Alarm systems (on buildings or automobiles) must always be used; not just some of the time. The same goes for deadbolts and other door and window locks.

When motion-detector lights go on, do not assume it is just a cat or other critter tripping it. Always investigate. And, “if you see something -- say something”. Immediately call the police and ask them to check it out.

Automobiles should be locked up and The Club should be in use. The police department is giving Clubs away. Don't leave valuables in the vehicle.

Lock up your tools; you don't want them to be used to get into your home/car or someone else’s.

Don’t leave your keys, wallets and purses in visible spots such as on top of the kitchen counter or near the front/back door. It is too easy for a burglar to grab your car keys “point and click” at the line of vehicles on the street to find his target.

When you go to sleep, place cell phones on a bedside table.

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO PREVENT CRIME!

In recent weeks, SPPD has logged a pattern of criminal activity, and at least two cases occurred in our neighborhood: The suspects target corner homes, with one perpetrator sitting in a getaway vehicle around the corner, while the others break into the house, then call the driver when they are ready to leave with the goods. We’re told most of the time the vehicles used are stolen, so even with a license plate ID they will be hard to catch. This MO was logged in two incidents reported to E/SP crime watch in March, as well as other neighborhoods including Old NE.

Please, if you notice something odd or creepy, or activity that is simply out of place in the neighborhood, call the non-emergency number. If the officer asks what you want them to do about suspicious activity that is not yet an actual crime, tell them you want them to LOG IT. A car sitting idling around the corner is not in-and-of-itself a crime, but it looks like it could be one waiting to happen, doesn’t it? If the odd stuff isn’t reported, there will never be a recognized pattern, and crime prevention remains a stab in the dark.

What can you do?

Someone in the alley awaken you at 2 a.m.? Call it in. Kids who clearly should be in school wandering around the neighborhood during the day? Call it in. “Teams” walking, one down the sidewalk, one down the street along-side parked cars, looking inside or trying the doors? Call it in! Abandoned bike at the curb on in the alley? Call it in (thieves often leave one stolen bike behind for another). Don’t be shy about getting to know your neighbors, and use the neighborhood association as a vehicle to meet more folks, get to recognize their faces and their kids.

Get on the email chain for updates when news is reported. Join in the Saturday night Crime Watch bike rides through the neighborhood; let Dan Vasterling know if you think your block needs to be included on the route, and why.

Be observant. By the time the corner house routine is publicized enough to catch them in the act, some other trick will be in the circuit.

Calling all bike cruisin’, dog walkin’ neighbors who want to address crime activity in ESPNA to join the Crime Prevention committee, also in need of a volunteer chairperson.This group will gather as needed to discuss crime prevention, and the E/SPNA e-mail list is used to alert neighbors to any current malicious activity.There are regular crime watch bike rides or [dog] walks which meet at the parking lot of Classical Medicine on 15th Avenue by MLK on most Saturdays at 8 p.m. Volunteer hours will count toward the ESPNA ‘match’ of the Acorn lighting grant, and are valued at $15/hour. If you would like to be involved in this effort, until a chairperson steps forward, please contact your section rep. Meanwhile, if you need to alert us to suspicious or criminal activity in the neighborhood, please email charoul@juno.net.

We began ‘05 with a grant from the Police Forfeiture Fund. We were able to purchase 50 Crime Watch T-shirts shirts that were given out to volunteers to wear while they’re walking, biking, or outside doing nothing, and still have a few left in the following sizes: Med (1), Large (1), XL (4), XXL (6) - FREE TO GOOD CRIME WATCH NEIGHBORS!

We formed a focus group that dealt with the landlords of two nuisance properties in the neighborhood (drugs, prostitutes, gunfire, etc.). A couple of neighbors graciously hosted meetings attended by the City Police, Councilmember Virginia Littrell and Deputy Mayor Mike Dove. We formulated a plan for dealing with the properties at hand and future problem properties, if necessary. I am happy to report that at this point in time, both problems have been abated although we will continue to monitor them.

