Greetings, Welcome to the November issue of the Westover Division Response Area 3 monthly community letter. In this issue you will find crime reviews for the month of October 2009 as well as information on a Gang Community Workshop and a Public Hearing Notice for a proposed city ordinance for rental property. Please share this document with other members in your community. Public awareness of crime and crime patterns is vital to assist in developing lines of communication between citizens and police, as well as forming working relationships between citizens and police. If you or someone you know would like to be added to the distribution list for this document please contact me at Westover Division office at 704-432-2442. This newsletter is available in Spanish. 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 15 years and graduated with the 116 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 Sergeant Jacquelyn Hulsey November 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. Summary of significant October events: Apartments and physically overpowered the victim and raped her. Westover Division officers and Sexual Assault Detectives were able to work the evidence in the case and identify a suspect within days. The suspect was arrested on October 22, 2009. The suspect has since been charged with 4 sexual assault cases dating back to June of 2008. gun at the clerk and demanded money. The suspect was scared off and fled without obtaining anything. dispute over parking on Montpelier Rd. The suspect was upset the lawn service truck and trailer had parked too close to his driveway. The suspect was charged with assault by pointing a gun. car and the driver of a taxi had a verbal dispute. The driver of the car approached the taxi driver and tried to pull the taxi driver from the car. The taxi driver drove away and his shirt was torn as a result. had a verbal argument and one driver pointed a gun at the other driver. No injuries. and The Carpet and Rug Superstore at 5982 South Blvd. CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter October 2009 Crime Statistics October 2009 Incident Type Frequency Larceny-Shoplifting 14 Residential Burglary 13 Larceny-Other 11 Larceny from Auto 9 Auto Theft 3 Aggravated Assault-Gun 2 Commercial Burglary 2 Aggravated Assault-Other Weapon 1 Armed Robbery 1 Larceny from Building 1 Rape 1 Total 58 The Focus Crimes for Response Area 3 currently are Residential Burglary, Larceny from Auto, and Robbery. 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 in Response Area 3 violent crime is down 9% for the year to date and down 54% for the Fourth Quarter to date, property crime is down 8% for the year to date and down 26% for the Fourth Quarter to date, overall Part 1 Offense crime is down 8% for the year to date and down 30% for the Fourth Quarter to date. Statistics as of 11/01/2009. Larceny from Auto Locations – October 2009 Of the nine listed Larcenies from Auto, in 5 of the cases the vehicle owner either stated he or she left the vehicle unlocked or there was no sign of forced entry to the vehicle indicating the vehicle was probably left unlocked. 3 of these 5 cases occurred on Murrayhill Rd. during the same time frame. It appears a suspect(s) simply combed the street in the middle of the night pulling on door handles looking for unlocked cars. This is a common practice among breaking and entering suspects especially in parking lots as it does not draw attention to the thief. It is a quick and effortless entry into a vehicle without noise or a lot of suspicious activity outside the vehicle. Please remember to secure your vehicle at all times. 2 of the listed Larcenies from Auto were not actually break-ins to the vehicle. In these two incidents the vehicle’s license plate was stolen off the rear of the vehicle. Both of these incidents occurred in commercial parking lots. C.M.P.D.’s crime reporting systems classify these incidents as Larcenies from Auto which is why they are recorded in these statistics. With the new North Carolina DMV regulations individuals who do not pay their vehicle taxes or have their vehicle properly inspected can not renew their vehicle’s registration plate. This is possibly creating more motivation for people to steal license plates. There are “one way screws” available at most hardware stores that require a special tool to remove the screw. These screws will most likely prevent a license plate thief from stealing the plate from your vehicle. CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Residential Burglary Locations – October 2009 One of the above listed burglaries was an incident that occurred in a house on Kentland Ln. A female was home alone when a male suspect broke in through a basement window and entered the home. The female called police and the suspect was arrested by officers as he tried to exit back out the basement window. In the case on Axminster Ct. a suspect has been identified and Westover’s burglary detectives will be seeking warrants on the suspect. Three of the listed burglaries in the Madison Park neighborhood were storage shed cases. Breaking in to a storage shed on private property is a felony under North Carolina State Law and is classified as a burglary in C.M.P.D. statistics. Thieves target storage sheds looking for lawn care tools and power tools they can easily pawn. Please keep your sheds well secured with strong locks on the windows and doors to discourage thieves. One break-in was an attempt only that occurred at a house on Woodlawn that has been vacant for a year. Three incidents occurred at the Magnolia Estates apartment complex, two incidents occurred at the Yorktown apartment complex and one incident occurred at the Beacon Hill apartment complex. CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Crime Prevention Tips: Larcenies from Auto 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 often leave 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 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. Auto Thefts 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 CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter 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. When school resumes in August 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 Community Meetings and Events: Madison Park Community Meeting Selwyn Park Community Meeting 7:30 PM Meet quarterly – Date to be determined Second Monday of each month 4800 Wedgewood Dr. Wedgewood Baptist Church Starmount Community Meeting Meet annually – Date to be determined Montclaire Community Meeting 7:00 PM Fourth Monday of each month Montclaire III Community Meeting Archdale Church of Christ Meet annually – Date to be determined 2525 Archdale Dr. Please scroll down for further community offerings by CMPD and the City of Charlotte. CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter Please contact me at event advertised here. CMPD Westover Division: Response Area 3 Newsletter
Madison Park
Westover Division Response Area 3 Newsletter
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Charlotte, North Carolina