April 5, 2012 - Recently, officers from the Houston Police Department's Southeast Patrol Division joined community members to bowl over crime.

The event was part of the division's 2nd annual Safety Bowl and teamed HPD officers with residents in a friendly environment.This different approach allowed officers to crime prevention tips and information as opposed to normal way the officers spread the word. While some officers and residents were inside the Armadilla Lanes bowling alley on Fuqua, other officers were outside distributing Burglary of Motor Vehicle (BMV) report cards in the southeast Houston parking lot. The officers looked for unlocked vehicles, windows left cracked or rolled down and visible personal belongs, all of which could serve as an enticement to thieves.

"We talk to the residents throughout the year, but we seem to have a problem with burglary of motor vehicles," HPD Officer Trenesia Harris said. "We want them to be aware this is what a criminal would see in the vehicles and perhaps break in because of it," she said.

It may be an unconventional way to get the word out, but residents seemed to enjoy it.

"It is beautiful that citizens in the community can have the relationship with the police department that we have in Sunnyside," said Sunnyside Civic Club member John Jackson."It's not a bad thing to do and it's not a scary thing. We just enjoy the police department and the way they work with us and we work with them," he added.

It's a relationship that lasts all year.

"We're here," said Officer Harris. "We're trying to work as a team to get it done."

To see video of the event, click here

For more crime prevention information, visit the HPD website at www.houstonpolice.org