Castlegate Community

Well if you want to help with the block watch send me an e-mail otherwise you may or may not get notified.  I'm hitting where I can, but I'm only one person so I can only do so much.  Unfortunately the breaking into cars is kind of a thing in many of the communities.  It's more kids making stupid choices...bored kids.  Your car being ransacked and the only thing stolen is some CD's seems to me is probably some bored teens.  Doesn't make it right by any means but it's become kind of common here.  I've lived ehre for almost 6 years and knock on wood, never had anything happen, so I'd say by way of serious crime we're considered pretty low, but like many other subdivisions in this area we have teens with nothing to do no after school programs, no boys and girls clubs, etc so they vandalize the parks, the street lights (what few we have), cars, etc. 

The block watch had died, I plan on resurrecting it, but only if I can get people to help otherwise it's not going to work.  Mike had the idea of bringing the COP program here to Castlegate so he's working on getting volunteers for that, but again if nobody volunteers (seems to be a common tune around here unfortunately) then it won't be very successful either.

The programs that we have in place depend upon the folks that live in the community stepping up, taking part, and volunteering some time.  If we can't get that then the programs won't work.  So if you want to help let us know, if you know any of your neighbors on your street and can convince them to help by all means pass on the information to them. 

In the meantime I do strongly urge you to call PCSO and specifically ask if they can put an unmarked car on your street for a week or so to see if they can catch the person/people.  I have a feeling it's probably kids.  If they didn't steal your radio or any other major valuables it doesn't sound like professionals to me.  JMO.

I AM sorry you had it happen, I urge you to maybe put your boat in the back yard (if you can), or we've found if we park our cars diagonally we can fit them both in the garage so maybe try that so you can put your vehicle in the garage along with the boat, or put the boat in the driveway (not sure if this is okay or not to be honest, might want to check the CC&R's before doing this) so both cars can go in the garage.  I don't know just some ideas.

Really?!? Bored teens? I think not. About 3 years ago I had a person break into my vehicle and it was just "sorted through". My stereo was not stolen, nor were the valuables inside. Come to find out... not bored teens, but my neighbor and he was in his 50's. Most of our neighbors on this street get along and watch out for each other, however this guy was a freak of nature.

I know you stated that it is not all teens, but my teens spend their time in the community pulling weeds in foreclosed homes, getting the mail for neighbors out of town, mowing lawns for people who need it done, saving dogs from being beaten by other kids, .... need I go on?

Quit blaming the unruly teens and realize that the break in's that are occuring could possibly be people who are down on their luck or just make their living going from community to community stealing items. Then, check out some of these yards sales and see if missing items are being sold. I have seen that happen here, too.

If you are to form an effective Block Watch program, then you need to see the reality of the problems first.

I've SEEN the kids/teens vandalizing stuff!!!  It's not all in my head thanks!  I'm glad YOUR kids are fabulous, obviously you've done your job right as a parent, but maybe YOU should realize that many have not, or many work and leave the kids at home who go out and get in trouble because they have nothing better to do so they make their own "fun".  I've come home as late as midnight to see kids "strolling" down at the school...what are young teens (14-15) doing OUTSIDE at midnight??  What are they doing in the parks (yep PCSO has caught them a few times) at 2:00AM?  I watched an 8-9 year old throwing rocks at the street lights to break them, watched (around) 10 year old purposely throw a baseball at a car's window to purposely break it.  Yes kids are doing a good portion of the damage to our community.  My point was it wasn't a professional thief going on a "crime spree" it's more than likely dumb kids or (in your case) a wacko, but regardless it's not professionals targeting us therefore asking PCSO to put an unmarked car on the street would probably fix the problem because they'd be caught pretty easily (as long as that was kept between 1-2 people and not broadcasted).

That's really great that your teens are so wonderful, unfortunately many are not...broken lights, graffiti, turning off people's power at the breakers outside, vandalizing property, it's more of an issue than maybe you'd like to believe.  I wish all of the teens are like yours, unfortunately they're not. 

Between the economy, kids nowadays, and very very very few folks wanting to volunteer to help out on community issues, it's only going to get worse.

And thanks, I see the "reality of the problems", I check out the police calls online from time to time and know what's going on.  Maybe you need to not take it personally when I say teens (and even you read the part where I said NOT ALL), I did not specifically say your children, and I very much realize it is not all kids (hey I have one myself that's not doing that crap), but MANY of them are and it's a huge problem.

Okay, sorry if I hit a nerve. My point was that it is easy to blame the area kids and not look at all possibilities. Maybe what you see on your street is different from what I see on mine. That being said, I am not out at 2 am, nor do I monitor the police records, so I am not as up to date on what goes on, obviously. We had some issues with a bunch of younger kids (6-8 of them) tearing apart stuff and I happened to chase them down with another adult. We yelled at them and got in front of them, then called the police. Come to find out only 1 parent was aboe to be reached. The other kids didn't even know how to get ahold of their parents and they were all under the age of 9. My point to this story is that the same kids have never set foot on our street since. No more problems. Other than that, kids may be doing damage, but I think it seems more logical that they are the ones who do the graffitti and break sprinklers. I would say that most of the auto burglers are looking for quick cash or tools to sell and are adults, not kids.

Condescend me and my kids. I don't care. They are not perfect, nor am I. But mine are not out there causing issues, just like yours isn't. Hey, there's a common ground. I think more people in our community need to hear about what some of the kids in their community can do that is good and positive instead of you and I stabbing at each other. Mostly, I get sick of always hearing how whenever something goes wrong in Castlegate it's the kids. It is foolish at best to assume that is all the car break-in's are about.

My personal opinion- the trouble kids cause is easy to see. They proved it on Halloween night.