are unaware of
the DTV facts. Not just in this area, but around the country, scams,
from selling cheap TVs that only pick up analog signals, to selling
rocks in a box and selling oven doors as flat-screen TVs will be on
the rise with the news of the DTV transformation if residents are not
tipped off to common holiday scams. Oftentimes, residents,
particularly residents who fear deportation will not report scams. We
urge residents to report all crimes to the police and known criminals
to the police. We also urge residents who will make expensive
electronic purchases to deal with reputable stores.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created a website and
a DTV Commission to keep you fully informed on the transformation to
Digital TV, which has been called the greatest television breakthrough
since the transformation from Black and White to Color Television.
That website and others are listed below.
4) Resources
Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Info on the Transformation
to Digital TV
http://www.dtv.gov/
About the Digital TV Transition
http://www.dtvtransition.org
High Definition TV Guide (I.J. Hudson, Reporting) NBC-4 Local News
http://www.nbc4.com/technology/1965494/detail.html
Yvonne Smith, Director
Office of Community Services and Youth Outreach
Executive Office of the Chief of Police
Metropolitan Police Department
300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 4034
Washington, DC 20010
202-727-8809 office
202-727-7756 fax
yvonne.smith@dc.gov
e-mail
http://www.mpdc.dc.gov
website
Alton, Bigelow, Commander
Community Services and Youth Outreach Division, a component of the
Patrol Services Bureau
Patrol Services Bureau
Diane Groomes, Assistant Chief
Melvin Scott, Commander
Steve Sund, Inspector