Dan Vasterling and Frank Chapman created the Saturday Night Crime Watch Bike Rides and have been steady participants almost every weekend! Please come along. All you have to do is show up in the parking lot of Classical Medicine at the corner of 15th Avenue and MLK at 8:00 p.m. It’s a chance to get exercise, see who’s out, and chat. If you have a Crime Watch T-Shirt, you should wear it. If you need one, we’ll bring extras. You MUST have a front and back light on your bike and we can help you that, too (see below). How cool is that?

Finally, we were just notified that we will receive grant monies in the amount of $175.00 from the Police Department Forfeiture Fund 2006 to buy halogen light kits for bicycles. We will distribute them to anyone in the neighborhood who is interested in joining the Crime Watch Bike Ride. As the rides become more popular, more will be added to the schedule.

I’ve heard some neighbors say they think that crime doesn’t happen or is not tolerated on streets where board members live. If that were true, there’d be more folks signing up to become board members.

To drive home a point, our own pick-up truck was broken into last week while it was parked in front of our house. It was the third time this truck has been burgled (but only the second time while parked in this neighborhood).

We reported it to the police and our neighbors. Nothing was stolen because all the “good” stuff (like the stereo) disappeared the first time around, and we’ve learned not to leave anything of value inside except for Tic-Tacs, shoes and a rain poncho. However, the door lock was broken – again -- requiring a trip to the repair shop for four days.

The damage has since been repaired, and we have installed The Club in the hope it will deter would-be burglars before they break in.

The insurance deductible, purchase of The Club, and time off from work brought the cost of this crime to $200. That’s pretty inexpensive compared to what other victims have paid recently. Our deductible is low and we were lucky to have a spare car to drive while ours was in the shop. Aggravation: Priceless I am wondering, how much has crime cost you? Send me an e-mail with the date and amount, and we’ll keep running a tab. The total might just be high enough to wake up the state’s lawmakers.

Tip: Don’t leave the following items in your car: toll money, sunglasses, cell phones, electronics, & credit cards. And, use The Club.

Neighbors have reported that a woman described as a white woman aged 20s, with long hair, has been knocking on doors and asking to use the phone, and asking for money for a sick child.  In the past week or two, numerous neighbors along 10th Street have complied with her requests and offered other assistance, but have since become suspicious of her story.  Please be aware.

FYI: Here’s how we receive the Crime statistics from the PD: The PD provides a computer printout of crimes by location to a volunteer at the police station who in turn telephones us every few weeks; more often, if necessary. The Police Department does not alert us the moment a crime is committed in our neighborhood.

Hot issue: Parking Tickets.  Consider this: The police are usually too busy to focus on parking, but since some neighbors have trouble with each other’s parking habits, the police get lots of calls specifically for parking issues. When an officer responds to such a call, he or she is going to ticket every illegally parked vehicle; not just the target of the complaint. So, always park on the proper side of the street, facing the correct direction, and don’t block driveways or sidewalks.

FIRST FRIDAYS = NO COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICERS

Since community police officers are routinely reassigned to downtown for First Fridays*, and since our Crime Watch organization was planning group walks, we think we should begin with Friday evening walks. We received a grant for Crime Watch T-shirts and we should have them ready to distribute at the February General Membership meeting. All we ask is that T-shirt recipients commit to walking. If you cannot do the Friday walks, pick another day and time. We need groups of 3 or 4–or more–to stroll around. Each group can pick a time that works best for its members.

*Community police officers are also reassigned to other special duty assignments as they happen.

CRIME WATCH TIPS:

• Program the Police non-emergency phone number into your cell phones: 727-893-7780.

• Before you discard mail order catalogs, tear off the address label on the out-side along with the order form inside, which may also contain your name and address.

CRIMEWATCH SPEEDPASS We got some good Crimewatch and personal safety Tips at the November meeting. Here are a few that are easy to do and cost little money:

• Install thumb-screw clamps on your windows so they can be opened no more than a few inches. Post a “Beware of Dog” sign on your fence and place a BIG dog dish on your patio.
• Keep your car keys on a separate key ring from your house keys, especially if you keep credit, Blockbuster and Speedpass cards also on the ring. Give only the car keys to the valet or auto mechanic.
• Shred that mail you are throwing out. The identity theft numbers are growing each year. Don’t make it easy!

St. Petersburg Police Department

Sex Offender/Predators Database