Hello Midtown,
As we move through the summer, and in line with our Midtown Strategic Plan, we are paying particular attention to crime trends and data--where, when, how, and (when possible) who are committing the crimes. While we have enjoyed substantial reductions in two of our three property crime priorities (burglary and theft from auto), stolen autos have remained steady or increased slightly. This is particularly concerning for two reasons: first, beyond the immediate impact on the victim, stolen cars can and are involved in other crimes including violent crime (such as shots fired); and they can and have been involved in dangerous driving and crashes. Most stolen autos can be prevented with some simple and common-sense actions:
LOCK YOUR CAR
DON'T LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN YOUR CAR OR YOUR UNOCCUPIED CAR RUNNING
KEEP YOUR CAR KEYS IN A SECURE PLACE (KEEP YOUR HOME LOCKED UP TOO)
Also, If you see suspicious behavior in your neighborhood--people wandering through yards in the middle of the night, or trying door handles on parked cars--please call us (non-emergency 255-2345)! Your call doesn't predetermine an outcome, but it gives us an opportunity to prevent a crime, or gather information that may lead to an arrest.
There have also been a few burglaries to homes that are unoccupied (i.e. someone on extended vacation or travel). In these cases, doors were locked but burglars used rocks to break glass and make entry. There are some steps you can take to harden your homes when you are gone:
Letting a neighbor know you are going to be gone for a while and ask them to keep an eye out
Putting inside and outside lights on a timer
Making sure mail, newspapers, and packages are either stopped or collected by a friend or neighbor
Neighbors report any suspicious activity
Notifying PD and requesting a vacation watch
Having cameras and/or an alarm is also an option
Finally, I continue to be grateful for the amount of proactive effort my Midtown officers are making. Between June 7th and June 20th, Midtown personnel dedicated over 270 hours (spread out on almost 300 efforts) between our crime, traffic, and community engagement priorities. In my next update (post July 4th) I'll provide a bit more detail of our efforts.
Thank you, be well, and as always, let me know if you have questions or concerns.
Captain Freedman