Cleveland’s 2nd District Police Commander Keith Sulzer is fed up with the number of burglaries and car break-ins in the District – 2091 reported burglaries and 469 car break-ins in 2012 – and he’s taking matters into his own hands in order to help you do something about it.

“Every morning I come in and read my brevity reports and feel sick to my stomach because I see people getting victimized that don’t have to be, so I decided that we are going to do all we can to help people have the tools to avoid becoming victims,” said Sulzer. “My goal is to kick these criminals out of the neighborhood, and making it harder for them to score is a good way to do that.”

Commander Sulzer is kicking off 2013 by launching a safety initiative focused on helping people protect themselves. The initiative includes a multi-faceted approach to increasing safety by getting the word out to residents and businesses about what they can do.

“We may not even realize it, but sometimes we make it easy for criminals,” said Sulzer. “This initiative is about making people feel less like victims.”

Safety audits are a key component of the 2nd District Safety Initiative. These audits include a full run-through of your property. An officer comes through and does a point-by-point inspection with the owner and suggests safety upgrades that range from simple tips, like not placing your garbage cans under a window and turning your alarm on even when you step out for only a few minutes, to door replacements and lock upgrades. All audits are free to the public and all you have to do to schedule one is to contact the 2nd District Police at (216) 623-5205 or your community development corporation.

“Burglaries and car break-ins are two things that can be prevented just by increasing security and by being aware of what the bad guys target,” said Sulzer. “We are here to help. I take this very seriously. “

In addition to individual safety audits, the 2nd District is hosting safety seminars, the first of which was held at Zone Recreation Center earlier this year that was attended by about 50 people. The seminars focus on providing attendees with safety tips, such as securing your window unit air conditioner with screws so it cannot be popped out easily, and not becoming absorbed in your smart phone as you walk down the street so that it cannot be snatched out of your hand. Dates and locations for two more upcoming seminars will be announced by the 2nd District as they approach and a safety fair will be held at Estabrook Recreation Center on June 1st.

If you cannot make it out to a seminar or aren’t sure if you want to schedule a safety audit, you can watch the Commander conduct a full audit on TV20. If you don’t have Time Warner cable, you can still see the show – just tune in online. The show’s date and air time will be publicized as the information becomes available.

In addition to these efforts, Commander Sulzer and the 2nd District Police Community Relations Committee Chair Bob Shores are administering the 2nd District Community Relations Committee Facebook page and a Twitter account (@Second_District). On either of these social media platforms, residents can find periodic safety tips and get updates about activities in the 2nd District.

“I always type in CAPS,” laughs Sulzer. “So when you see posts or tweets in CAPS, you know that’s me.”

If you aren’t a social media user, weekly safety tips will also be airing on TV20 and you can expect to find them in your local publications as well. The TV20 tips will include reenactments of crimes and show you what you can do to avoid being victimized.

As always, the Commander invites residents to call the police with questions and to report anything suspicious.

“Don’t ever think something is too small or unimportant to call us. Trust your instinct. If something is not right, call it in,” says Sulzer. “Even if we don’t get there in time to see the crime, keep calling – if we hear from you that an area isn’t safe, we increase patrols. Trust me; we want to hear from you.”