Crime Prevention

The City of Ramsey has adopted certain ordinances to take all reasonable measures to prevent activities that maintain or permit a condition that unreasonably annoys, injures, or endangers the health, morals, decency, safety, or public peace and affects the comfortable enjoyment of life or property for our citizens.

If your complaint involves an animal, please contact Police Dispatch.

Animals

• Animal carcasses
• Diseased animals running at large
• Farm Animals without adequate acreage
• Manure, refuse or debris (if stable or barn area, must be removed every 2 weeks)
• Ordinances: Keeping of Animals 10-1, Public Nuisance 30-3(2-4)

If your complaint does not involve an animal, please visit the Code Enforcement webpage.

Dishonored Check Procedures & Guidelines

Includes guidelines and procedures to address dishonored checks (No Account, Account Closed, or Insufficient / Non-Sufficient Funds) and financial transaction card fraud (credit cards, credit plates, charge plates, courtesy cards, bank services cards, banking cards, check guarantee card, debit card, electronic benefits system card, electronic benefits transfer card, assistance transaction card, etc.). View the Dishonored Check Packet (PDF).

Active Shooter Awareness

Businesses and the public must be aware of the warning signs of a potential "active shooter" and what to do if a serious situation like this happens.

What to Do if There is an Active Shooter

There have been several high-profile active shooter incidents around the United States, resulting in multiple casualties. People need to be prepared if they find themselves in an active shooter situation. Please take a few minutes to view the video Run, Hide, Fight. Although the video contains some violent scenes, it outlines practical steps you can take. Download the Active Shooter Poster (PDF) for your workplace.

The Department of Homeland Security website also provides information and free courses, materials and workshops to help prepare for an active shooter situation and raise awareness of behaviors that may indicate active shooters.

Construction Site Crime Prevention

Construction sites are frequently victimized by vandalism or theft. The Ramsey Police Department is dedicated to helping you maintain a safe work site, but we need your help. There are many easy steps that construction companies and individual employees can take to reduce the likelihood of a crime occurring. To reduce your chances of being victimized, review the following construction-site crime-prevention tips (PDF).

Gas Drive-Off Policies

When you call the Ramsey Police Department to report the theft of gasoline, you agree to pursue prosecution of theft charges. Specific requirements must be met, including completing the Fuel Theft Report. 

Gasoline Theft Policy

Ramsey Police Department Procedure for Theft of Gasoline Reports 11-08-2007

Requirements for Gasoline Retailers:

When calling the Ramsey Police Department to report the theft of gasoline, you are agreeing to
pursue prosecution for theft charges, and the following guidelines must be met:

1. The employee must have a vehicle description, including color, make and or model, and
   license plate number of the suspect vehicle.
2. The employee must have a description of the suspect.
3. Can the employee identify the suspect in a photograph line-up?
4. The police report should be made promptly, preferably immediately after the theft
   occurred.

Once a police report is made, an investigation can be conducted based on the above-mentioned
facts. If a suspect is identified and questioned, they may be arrested and or issued a citation for
the theft of the gasoline. An employee and or witness may be subpoenaed to court for their
testimony.

The Ramsey Police Department is not a collection agency. The police will not identify the
suspect to make arrangements for them to return to the store and pay the bill instead of
charges. An arrest or a citation will be issued if the investigation concludes that someone left without
paying for the gasoline.

Any partial payments and or agreements of payment made by the retailer to a customer before or
after a police report is made will be considered a civil matter with no police action taken. Please
refer to attached MN State Statute # 604.15 Civil Liability for Receiving Motor Fuel without
Paying. 

MN Crime Alert Network

Securing your home or business from potential criminals does not have to be complicated or expensive. We examine property protection through the lens of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

CPTED’s goal is to prevent crime by designing a physical environment that positively influences human behavior. The theory is based on four principles: natural access control, natural surveillance, territoriality, and maintenance.

Natural Surveillance

“See and be seen” is the overarching goal of CPTED and natural surveillance. A person is less likely to commit a crime if they think someone will see them do it. Lighting and landscape play an important role in CPTED.

Natural Access Control

Natural Access Control is more than a high block wall topped with barbed wire. CPTED uses walkways, fences, lighting, signage, and landscaping to clearly guide people and vehicles to and from the proper entrances. The goal of this CPTED principle is not necessarily to keep intruders out, but to direct the flow of people while reducing opportunities for crime.

