The Christmas season is not only a favorite time of year for numerous law-abiding citizens, it is also the time of year when certain crimes tend to spike (theft, burglaries, breaking and entering of vehicles, etc.). Benton Police Department officers, however, will work side by side with community to deter these crimes with the launching of December’s “Saving Christmas” initiative.
“Our hope is this initiative will serve as a deterrent to business robberies and burglaries, while safeguarding our banks, residential areas, and our schools,” said Chief Scotty Hodges. “We are going to increase our enforcement efforts and visibility, including with walk throughs of schools, businesses and banks.”
Officers will also provide contact information and material on joining the Benton Business Watch program (if the business isn’t already a member). In addition to the full-time officers, we’ll also utilize reserve officers to provide extra patrol of businesses. Officers will patrol the businesses day and night, and with the times being unannounced, it will keep criminals wondering when and where an officer will show up.
Business owners and residents can help reduce crime in the community and assist in keeping the city safer by participating in the BNPD initiative. To request officers to speak to a group of residents or at a business about ways to help deter crime, contact the Benton Police Department at 501-776-5948.
To report crimes, contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Follow BNPD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/221829174560849
