South Precinct Email Community NewsletterDecember 13, 2007

Crime Prevention During The Holidays

During the holiday season, we often see a spike in certain crime types. For example, neighbors have reported that they have had packages (gifts for others) delivered to their home only to find that the packages were stolen off the porch. Others have had items stolen from their cars. While car prowl is nothing new, it does seem to escalate when there are packages clearly visible in the car.

This extended newsletter focuses on safety and security during the holiday season. These recommendations will hopefully reduce your risk of being a crime victim during this time of year.

Prevention Tips While Shopping

· Take a friend along when doing holiday shopping. Using the buddy system reduces your chances of being a victim of robbery.
· When paying by cash, only take out the amount needed and keep the remainder out of view. It¹s always a good idea to carry minimal amounts of cash, regardless of the time of year.
· Don¹t tempt a thief by leaving your purse, wallet or packages unattended. It only takes a second to grab them.
· Beware of strangers who bump, shove or get too close. Pickpockets may use these diversions to lift your wallet.
· Be cautious of those you don¹t know who offer to carry bags and packages
for you. Depending on where you shop, store personnel or mall security may
offer assistance in carrying packages to your car or escorting you to your
vehicle.
· If you have to return to your car to store purchases, place them in the trunk out of sight. Do this when you get to your car, rather than waiting until you park at your next stop. Gifts and other valuables should never be left in clear view.
· Before returning to your car, make sure you¹re not over-burdened with packages. Have your car keys in hand to avoid ³searching² for them when you reach your car.
When Using an ATM
· Only take out the amount you need, rather than the maximum you can get.
· Don¹t walk away from the cash machine counting your money. That¹s an invitation to someone who may not have the best of intentions in mind.
· Beware of strangers hanging around the ATM. Wait until they leave, or consider using an alternate cash machine. You should report suspicious people to bank personnel, mall security and/or police.
· Secure your money and your bankcard or credit card back in your wallet or
pocket before leaving the ATM.
· Always keep your PIN number separate from your bank and/or credit card.

Prevention Tips At Home
· Don¹t openly display your Christmas tree and gifts in the front window so
it¹s easily visible from the street. You increase the possibility that a burglar will be tempted to gain entry and steal the gifts.

· When disposing of the packaging in which gifts and other purchases come, realize that when you place these out for recycling or trash collection, those boxes sitting out on the curb on collection day give a passer-by a pretty good indication of what¹s in your home. Recycle the packaging, yes - but break the boxes down first, put them inside out so the exterior writing does not show, and don¹t put them on the curb until collection day.
· If you have ordered items and are going to have them delivered, consider having them delivered to your place of business rather than your home. This reduces the opportunity for packages to be left unattended on your porch and therefore an enticing target for thieves.
· Burglars often enter through unlocked doors or windows. When exterior Christmas light extension cords are run inside through a window, this prevents the window from being secured, and this unsecured window is visibly noticeable. Consider installing an inexpensive exterior outlet for your holiday lights so you don¹t provide an opened and unlocked entry to your home. Traveling Away For The Holidays
·Let your trusted neighbors know that you plan to be out town so that they can watch your home for you. If they see suspicious activity while you are gone, they will know to call 911 for you.
· Have the Post Office hold your mail.
· Don¹t leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages, such
as; ³You¹ve reached the Wilson¹s. We¹re away skiing for the holidays and won¹t be back untilŠ.² Strangers don¹t need to know your schedule or that your home is going to be unoccupied for an extended length of time. Bad guys love to hear that they have plenty of time to break in and ransack your home.
Holiday Parties
· If you will be hosting a party, establish a guest list and greet your
guests at the door. Be careful when opening your home to ³uninvited
guests.²
· Balance the desire to want to show off your valuables and treasures
with security consciousness. Put easily portable valuable items out of
sight. This will reduce the threat that they may be stolen. Also, with those items stored away, your guests won¹t inadvertently mention the priceless items they have seen to others.
· If you are going to be serving liquor, do it responsibly! Have a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages to offer. Serve coffee, tea and water as the party winds down. No one really needs ³One for the Road.²
· If a friend has had too much to drink, insist on making other arrangements for getting them home safely, or offer to let them stay overnight. Remember: Drunk Drivers are dangerous to themselves and others.
· Do Not Drink And Drive Yourself! If you attend a Holiday Party and over indulged, take a cab, have someone give you a ride home, ensure you have a designated driver, or impose upon your hosts to let you stay there and rest a while. Better for you to crash on their couch than into someone else.

A Word On Charities

Be cautious of those going door-to-door collecting for charities. Ask to see an ID that identifies them with that charity. Never give cash. Please report suspicious people. If your instincts tell you ³something is not right,² it probably isn¹t. Call 911 or our non-emergency number (206) 625-5011 to report the incident.

We wish you a happy and joyous Holiday Season. Peace, prosperity and good health to you and yours this Season and in the coming New Year.

Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, SPD South Precinct Crime Prevention

Scammers posing as Seattle City Light collectors

Seattle Times ­ 12.04.07
Seattle City Light is warning its customers about telephone con artists
posing as utility bill collectors.

A City Light customer reportedly received a phone call from someone claiming
to be a City Light employee. The caller claimed there was a problem with
payment of the customer's bill and demanded credit-card information to
resolve the matter.

The scammer appears to be targeting the elderly and customers who may have a
primary language other than English, according to City Light. "We do not
make outbound calls to customers asking for money to pay their bill or to
ask for personal account or customer information as part of our daily work,"
said Carol Dickinson, director of account services.

