Get Your Laptops and Bikes Engraved; Events Set for National Night Out

This evening is National Night Out, a crime prevention event designed to raise awareness about community police programs, such as crime watch, drug prevention and other anti-crime efforts. The nationwide event involves citizens, law enforcement, civic groups, businesses and local officials.

With National Night Out, police hope to strengthen community partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime.

Tampa’s District One Police are focusing this year’s events on bicycle registration. TPD will have mounted patrols and motorcycle police on site. They also will have computers that will enable attendees to have their bicycles logged so they can be traced if stolen.

Community members are invited to bring their laptop computers, iPads, and GPS devices for engraving with their driver’s license number – a measure that will aid in retrieving the articles should they be taken.

Here's a partial list of some the larger National Night Out events in Tampa:

• 1:00 p.m. – 3:00p.m., Heritage Bank, 3015 West Columbus
• 5:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m., Tampa YMCA, 4411 South Himes Avenue
• 5:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m., Chick-Fil-A, 609 South Dale Mabry Highway