Neighborhood Watch

  I'd like to bring attention once again to what seems to be another growing problem.  I wrote once before about the litter and vandalism, it seems to have escalated now to home burglaries. While there is crime anywhere you go, lately, it seems to be escalating. Let me point out right off the bat, I have NO law enforcement experience, and there are many more qualified to write on the subject, but I notice things.  A) Many, many people leave their garage doors open for extended periods of time, even when they are not home.  While out walking or biking, I can and do notice all the nice and valuable things that people stash in their garages.  I would never tdream of taking anything, but a theif would.  Easy access, maybe some of you even leave the doors to the house from the garage unlocked?  On a nice quite street, it would be real easy to slip in and out without anyone noticing.  Believe it or not, there IS a JCP ordinance stating that garage doors must be kept closed except when entering and leaving.  Having spoken to Mr Curran-Kelly, he says he just doesn't chose to enforce this, because as he puts it, "it gets hot in there."  That's nice, so while your garage is cooler, it's also vulnerable.  Hey, I keep my garage locked, no skin off my back.  Just a hint for those of you that currently leave them open.  Do you have sons that bring their male friends in the house?  Very recently, a group of male JCP teens were arrested for breaking into homes via THE GARAGE!  Since they are minors, I don't know if this was made public, but I have a reliable source.  You may be able to find out if an arrest was made, I don't know.  B) NO SOLICTING!  These signs are everywhere!  These "kids" going around to collect for college or overseas schooling should not be here!  They are obviously not from the neighborhood, and when I questioned them, they gave vague answers.  When informed of the "No Soliciting", they reply that the cops know they are there.  Funny.  I never mentioned cops.  Same with the "church" solicitors.  I believe Mr Pettus gave a good account of these people collecting on the corners of Rt 13 and Racetrack Rd.  Well, they are now in the neighborhoods.  Watch out.   Anyone get the people trying to give away a WARM 6 PACK OF COKE!!! if they could come inside to talk about their "business"?  Are they on drugs!?!?!  These people need to be reported, better to be safe than sorry.  I would be willing to bet that most of you know most of your neighbors in your area.  Why is that carful of kids that OBVIOUSLY are not from around here driving up and down streets?  Dead end streets?  This happens often to me on my cul-de-sac.  It says "dead end"  What, they didn't believe the sign?  No, I have to think there was another motive in mind.  Report everything suspicious!  Granted, driving down a street isn't illegal, but making a note of a suspicious looking cars' make, model, and color isn't too hard.  If anything happens, you may have the lead the cops need.  I can't tell anyone what constitutes "suspicious".  Use your own judgement.  I was wondering if anyone was interested in starting a form of neighborhood watch.  Nothing big or grandiose, just "hey, why is that car parked there in the dark with no lights on?"  Take a pic.  "Who are these guys going house to house?"  take a pic, get a pamphlet or real info, actually call the number if one is given.  There isn't a need for a Guardian Angel type of thing, (yet), but maybe if the people doing this realize we are not going to sit back and say "oh, well.  Shit happens"  It will stop.  Get a dog.  The best home security you can buy.  Burglars HATE dogs.  Too much chance of getting hurt and caught.  Talk to your kids.  Just because THEY would never steal or do break-ins doesn't mean they don't have friends that won't.  Have security cameras installed, motion activated.  Anything that would be a deterent.  Crooks look for easy marks.  JCP is like taking candy from a baby.  Nobody is suspicious of ANYTHING, as far as I can see.  Drive by the playgrounds on a weekend night, see the teens there.  Know what they are doing?  You should.  Find out.  You'll be surprised.  This ain't Disneyland anymore, folks!