Community Alerts

At the November PSA 1 Community Meeting, Sgt. Rechner from the 17th Police District updated community members about criminal activity in our area over the preceding month. Violent crime and assaults are down; but burglaries and thefts from auto are still prevalent.  As always, the sergeant offered his tips to avoid being the victim of such crimes - lock all front and rear windows and doors before leaving the house; remove all items of value (GPS, cell phone chargers, laptops, even loose change) from your vehicle if you park on the street.

Moreover, the holidays are upon us and as either you welcome family and friends into the neighborhood, or are traveling, please keep the sergeant's advice in mind to secure your person and your property:

• Remove all belongings, bags, and valuables from cars parked on the street.
• Always lock your front ground floor windows when you leave the house.
• Lock all rear windows and doors at all floors.
• Unloading from a holiday shopping spree? Take all your bags/gifts inside in one trip, if possible, or be sure to lock all doors and the trunk in between loads. 
• Friends or family coming in from out of town? Get them a Visitor/Temporary Permit Parking permit, just $15 for 15 days, which allows them to park in residential permit parking spaces during their visit.  Cars parked on north-south numbered streets (which are mostly non-permitted blocks) are more often targeted for break-ins as there are fewer homes on these blocks, and cars tend to have out-of-state plates.
• Be mindful of your surroundings, especially as you are walking to or from shopping, with cash or gifts in hand, or from holiday parties; walk briskly and with purpose; avoid advertising your smart phone or headphones to potential criminals.
• Going on vacation?  Don't advertise your absence. Do not leave notes for the mailman; stop delivery of your newspapers so they don't pile up; have a friend check the house while you're away; set your stoop and front room lights on a timer.