Greetings,
Welcome to the Response Area 3 monthly community
letter. You are receiving this issue because you have
signed up for "notify me" for the Westover Division.
Please check the Westover Response Area map at
www.cmpd.org/Patrol to see which area you are in.
If you are not in area 3, contact Sergeant Todd Lontz,
(RA 2) or Sergeant Andy Harris, (RA 1) to sign up for
that area's letter.
I will be sending a letter monthly by email to residents
and businesses in the Westover Division RA 3. Ask
your neighbors to contact me - jhulsey@cmpd.org,
their Response Area Commander or the Westover
Division office at 704-432-2442, if they would like to
receive the newsletter.
If you are receiving this newsletter for the first time, I'd like to introduce myself to you. I've been the Response
Area 3 Commander since November 2008. I've been with CMPD for 14 years and graduated with the 116th
Recruit Class in January 1995. My first assignment was in the Central Division, and I've had assignments in the
Highway Interdiction and Traffic Safety Unit, Armed Robbery Unit, Metro Division, and Internal Affairs. I'm
originally from Santa Maria, CA and a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo,
California. I've lived in Charlotte since 1994.
I look forward to getting to know more of you as we partner together to fight crime in our neighborhoods.
Best regards,
May 2009
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter
Pictured above is the map of Westover Division Response Area 3. The response area is bordered by
South Blvd. to the west and Woodlawn Rd. to the north. Major commercial areas in the response area
include the South Blvd. corridor, Park Towne Village, and Park Selwyn Terrace. The majority of the
response area is comprised of residential neighborhoods including Madison Park, Montclaire,
Starmount, and others. Pinewood Elementary School, Montclaire Elementary School, Starmount
Elementary School, and Smith Language Academy Middle School are also in the response area. The
Lynx Light Rail runs along the border of the response area, and the Tyvola Station and Archdale Station
are located within our boundaries.
Captain's Corner: Residents & Friends, I hope this day finds you in great spirits. I am the captain of the Westover Division and I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself. I have been a police officer for 12 years and have spent time working in various assignments in the Independence and Eastway Divisions, the Police Training Academy, and Internal Affairs. I am new to the Westover area, but I am very excited about the wonderful work our officers are doing to make the community safe. The Westover Division has implemented several initiatives that we believe will help impact crime in your community and further strengthen our relationships with you. These initiatives include: Response Area Commanders that will serve as your eyes and ears in the neighborhood, Focus Mission Teams & Community Officers that will concentrate on crimes such as home and car break ins and vehicle thefts, and a Truancy Officer to address juvenile crime and disorder. Our efforts cannot be successful however, without your support. We call on you to help us police your neighborhood by reporting suspicious individuals and activities. Call 911 immediately if you observe someone loitering or behaving suspiciously. I look forward to serving as your captain. Please feel free to email me any concerns you may have or to alert me of the great work our officers are doing. You may contact me by email at epatterson@cmpd.org or by phone at (704)432-2442. Respectfully, Stella Patterson CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Summary of significant events:
The two reported Arsons were both minor incidents, one in which someone set fire to a doormat
outside an apartment, and in the other a student set fire to some toilet paper and then flushed it at
a local school.
The majority of car break-ins (Larcenies from Auto) occur in apartment and business parking
lots in which items are left in plain view and stolen. Some less significant reported car break-ins
listed above included dealer license plates reported stolen, and a registration card being stolen
while a vehicle was being repaired at a local mechanic.
On April 15, 2009, a female was robbed on Edgewater Dr. as she was exiting her vehicle in her
driveway. A suspect approached the victim with a gun, took her purse, and fled the area.
The Wachovia Bank at 6101 South Blvd was robbed on April 10, 2009, by 3 suspects. Money
from the robbery was recovered and detectives are currently working leads on the case.
The CVS Drug Store was robbed on April 25, 2009, by a suspect who indicated he had a
weapon, but did not display it. This suspect is in custody.
