A K9 officer and police dog will now conduct regular patrols at any facility that participates in the Wichita Falls Police Department’s Crime-Free Program in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The police department introduced the program in 2008 hoping to reduce criminal activity in the city. The program first targeted apartment communities, and was later opened to self-storage facility owners and managers. The three-hour class is provided free of charge by the police department.

Wichita Falls K-9 Officer Teddie Whitefield, and his canine partner, Ben, will now patrol the premise of any certified self-storage facility. Most recently, the police duo patrolled Hot Shots Moving & Storage, one of four facilities certified by the program. Andy Borchardt, co-owner of the facility, added a new sign announcing the facility’s certification.

According to WFPD, self-storage businesses provide a unique target for criminals because many items of valued are stored there. Additionally, criminal conduct can go unnoticed due to low traffic in the area. The new class provides solutions to many of these problems. The International Crime Free Association has found self-storage businesses can reduce their calls for service by as much as 60 percent, WFPD said.
 
Source:  Texoma’s Home Page,  Wichita Falls K-9 Officer Will Now Patrol Certified Crime Free Self-Storage 

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