Norman Residents Differ On Police 'Pink Report Card' Program

A pink card placed on your car, or your home's door, letting you know if it's unlocked has some Norman residents shocked. Norman Police are starting to issue more "pink report cards" to keep folks safe this holiday season, but some feel the cards could make them a target.

Police say only during the shopping season, and in certain neighborhoods, they do leave pink cards on top of driver's windshields, warning them to keep their cars secure.

"It's an awareness issue, as much as anything else, particularly in Norman, our highest crime without a doubt is auto-burglaries," said Norman Police Captain Tom Easley. "If you can harden the target, lock the car, take the valuables out of it, solves everybody a lot of problems."

To combat theft, Norman police officers sometimes place pink cards grading a person's security level. A driver will get a "failed" mark on their car if it is left unlocked, valuables are in plain view or if a window is left open.

Likewise, a Norman resident will get an 'F' placed on their home door if they have an unsecured door or window or open garage door.

One University of Oklahoma student, who lives in the Reserve Apartments on Stinson, says she was stunned to find a pink card on top of her car Thursday morning, saying it was unlocked. She says about 20 other cars at her building also had pink cards on them.

It's a policy that's received mixed reviews over whether a bright pink slip on top of someone's car will make their vehicle a target for thieves.

"If someone's going to check your car to see if it's unlocked, they're going to try a door handle. And if they're putting those on all the cars anyway, then I don't think it's a target," said Roger Poynter, a Pauls Valley resident, who frequently shops in Norman.

Jerard Jamerson, a recent OU graduate disagrees.

"I wouldn't want people checking my car. I mean, I understand, but if I left something unlocked, it's on me, and then it does make you a target because if I don't get to it first, someone sees my door open, they might just check it themselves," Jamerson said.

Easley says officers have sparingly used the cards for the last 18 months since it is not a widespread operation. He says officers will only do it if they have the time.

"How do you counter the argument that you just made my car a target? Well, I counter it this way, your car was already a target when you left it unlocked," Easley said. "Now we've just appealed to your reason and asked you to do something to help us."

The pink slip is not a citation; it is only a report card. Norman Police say the pink cards are just one strategy they use to combat crime, and if they receive more complaints than positive comments, they could discontinue the program.