Greetings,
Welcome to the Response Area 3 monthly community
letter. I will be sending a letter monthly by email to
residents and businesses in the Westover Division RA
3. Ask your neighbors or local businesses to contact
me - jhulsey@cmpd.org, or the Westover Division
office at 704-432-2442, if they would like to receive
the newsletter.
Please take a moment and review the crime
prevention tips on page 5 of this letter. Crime is
significantly down in Westover Division and citywide,
however, no one is immune to potential criminal
activity anywhere. Included below are some simple
and practical tips you can employ to lessen your
chances of becoming a victim.
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,
June 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. The Response Area encompasses 3.9 square miles of land area and
49 street miles. The approximate population is 12,698.
Residents & Friends, Greetings to all! Summer is quickly approaching and things are heating up in Westover. As the second quarter of 2009 (March through June) is coming to a close, we have made great strides to reduce crime and increase the quality of life in the community. For the past month our division has consistently ranked among the top in crime reduction, averaging a 25-30% reduction. This success is attributed to your efforts in keeping us informed on criminal activity in the community and proactive patrols by our officers. We are looking to have another fantastic month and quarter, but it will take a lot of work as we see more and more pedestrian traffic throughout the community. I encourage you to remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity and taking part in neighborhood meetings and watches. There are a few highlights I would like to share with you: In the past month we have made a number of significant arrests of robbery, burglary, and car theft suspects. Many of these arrests are posted in this issue of the newsletter. Aside from arrests, the Westover Division was one of the pilot divisions to participate in the Larceny From Auto Survey. The surveys were used to receive feedback from you on the importance of having an officer respond to car break-in calls for service. We wanted to know if it was more convenient or advantageous to have an officer respond to these types of calls or to simply take the call over the phone through our Crime Reporting Unit. Thank you for your responses. Our Planning and Analysis Unit is reviewing each survey and will have a report for you in next month's newsletter. Recently WSOCTV ran a story on one of the communities in the Westover Division. The Arbor Glen Community was featured for the great work citizens and the police have done to turn this neighborhood around. To view this story, please follow the link http://www.wsoctv.com/news/19495070/detail.html Finally, several members of the Westover community were honored by Chief Monroe for their dedication to community service and building partnerships to make our neighborhoods safe. Congratulations are extended to Roger Cistrunk (Charlotte Housing Authority), Tammy Cavaliere (Boulevard Homes CHA), Dorothy Waddy (Clanton Park Neighborhood), and Andrea Long (Arbor Glen Neighborhood) for receiving the Chief's Award for Excellence in Policing. It is a pleasure 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. Regards, Stella Patterson CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Summary of significant events:
- Three armed robberies from business occurring in April 2009 and mentioned in the last
newsletter have been cleared by arrest. Suspects were developed by robbery
detectives for the robbery incidents at the CVS Pharmacy, Radio Shack, and The Home
Depot.
- A total of 96 arrests were made in the response area in May of 2009.
- On May 1, 2009, a victim reported he was robbed of his cell phone and wallet in the
parking lot of the Leafcrest Apartments.
- On May 2, 2009, a victim reported he was robbed of his wallet and cell phone in the
parking lot of the Grand Oaks Apartments.
- On May 2, 2009, a victim reported he was robbed of his car keys and car in the parking
lot of the Pinetree Apartments.
- On May 18, 2009, the Quick Corner convenient store on South Blvd was robbed by an
armed suspect who entered and demanded money from the till.
- On May 25, 2009, a victim reported he was robbed of his vehicle in the parking lot of the
Yorktown Apartments. The victim reported he was standing outside of his vehicle with
the motor running when the suspect entered the vehicle, indicated he had a weapon,
and stole the vehicle.
- On May 31, 2009, a victim reported he was robbed of his money while waiting at a bus
stop along South Blvd.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter May 2009 Crime Statistics
May 2009
Incident Type Frequency
Larceny from Auto 18
Larceny-Shoplifting 17
Larceny-Other 13
Residential Burglary 8
Armed Robbery 6
Auto Theft 6
Larceny from Building 6
Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon 2
Larceny of Bicycle 2
Commercial Burglary 1
Larceny-Purse Snatching 1
Total 80
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, our focus crimes are showing a
decrease when compared to May of 2008.
Auto Theft is down 40%, Residential Burglary
is down 38%, and Larceny from Auto is down
48% compared to May of 2008.
Please review the crime prevention tips on the
following pages to reduce your risk of
becoming a victim.
- Locations of the residential burglaries were: 2 in Yorktown Apartments, Baker St.,
Montpelier Rd., Pinetree Apartments, Baylor Dr., Woodlawn Rd. and Beacon Hill
Apartments. Most incidents occurred during the day while residents were at work.
Methods of entry included kicking in doors, entry through unlocked windows, entries into
a shed or out building, or forcing open a sliding glass door.
- Of the two listed aggravated assaults, one was an alleged incident involving a mother
and a 16 year old child in which the child reported to have been struck with an object by
the mother. The second incident involved two males in a restaurant who engaged in a
verbal argument over the bill which resulted in one male physically assaulting the other.
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
May 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.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter
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.
Auto Thefts
vehicles are often taken during evening and late night hours from apartment complexes,
business locations, or other parking lots. 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 Officer Mike Sardelis:
Officer Sardelis is originally from Virginia. Officer Sardelis graduated from Radford University,
Virginia with a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Officer Sardelis was hired in April of
1999 at which time he moved to the Charlotte area. Officer Sardelis has served the majority of his 10
year career in the Westover Division with a two year assignment with the Gang Unit. Officer Sardelis
has also worked within the Westover Division as a Community Coordinator, and he is currently the
Regional Coordinator for the North Carolina Gang Investigator's Association. Officer Sardelis has an
exceptional working knowledge of gangs, gang members, and gang activities. His recent work has been
instrumental in the crime reductions realized within Westover Division's Response Area 3.
Officer Sardelis can be reached through the Westover Division at 704-432-2442.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Community Meetings and Events:
Second Monday of each month Selwyn Park Community Meeting
7:30 PM Meet quarterly - Date to be determined
Madison Park Community Meeting
4800 Wedgewood Dr.
Wedgewood Baptist Church Starmount Community Meeting
Meet annually - Date to be determined
Fourth Monday of each month
7:00 PM
Montclaire Community Meeting Montclaire III Community Meeting
Archdale Church of Christ Meet annually - Date to be determined
2525 Archdale Dr.
Grand Oaks Apartments Community Social
11:00 Am
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Grand Oaks Apartments
Please contact me at jhulsey@cmpd.org if you would your community meeting or event advertised here.
CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter
Sergeant Jacquelyn Hulsey