Territorial Reinforcement

The goal of this CPTED principle is to create or extend a “sphere of influence” through physical designs such as pavement treatments, landscaping, and signage that enable users of an area to develop a sense of proprietorship over it. Public areas are clearly distinguished from private ones. Potential trespassers perceive this control and are thereby discouraged.

Maintenance

CPTED and the “Broken Windows” theory suggest that one “broken window” or nuisance, if allowed to exist, will lead to others and ultimately to the decline of an entire neighborhood. Neglected and poorly maintained properties are breeding grounds for criminal activity. We will work with you to develop a formal CPTED-based maintenance plan to help preserve your property’s value and enhance its safety.

Home Security Audit

Read more about home security audits (PDF).

Identity theft is the unauthorized use or attempted use of an existing credit card or another type of existing account, the unauthorized use of personal information to open a new account or for another fraudulent purpose or a combination of these.

In 2021, an estimated 23.9 million individuals aged 16 and older in the United States were victims of identity theft. Among them, 59% faced financial losses surpassing $1, totaling $16.4 billion. Furthermore, 76% of identity theft victims encountered misuse of a single existing account, such as a credit card or bank account. (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics)

Tips to Protect Yourself

• Purchase a cross-shredder to shred all your personal documents.
• Consider putting a fraud alert on your credit accounts. Contact the major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. Future creditors will then have to contact you by phone to confirm any new accounts.
  • Credit Reporting Agencies:
    • TransUnion: 800-916-8800 or online
    • Equifax: 800-685-1111 or online
    • Experian: 888-397-3742 or online
• Slow the flow of junk mail and telemarketing calls, which are mostly a waste of time and resources. About 62 million trees and 25 billion gallons of water are used to produce a typical year’s worth of junk mail in the United States. Worst of all, it puts you at greater risk for identity theft because each pre-approved credit offer that’s sent to you is another invitation for someone to open a credit line in your name. To remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus, call the Opt-Out Line: 888-567-8688
• Be Aware of Scams:
  • “You’ve Won a Prize!” Scam - We all want to be winners, but do not be fooled into giving out your personal information. If someone calls you to offer you the chance to receive a “major” credit card, a prize, or other valuable item but asks you for personal data - such as your Social Security Number (SSN), credit card number, expiration date, or mother’s maiden name - be cautious! Ask them to send you a written application form. If they will not, tell them you are not interested and hang up. If they send it, review the application carefully and make sure it is going to a reputable company or financial institution.
  • Nigerian Scam - This scam has been used for over a decade and is sent out to victims via letter, email, or fax. It consists of a message stating that the sender has a large sum of money, usually $10 million or more, and needs help transferring it out of Nigeria or another country. As a reward for your help, the sender promises to pay you a percentage of the transferred funds. Do not give out your bank account number or any other personal information! The Better Business Bureau can give you information about businesses that have been the subject of complaints.
• Protect Your Social Security Number—One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft is to protect your Social Security Number (SSN). Your SSN is the key to your personal information. By obtaining it, a thief can access many of your accounts, including your bank accounts and credit cards.
  • Do not carry your Social Security Card in your wallet or purse.
  • Keep this card in a safe place at home.
  • Do not imprint your SSN on your checks.
  • When asked to provide your SSN, ask the individual why it is needed and how they will be using the number.
  • Do not post your SSN in emails or chat rooms.
  • When applying online, make sure the site is secure. Read the Privacy Policy of any website to which you may provide personal information. The policy will explain how they use your information.
• Reduce the amount of personal information that is “out there” by signing up for the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry. This registry lets you choose whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint on their website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.
  • National Do Not Call Registry: 888-382-1222 or online.
• Install a locked mailbox at your residence to deter mail theft or use a post office box or a commercial mailbox service. When you are away from home for an extended time, have your mail held at the Post Office or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up.
• Pick up new checks at the bank rather than have them mailed to your home. If you have a post office box, use that address on your checks rather than your home address so thieves will not know where you live.
• When you pay bills, do not mail bills from your unlocked mailbox. If stolen, your checks can be altered and then cashed. It is best to mail bills and other sensitive items at the Post Office.
• Reduce the number of credit cards you actively use to a minimum and carry only one or two in your wallet. Consider canceling unused accounts. Even though you do not use them, their account numbers are recorded on your credit report, making them a tempting target for identity thieves. Be aware that reducing the number of credit card accounts might lower your credit score. Part of your score is determined by having credit cards and installment loans and making timely payments. (View more information on credit scoring.)
• Photocopy or keep a list of all your credit card, bank account, and investment account numbers. Make a note of the expiration dates and telephone numbers for the customer service and fraud departments. Keep these in a secure place (not your wallet or purse) so you can quickly contact these companies if your credit cards are stolen or your accounts are used fraudulently.
• Never give out your SSN, credit card number, or other personal information over the phone, by mail, or on the Internet unless you have a trusted business relationship with the company and have initiated the call.
• Always take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container. When shopping, put receipts in your wallet rather than in the shopping bag. Never permit your credit card number to be written on your checks.
• Monitor the mail for a new or reissued credit card. If the card does not arrive promptly, contact the issuer.
• Order your credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus to check for errors and fraudulent use of your accounts. Under federal law, everyone is entitled to request a FREE copy of their credit report once each year from each of the major national credit bureaus. It is a good idea for people to periodically review their credit report to ensure it is accurate, complete, and free of errors, and to confirm that an identity thief has not opened fraudulent accounts in their name.
  • How to Order Your Free Credit Report. You may order a free credit report once each year from each of the major credit bureaus— Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These three credit bureaus have set up a central website, phone number, and mailing address through which you may order your free annual credit report. You may request your free reports from all three credit bureaus at the same time. You may also order a free report from each company one at a time at different points in the year, which allows you to monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year. When you order your free credit report, you will be asked to supply the following information: First name, middle initial and last name, Date of birth, Social Security number, and previous mailing address if you have been at your current address for less than two years.
    • By phone: Call 877-322-8228. You should generally receive a credit report ordered by phone in 15 days.
    • Online: Visit the Annual Credit Report website. You should be able to access an online-ordered credit report immediately.
    • By mail: Write to the Annual Credit Report Request Service at:
      P.O. Box 105281
      Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
      Your report should generally be mailed to you within 15 days after your request is received.

