Sex Offender Registry

Register for Community Notification

Any person may request from the State Police and, upon compliance with the requirements therefore established by the State Police, shall be eligible to receive from the State Police electronic notice of the registration or re-registration of any sex offender.

Register for Community Notification

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual to exert power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate relationship.  Abuse may be emotional or physical.  I may be anything from threats, chasing, slapping, punching, kicking to choking, beating with an object, stabbing or shooting.  Abuse also includes any unwanted sexual activity, even if the abuser is an intimate partner.  The abuser may be a current or former spouse or a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend, or certain relatives.

To report domestic violence dial 911.  For help and information click Victim / Witness.

    Identity Theft

 Our area has recently seen an increase in reports of identity theft.  Identity theft or fraud occurs when someone obtains your personal information (your social security number, name, address, credit card or bank account numbers). 

In one recent case, over thirty victims were located and more than $3 million were stolen.  Many of the victims were isolated seniors some of which suffered from diminished mental capacity.  Unfortunately, some the victims passed before we could bring the suspect to justice.   

Our senior community is most vulnerable, but anyone can be victimized.  The government estimates some 400,000 people are victimized each and every year.  This is by far the fastest growing crime in America. 

Most people do not know they have been victimized until they apply for a loan or mortgage, sometimes weeks or months later.  Since seniors rarely do either, it may not be discovered until such time as the settlement of their estate occurs.  By then, key pieces of evidence have already been destroyed or purged. 

If you find that you have been victimized, notify your financial institution and your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible.  As with any crime, the best course of action is prevention and education.  So let us identify how it works and ways to prevent us from becoming a victim. 

When someone gets your information, he or she can apply for loans of credit in your good name without your knowledge or consent.  Quite often they immediately notify the financial institution of a change of address for you.  This way you will never receive any correspondence from the institution.  Many times the purchases will be made over the telephone or most recently, the internet.  More often than not a family member or acquaintance is the perpetrator of these crimes. 

Here is how you can protect yourself and your elder family members:    

1.                            Monitor your elder loved one’s finances.  Check their credit rating at least annually.  Before they invest in any opportunity, offer to investigate the legitimacy of the company or individual.  Check to see if they have a business license and ask for references.  Government agencies such as the Better Business Bureau can also be of assistance.  Remember if something sounds too good to be true…it probably is!  No one gives away anything for free!  Pay particular attention to home improvement and repair payments.

2.                            Do not give out any personal or account information over the telephone or internet.

3.                            Report lost or stolen credit cards or checks immediately.  Monitor delivery of new checks to make sure none were stolen in transit.  Remember a common trick is to steal a check in the middle of the pack so it won’t be noticed for several days.  Also, someone does not need to be in possession of you credit card to use it fraudulently; he or she only needs the account number and expiration date.

4.                            Secure your cancelled checks, receipts, credit and account statements and ATM numbers.

5.                            Do not simply throw away receipts or      statements.  Shred or burn them.       

6.                            Do not put outgoing mail in an unsecured location; drop it in a secured mailbox.

7.                            If you do not receive bills on time or if you notice something unfamiliar on them, do not ignore it, contact the company immediately.

8.                            Contact law enforcement or your financial institution if you receive any suspicious calls or letters concerning your accounts.

9.                            At least annually check your credit report.  You must remember to check all three major credit bureaus:    

Equifax         800-685-1111

Experian       800-682-7654

Transunion   800-916-8800

10.                        Obtain a pin (personal identification) number for your credit and ATMcards.  This will prevent their use if the user does not know the pin.  Or obtain a credit card that includes your photo.    

Of course, doing all of these things is still no guaranty you won’t be victimized but it will greatly reduce your susceptibility. 

For more information feel free to contact Investigator Michael Perry, Manassas Park Police Department, at 703-361-1136.

Refuse to allow yourself to become a victim and act now!