Neighbors Unite in the Name Of Crime Prevention
The Local C.S.I.
In a suburban neighborhood where families ride bikes, babies are treated to long strolls and deer cross through yards to munch evergreen, people often go on with their lives without really interacting with the neighbors around them. Everyone waves and nods in a friendly manner. Snowstorms, lost pets and mixed mail often present opportunity to talk to one another. Many of the self-reliant residents of this secluded mountaintop neighborhood have been here for over thirty years without criminal incident. Some have just arrived with promise of a great new life here. How ever long they have been part of this idyllic neighborhood, people are uniting in the name of crime prevention.
Over the past several months, nearly a dozen homes have been the sudden target of break-ins while cars have been either vandalized or stolen. It has outraged an entire neighborhood, putting everyone on guard.
On a chilly winter evening, I joined an estimated one hundred and fourty concerned neighbors, with the Mayor, Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, County Sheriff, Detectives, Police Officers and Council Members to address the situation. After two hours of sharing information and ideas, we formed an alliance and gained a sense of retalliation.
Step one; We have taken the initiative to get better acquainted and simply deter the crime from happening. We organized a Neighborhood Watch task force.
Step two; Assign Block Captain and co-captains (Sensible Sue is a proud nominated Captain). Contact sheets are being created. Emails and phone numbers are verified. Residents are now exchanging pertinent information with the neighbor immediately behind, in front and on either side of them and agree to notify eachother before going away. Instructions have been given to homeowners to dilligently take in mail, newspapers, UPS and FedEx deliveries and recycling/garbage cans. Leaders will meet weekly as needed with updates and developments, which is an opportunity in itself to get familiar with everyone.
These crooks haven't got a chance!
Like detectives with the local C.S.I., we are gathering information and condensing it down to find the common denominators. So far, we know that they are very organized, driving high-end cars, like a BMW, Escalade and Mercedes Benz, and are dressed to fit in to the scene. That's a far cry from the hooded burglar with a sack on his back that I originally had in mind. We determined that the targeted houses are hit during the day and early evening when no one is home. Alarms are not stopping the intruders. They go to houses wiithout dogs and easily accessible from surrounding woods and golf courses. They are extremely efficient. They go in the front door, ransack bedrooms and exit the back door within four minutes. They only take what they can carry in their pockets, like money and jewelry.
They have been helping themselves to cell phones, expensive gadgets,money and miscellaneous personal items while Xenon lights are being plucked from their sockets in less than 20 seconds. Cars are being stolen from garages and driveways when left running to warm up (we all have done that). In one instance, a woman started her car in her driveway, went back into the house to get the phone, and saw her car driving off from her kitchen window! Another incident report came from a homeowner having a party on New Year's Eve. Her guest wanted to leave by 12:30am, but the car was missing!
We have had enough. The police want these guys too, and they will rely on the time tested method of civic action to do it. Our neighborhood thieves may think they know us, but they have underestimated us.
Funny thing is, they may have been using our unfamiliarity of one another as a tool of crime. They have been surveilling us, they know our schedules, habits and potential to have the valuables they're focused on. It feels like we are being stalked. What the criminals may not know is that we too, are getting organized, and collectively protecting our homes by putting an end to their interest in our neighborhood.
We are reviving the sense of community many sprawling suburban towns have lost over the years. Something good may come of it in the long run, though it may not sit right with those recently victimized. It is good to have a good neighbor and to be one, too.
The Local C.S.I.
In a suburban neighborhood where families ride bikes, babies are treated to long strolls and deer cross through yards to munch evergreen, people often go on with their lives without really interacting with the neighbors around them. Everyone waves and nods in a friendly manner. Snowstorms, lost pets and mixed mail often present opportunity to talk to one another. Many of the self-reliant residents of this secluded mountaintop neighborhood have been here for over thirty years without criminal incident. Some have just arrived with promise of a great new life here. How ever long they have been part of this idyllic neighborhood, people are uniting in the name of crime prevention.
Over the past several months, nearly a dozen homes have been the sudden target of break-ins while cars have been either vandalized or stolen. It has outraged an entire neighborhood, putting everyone on guard.
On a chilly winter evening, I joined an estimated one hundred and fourty concerned neighbors, with the Mayor, Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, County Sheriff, Detectives, Police Officers and Council Members to address the situation. After two hours of sharing information and ideas, we formed an alliance and gained a sense of retalliation.
Step one; We have taken the initiative to get better acquainted and simply deter the crime from happening. We organized a Neighborhood Watch task force.
Step two; Assign Block Captain and co-captains (Sensible Sue is a proud nominated Captain). Contact sheets are being created. Emails and phone numbers are verified. Residents are now exchanging pertinent information with the neighbor immediately behind, in front and on either side of them and agree to notify eachother before going away. Instructions have been given to homeowners to dilligently take in mail, newspapers, UPS and FedEx deliveries and recycling/garbage cans. Leaders will meet weekly as needed with updates and developments, which is an opportunity in itself to get familiar with everyone.
These crooks haven't got a chance!
Like detectives with the local C.S.I., we are gathering information and condensing it down to find the common denominators. So far, we know that they are very organized, driving high-end cars, like a BMW, Escalade and Mercedes Benz, and are dressed to fit in to the scene. That's a far cry from the hooded burglar with a sack on his back that I originally had in mind. We determined that the targeted houses are hit during the day and early evening when no one is home. Alarms are not stopping the intruders. They go to houses wiithout dogs and easily accessible from surrounding woods and golf courses. They are extremely efficient. They go in the front door, ransack bedrooms and exit the back door within four minutes. They only take what they can carry in their pockets, like money and jewelry.
They have been helping themselves to cell phones, expensive gadgets,money and miscellaneous personal items while Xenon lights are being plucked from their sockets in less than 20 seconds. Cars are being stolen from garages and driveways when left running to warm up (we all have done that). In one instance, a woman started her car in her driveway, went back into the house to get the phone, and saw her car driving off from her kitchen window! Another incident report came from a homeowner having a party on New Year's Eve. Her guest wanted to leave by 12:30am, but the car was missing!
We have had enough. The police want these guys too, and they will rely on the time tested method of civic action to do it. Our neighborhood thieves may think they know us, but they have underestimated us.
Funny thing is, they may have been using our unfamiliarity of one another as a tool of crime. They have been surveilling us, they know our schedules, habits and potential to have the valuables they're focused on. It feels like we are being stalked. What the criminals may not know is that we too, are getting organized, and collectively protecting our homes by putting an end to their interest in our neighborhood.
We are reviving the sense of community many sprawling suburban towns have lost over the years. Something good may come of it in the long run, though it may not sit right with those recently victimized. It is good to have a good neighbor and to be one, too.