Show & Tell Day at Albany Police Department

Published July 21, 2013, 10:13 p.m.; updated July 22, 5:32 p.m.

Probably the most dramatic moment at the Albany Police Department's annual open house, "Safety Palooza," Sunday was the demonstration of a car break-in. 

"Albany is not unlike any other city," said Sgt. Dave Bettencourt, drawing an attentive cluster of kids and adults to an old car where he was preparing to break a window. 

"It is plagued with auto burglaries at the moment. It has been for years and will continue to be."

After a brief introduction, in which he stressed the importance of not leaving anything that looks like it could be valuable in view in the car, Bettencourt took a hammer to the car's window. He gave it several whacks. Nothing happened.

Then he asked everyone to turn around to see if they could hear the sound of the glass breaking when he tried the next technique. Also, police asked that people not observe or film the actual break-in because they didn't want to publicize how to do it.

The sound of the glass shattering was relatively quiet. Bettencourt explained that many people say they never hear a break-in, even when the car is nearby.

The event, held 1-4 p.m. at the City Hall parking lot, also drew many visitors to a rock-climbing wall, remote-control toy cars and tours of the police station, which included jail cells (with separate cells for regular prisoners, juveniles and the inebriated), the 911 dispatch center, the briefing room, the break room (where officers relax and have their in-house social events like birthday parties), and the armory where weapons and ammunition are kept.

One outdoors exhibit included a display of police gear, including a heavy SWAT team vest, break-in equipment like a one-person battering ram, a gas mask, a "Rescue Phone" that is tossed into barricaded suspects, and a Glock pistol. (Visitors could touch all the gear except the gun.)

One booth featured a spin-the-wheel giveaway with prizes that included caps, pin wheels, pencils, gliders, flags and the "Big Prize," a basketball.

This was the third year that the police department has staged its "Safety Palooza."

The Albany Police Activities League blog has a number of nice photos by Peggy McQuaid of the event, including kids having a good time.

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