It’s been 10 days since readers alerted us to car thieves in the neighborhood. At that time we said auto break-ins or thefts happened more than once every other day since June 1.
Now we can make that more than a car EVERY day.
This afternoon Calvin emailed:
I’m one of at least two people who had their cars burglarized last night (July 18) on 8th Ave. Northeast. When a police officer came to investigate the burglary of my vehicle, another person arrived who stated their car had also been entered and had valuable items stolen.
In my case, one item was stolen. The thieves attempted to steal the car stereo, but seem to have given up after damaging it.
In both cases, there were no apparent signs of entry. Residents should take caution and avoid leaving cars unlocked or windows down, and not leave valuable items in their vehicles overnight.
We’ve attached the police crime map for cars over the last 10 days. (Calvin and Co. from last night aren’t on there yet.) As before, the solid cars are stolen cars; the ones with the white dot were broken into (car prowls).
How many crimes it shows here depends a bit on how you count and where exactly you think Maple Leaf is.
But if you look at the diamond formed by Northgate Way, Lake City Way, Banner Way and Interstate 5, the map shows seven stolen cars and six car prowls reported from July 9 to July 19. (Some of the icons represent more than one crime. For example, the solid car icon near Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 86st Street represents three stolen vehicles.)
Add in Calvin’s report and you get a total of 15 cars stolen or broken into here over the last 10 days.
Lock your car doors, put a light on. The only deterrent to minor crime is exposure. There is no way that the SPD is going to be able to protect you from every crime. They can only do post work.
Remember that the police are not often able to prevent crimes, they are only able to document them.
Do yourself and your neighbors a favor by keeping the lights on and maintaining good community.
Do you know what pillage means mike?
Response: Yes, Mike actually looked it up before using it.
pil·lage
–verb (used with object)
1.
to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder: The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.
2.
to take as booty.
–verb (used without object)
3.
to rob with open violence; take booty: Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.
–noun
4.
the act of plundering, especially in war.
5.
booty or spoil.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English pilage ( see pill3 , -age), modeled on Middle French pillage (derivative of piller to pillage, orig., to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncertain origin)
I actually see police almost every day drive by my place on 90th. I’m not sure they are much of a deterrent to car crimes, which usually seem to be crimes of opportunity. Watchful neighbors and an active community with lots of people out walking around helps a lot. Also not leaving anything of value visible in your car, making sure it’s locked, parking it under a light, etc. Make it less of a target. I learned all this the hard way parking downtown.
If you want more police presence and if your car is broken into, even if they don’t take anything, report it to the police. If you hear of someone’s car being broken into, encourage them to report it. The reports DO matter and help the police in making decisions on where they will patrol.
If we do not tell them, they will not come.
Nine years in the neighborhood, six criminal automobile violations. Hit and runs to parts stolen off the car. It would be nice to see more police cars traveling north/south instead of just coming and going from the precinct and I feel we need more mid-block street lamps.
I just heard of one on NE 90th just east of Roosevelt.
And mine…they rifled through everything and took a bluetooth, no attempt on the stereo. We’re on 78th between Roosevelt and 8th.
Please add our car to the list! We did not report the rifling because they didnt get anything. We are also on 8th.