May 13th COVID-19 Safety & Security Briefing Takeaways

May 13, 2020

Commander Aaron Sanchez, Denver Police Department (DPD) District 6, joined the Downtown Denver Partnership on May 13, 2020 to speak with our members about updated procedures and protocols the Denver Police Department (DPD) has implemented in relation to the spread of COVID-19. See the presentation from the briefing here.

Please plan on continuing to attend 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Security Updates for at least the next few weeks as Denver transitions out of the Stay at Home order to Safer at Home – and Downtown offices begin to come back into operation.  Your input, thoughts, perspectives, and great questions for the Commander are most welcome.

Some key points from the May 13th webinar include:

  • Overall, crime in the downtown area is down.  The only increase is auto theft – DPD has been tracking the trend of larger vehicles, primarily trucks, being stolen and subsequently used to steal bicycles. Many of the bikes are being fenced outside of downtown and the greater Denver area and appear to be going to other communities/counties.
  • DPD has been monitoring a trending conspiracy theory that 5G towers are causing the virus and have found that these poles are being vandalized. This theory is completely unfounded and has been disproven.
  • DPDs Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) operates throughout the City of Denver and is making contact with individuals experiencing homelessness and those setting up camps, and working to get them into services. If there are community health and safety concerns, the City’s Department of Environmental Health is notified.
  • If a crime, such as vandalism, stolen property, etc., occurs at your property or business, please report it to the police so they can focus on trends and patterns, and work toward resolving or preventing these crimes.
  • Due to budgetary limitations this year, expect the Walk the Beat program to look different this summer. It will include the deployment of the bicycle unit, the mounted patrol, as well as the motorcycle patrol on the Mall.

Join us for next week’s safety briefing with Commander Sanchez on May 20th at 9:00 AM. Click here to register.

*Reminder: how to protect your property during this time

  • Ensure the business is well-lit and eliminate places for criminals to hide near the building.
  • Lock all doors and windows when closed or away from the business. Install double cylinder deadbolts where possible, securing all points of entry, such as gates, fences, roof access, etc.
  • Remove cash from registers and leave the register open at the close of business and secure valuables or merchandise out of sight when closed.
  • Post signs outside your business letting criminals know there isn’t money in the register or safe, and keep track of inventory by marking items or logging serial numbers.
  • Remove any valuables or inventory away from windows.
  • If you are able, increase private security patrols around your facility.
  • Start or join a Business Watch Program to build relationships with neighboring business owners.
  • Install an alarm or surveillance system.
  • Contact your local Denver Police District for a business safety assessment