The Ramsey Police Department is committed to keeping our community safe and informed. Minnesota law allows us to provide residents with the information they need to make decisions regarding their safety and welfare as citizens and their children.

Predator Information

We release information pursuant to Minnesota Statute 244.052, which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a predatory offender’s release from prison or a secure treatment facility when the agency believes that releasing the information will enhance public safety.

Predator Registry

Predatory offenders are required by law to register with local authorities and to keep authorities apprised of any subsequent changes in residence. We conduct compliance checks on predatory offenders living in Ramsey to ensure they are within our borders and in compliance. Investigations are conducted on those found to be noncompliant.

The Ramsey Police Department has one portable speed trailer. This unit displays the approaching vehicle’s speed as well as the posted speed limit. The intent is to alert drivers to their speed relative to the posted speed limit and thereby improve compliance. Please note: the trailer does not record the vehicle’s registration or driver’s information. 

If you would like to request the speed trailer be placed in a specific area, complete the online request form. The Speed Trailer is requested frequently. Due to this, your request will be placed in order of submission date and is subject to weather conditions.

Thefts from vehicles are the most common nuisance crime in the city of Ramsey. Fortunately, it is preventable with these tips:

• Lock your car doors and close your windows.
• Do not leave valuables in your car. If you do, make sure they are kept out of plain sight - hide them under a blanket, or better yet, lock them in your trunk.
• When transporting valuables, place them in the trunk before you get to the location where you intend to park. Do not transfer them at the parking space in the open view of other people.
• If you have a garage, use it.
• Do not leave your garage door opener on the dashboard, visor or front seat. Put it in your glove box, hide it, or take it with you.
• Always park in a well-lit area; if you park in the driveway, leave your house lights on.
• Remember: briefcases, sunglasses, clothing, keys, gym bags, and small change are all tempting to a thief.
• Leave only the vehicle keys with the parking attendant in a commercial parking lot.
• There are locks made for various marketable parts of cars. Battery locks, wheel locks and special tape deck lock mounts can help protect these items, as well as any damage that may occur during theft.
• Install a locking gas tank cap to help prevent gasoline theft and limit a thief’s driving range to one tank.
• Park the front wheel turned sharply to the right or left, making it difficult for a professional thief to tow your car away backward.

Remember

• When driving your car, keep your doors locked and the windows rolled up.
• If you stop in traffic or at a light, keep your car in drive and stay alert.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• If you are being followed, go to a safe, public place and call 911; do not drive home.