Do you have a friend or family member that is elderly or requires additional help and needs to be checked on regularly? Or are you that person who would like to receive a phone call to ensure you're doing well? The El Segundo Police Department offers a program known as You Are Not Alone (Y.A.N.A). 

The YANA program is free to all El Segundo residents and helps provide on-going contact for seniors, people with disabilities, or anyone that can benefit from the routine contact. Our El Segundo Police Department Volunteers make the phone calls to the participants weekly on a day and time designated by the resident. 

Some of the benefits of the program include providing peace of mind and a sense of comfort for the City's homebound older or disabled adult residents who enjoy the independence of living alone, in addition to access to community information for support or referrals. We believe by staying connected to the community, participants can reduce the chance of being victimized. 

YANA referrals can also be made online. To learn more about the program or to register visit elsegundopd.org/yana.

THEFT FROM VEHICLE
While theft from a motor vehicle is still one of the highest trending property crimes, there was a decrease last month!

REMINDER: Continue to remove all valuables from your vehicle, and if you plan on purchasing a high-end item, consider making that your last stop before returning home to avoid having to hide it in your vehicle. 

MAIL THEFT | WHAT MAIL THIEVES ARE LOOKING FOR AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Mailbox looting is one of the most common forms of mail theft. Often, opportunistic criminals drive through a neighborhood looking for unattended mail, packages, and unlocked mailboxes to exploit. 

Here's what they may be looking for in your mailbox:  

• Money and Incoming/Outgoing Checks. Checks can be chemically washed and rewritten. 
• Greeting Cards which often contain money or gift cards in them.
• Utility Bills. Can be used as a form of identification to steal money from your bank account.
• Bank Statements. The information on your statements can be used to make unauthorized purchases or withdrawals.
• Credit Card Offers. Pre-approved credit card applications can be altered and used to open new accounts.

Tips to Help Protect Yourself: 

• Sign Up for Informed Delivery with USPS to see images of your incoming letter-sized mail.
• Promptly collect your mail every day.
• Invest in a mailbox with a lock 
• Be mindful when using your outgoing mailbox flag or leaving mail clipped to your mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up, especially if it contains sensitive information. 
• If you're going out of town, contact the post office to place a vacation hold on your mail or ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail while you're away. 
• If you move, be sure to file a change of address with the Postal Service and your financial institutions. USPS charges $1.10 to file a Change of Address online, which comes with 12 months of standard mail forwarding.  
• Inquire about overdue mail with the sender if you did not receive a check, credit card, or other valuable mail you're expecting.
• If applicable, go paperless.