Riverview Police Warn Of Possible Crime Opportunities

RIVERVIEW (AP) — Police in the Detroit suburb of Riverview are leaving neon green placards that warn residents of potential crime opportunities.

The Detroit News reports the reminders have been in use for the past month. They might be put out if a garage door is left open or valuables are left unattended, for example.

Lt. Joseph Jakubus of the Riverview Police Department says residents "like to know that we are doing our job and care so much."

The program, however, raised concerns police are going too far in checking private property, or that it gives police an excuse to conduct unreasonable searches.

Jakubus says the initiative isn't breaking laws. He says they're "not going around checking into windows or jiggling handles on doors."

The newspaper says other communities use such warnings.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.