The Radio Shack and Home Depot were robbed by a suspect who, in both cases, attempted to
leave the store with items he had not paid for. When confronted by an employee the suspect
made verbal statements indicating he had a weapon and ran from the store. Due to the verbal
threat of a weapon the incidents are upgraded to attempted robbery as opposed to attempted
larceny.
On April 29, 2009, a reported aggravated assault occurred when an unknown suspect
intentionally struck a victim with his vehicle at a business on South Blvd. The victim received
minor leg injuries.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter April 2009 Crime Statistics
April 2009
Incident Type Frequency
Larceny from Auto 16
Larceny-Shoplifting 16
Residential Burglary 8
Armed Robbery 7
Auto Theft 7
Commercial Burglary 7
Larceny-Other 6
Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon 2
Arson 2
Aggravated Assault-Gun 1
Larceny of Bicycle 1
Larceny-Pocket Picking 1
Larceny-Purse Snatching 1
The Focus Crimes for Response Area 3 are
currently Residential Burglary, Auto Theft,
and Larceny from Auto. Focus Crimes are
those which we dedicate additional resources
towards to address. Focus Crimes are selected
based on the impact they have on the
community as well as the frequency with
which they are occurring. Focus Crimes are
established on a quarterly basis.
Currently, Larcenies from Auto and
Residential Burglary are showing a decrease
when compared to April of 2008. Auto Theft
has increased to 7 incidents compared to 5
incidents in April of 2008.
Please review the crime prevention tips on the
following pages to reduce your risk of
becoming a victim.
On April 26, 2009, a reported aggravated assault occurred when victims at the Modelo Night
Club on South Blvd reported an unknown suspect pointed a gun at them. No injuries.
On April 16, 2009, a reported aggravated assault occurred when a female reported she was
sprayed with mace by another female, whom she knows, regarding a dispute over a male.
The majority of Commercial Burglaries are occurring overnight at businesses located along
South Blvd.
Crime Trends and Prevention: Larcenies from Auto
auto is essentially when a suspect enters a vehicle with the intent to steal an item from within
the vehicle, as opposed to stealing the vehicle itself. Although these larcenies from auto occur
at any time and at any location, the majority of them are occurring in medium to large sized
parking lots at business locations or apartment buildings. Citizens are leaving items in plain
view in their vehicles which are being stolen. The vehicles are being entered either through an
unlocked door, or by force, such as breaking a window or prying the door open. Items
commonly stolen are GPS units, MP3 music players, cellular phones, briefcases/handbags,
sunglasses, and even loose change lying in cup holders or ash trays. To minimize the risk of
becoming a victim, please remove all visible evidence of these items from your vehicle. This
would include items such as power cords or mounting devices as these items may lead a
suspect to believe the electronic device is stored somewhere else in the vehicle.
Residential Burglaries
April of 2009. Burglary is a city wide concern for police. An intrusion into a home leaves the
victims feeling violated and uncertain as to their safety. The burglaries in Response Area 3
tend to occur during daylight hours when no one is in the residence. As a general rule, a
suspect breaking into a home is after property and does not want to encounter a resident. This
is why these incidents commonly occur while individuals are at work. This does not mean you
should not safeguard yourself from an intrusion during the evening. Please be sure to keep
your doors and windows secure, and employ the use of lighting, hedge trimming, and other
safety tips to keep your home safe and unappealing for would be burglars. If you would like an
officer to evaluate your home for safety and security feel free to contact the Community
Coordinator Officers at the Westover Division, 704-432-2442.
Please be alert and aware of activity in your neighborhood. Encourage your neighbors who
are home during the day to take an active role in watching the neighborhood as well. If you
see suspicious activity in your neighborhood report it to police by calling 911. Residents are
sometimes reluctant to call police and report a suspicious person because they fear they may
be wrong. We (the police) would rather respond and not be needed versus not being called
and have a break-in.
Another crime tactic employed by burglars is to knock or ring a doorbell to see if a resident is
home before breaking in. This is rare, but does occasionally occur. If you are home and
receive an unexpected knock at the door make your presence known by announcing a
statement through the shut and locked door. A simple statement such as "I'm busy!" will alert
a thief to your presence and discourage an unwanted encounter with you.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Auto Thefts
Recently there has been a trend of Hondas stolen from apartment complex parking areas
during overnight hours. Other vehicles stolen which don't fall into this category are often taken
during evening and late night hours from business locations or other parking areas. Vehicle
theft from a private residence in Response Area 3 is rare, but does occasionally occur. To
minimize your chances of becoming a victim of Auto Theft remember to park in well lit areas,
close to buildings or other people. Keep your car doors and windows secured, and consider
extra security measures such as audible alarms or "The Club". Do not leave a car running or
with the keys inside while unattended. This is an invitation for an opportunistic thief. This is
also a violation of City Ordinance and officers are actively enforcing the ordinance by issuing
citations. Citizens often ask "What if I have a vehicle with the remote start feature?" Our
response is that the potential thief may not realize the engine will shut off when the vehicle is
entered. The thief may still break a window to access the car, and ultimately a crime is still
committed.
Other Crime Tips:
Please record the serial numbers of your valuable items in a secure place. Remember, if you
save the serial numbers only on your computer and your computer is stolen you won't be able
to provide the information to police. Serial numbers are crucial to police to be able to recover
property and develop suspects in cases. Photograph jewelry and other valuables that don't
have a serial number.
Engraving is another excellent way to identify your property and deter thieves. If you are going
to engrave your property, engrave your driver's license or state identification number on the
item. Do not engrave your social security number for security reasons. We have engravers at
the Westover Division office we will gladly loan you.
Watch for and report truant juveniles to police. Juveniles absent from school and wandering
neighborhoods and shopping centers will likely create mischief or commit crimes. Westover
Division has a truancy officer, Officer Steve Arnold, who is dedicated to tracking juvenile
offenders, monitoring school attendance, and returning truant youths to school. A call to 911
to report truancy will assist him in doing his job.
If you see suspicious activities please don't disregard them. Trust your instincts and call 911.
If you see someone lurking around your neighbor's home call 911 first and then call the
neighbor. While waiting for police be the best witness you can be. Don't approach the
potential offender. Just look for as many identifying features about the person or vehicle as
you can safely observe.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Meet Your Westover Officers Detective Tammy Post:
Detective Post has served with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department since January of 2000.
Detective Post is assigned to the Westover Division's Focus Mission Team. Detective Post currently
investigates such crimes as Larceny from Auto, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Strong Arm
Robbery to name a few. Detective Post also manages the Chronic Offender Priority Program (C.O.P.P.)
for the Westover Division. This program focuses on identifying and addressing issues with repeat
offenders, and individuals who are associated with criminal activity. Detective Post brings a wealth of
skills and initiative to the Division. Detective Post is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania and served with
the Union City Police Department, Pennsylvania, for 5 years. Detective Post has lived in Charlotte for 9
years and currently attends Central Piedmont Community College majoring in Criminal Justice.
tpost@cmpd.org
704-432-2442
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Community Meetings and Events:
__
Please join us for the
14th Annual Neighborhood Symposium "From Policy to Practice: Improving Our Homes, Our Communities, Our City." Saturday, May 16, 2009 7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street
Learn about Charlotte's neighborhood policy and related implementation strategies through a variety of
workshops and a community forum.
The Neighborhood Symposium is free and open to citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
Due to limited workshop and luncheon seating, pre-registration is required.
Deadline for registration is May 8
To register please visit our web site at http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org
and click on Neighborhood Symposium or call 704-336-2061.
05/11/2009 - Monday Selwyn Park Community Meeting
7:30 PM Meet Quarterly - Date to be determined
Madison Park Community Meeting
4800 Wedgewood Dr.
Wedgewood Baptist Church
05/18/2009 - Monday
7:00 PM
Montclaire Community Meeting
Archdale Church of Christ
2525 Archdale Dr.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter
Sergeant Jacquelyn Hulsey