City Light never asks customers over the telephone for credit-card
information to pay their bills, according to the utility. And City Light
does not call customers on weekends. Seattle City Light employees carry
identification with the City Light logo and will always display it when
asked.

Customers are advised to take down the name and telephone number of anyone
who calls and represents themselves as a City Light employee.

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter - 11.29.07

Sexual Assaults
A pattern of actual or attempted sexual assaults against Asian women has been noted in the South Precinct area. They date back several months, the most recent occurring the morning of November 28th. The frequency of the assaults has increased, as has the level of aggression as the suspect has progressed from groping from behind to attempting to drag the victim away to continue the sexual assault.

The assaults have most often occurred as the women have exited a Metro bus and are on their way home or on their way to the bus in the morning. The suspect has attacked along routes served by the Metro bus routes of the 7, 32 and 36.It is possible that the suspect rides the bus with the victims and follows them off or watches bus stops. The events have primarily happened during the weekday with the majority of assaults occurring on Tuesdays & Wednesday. While the vast majority of events occurred during evening hours, a few of the attacks occurred in the early morning hours.

The suspect has been described as a black male, late teens to early 30s, 5’9”, thin to medium build, medium to dark complexion. The suspect often wears a hooded sweatshirt or otherwise attempts to conceal his face. As the suspect often attacks the victims from behind, distinct suspect information has been lacking because often the victims do not get a good look at the suspect.

An additional complication we face is that many of the victims have been reluctant to speak with detectives in the Sexual Assault Unit to provide further information. In some cases, where the suspect grabbed the woman’s rear, the victims didn’t feel it was serious enough to report because “all he did was grope me. No big deal”

Additionally, many victims have not responded to detectives’ requests for additional information or victim statements, making it difficult to obtain definitive suspect information or identification.

Given this, it is possible that more attacks and more serious assaults have occurred, but have not been reported. This is extremely troubling because the suspect is increasing his frequency of attacks and the attacks are becoming more aggressive. If allowed to continue, we expect the attacks to become even more violent.

We need to identify this individual and get him off the street.

What You Can Do
LOOK AT THESE SAFETY TIPS: personal safety tips from SPD

REPORT IT!!
We urge anyone who has been the victim of a crime to be as forthcoming and cooperative as possible with the responding officers and investigating detectives. Any additional information can be helpful in identifying and apprehending the perpetrator(s) of the crime. Conversely, not disclosing information for whatever reason (thinking it’s no big deal, shame or embarrassment, cultural pressures and considerations) can hinder the investigation.

If you have any information which may help us identify and apprehend the individual, please contact Detective Keith Savas of our Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit at 206.684.5361, email: keith.savas@seattle.gov

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter

November 7, 2007


Dear Community Friends:

Concerns About Hate Crimes
This past Friday, four incidents of malicious harassment were reported in the Seward Park neighborhood. Two vehicles owned by African American men were spray painted with derogatory language towards African Americans and profane language. A car belonging to the wife of one of the men was also tagged with derogatory language. At a third household, profane language was sprayed on their boat that was on a trailer in front of the home. At a fourth household, a Star of David was spray painted on a car belonging to a Jewish family.

A few things stand out about these incidents:
It appears all these incidents occurred sometime between 10pm November 1 - 3am November 2nd. These incidents all occurred in a very small geographical area, within ½ mile along essentially the same street. They occurred on the 4800 Block of 55th Ave S, the 5000 Block of 57th Ave S, the 5700 Block of S Dawson ST & the 5700 Block of S Orcas ST.

Not a Pattern, Trend or Epidemic of Hate
Incidents of hate crimes, malicious harassment, and racially motivated hate graffiti are extremely rare in our city and even more so in southeast Seattle. In the 17+ years I have worked for the Police Department, I can only recall a handful of incidents where racist, anti-religious or anti-gay literature was strewn about in the South Precinct. To my knowledge, nothing like this has been reported in well over five years.

This is not an epidemic. We do not have crowds of racist groups operating in our South end neighborhoods. No suspects have been identified at this point. It is possible what we have here is one, maybe two perpetrators who are angry about something or who were just carrying out a vicious prank. They probably felt that tagging other people’s property with hateful obscenities would gain them notoriety and somehow make them feel better about themselves. The only difference between these perpetrators and other graffiti vandals is their choice of words and their impact on the community.

Don’t let fear and suspicion win. What I know about this neighborhood is that these neighbors are very well connected with each other. They have one of the highest Block Watch participation rates of anywhere in the city. They have one of the lowest crime rates in the city. They take neighborhood safety very seriously. And I’ve also seen that rather than splintering apart and pointing fingers, they’ve rallied together and are stronger than ever.

Moving Forward and Next Steps
We take any graffiti seriously. We take hate graffiti very seriously. To that end, these incidents are under investigation by our Bias Crimes Unit. Anyone having information that may lead to the identification and arrest those involved are encouraged to call our Bias Crimes Unit at 206-233-3898.

Be Aware!
• Keep your eyes open and report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood.Report It!
• If you see graffiti vandalism in progress, call 911.
• When graffiti appears, whether on your private property or on city/government property, report it. Call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
• Also call the Graffiti Hot Line 206-684-7587 to report graffiti on public or private property, including Metro bus stops/shelters. Paint it out!

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter October 17, 2007

Dear Community Friends;
Emergency Preparedness

The Puget Sound region is one of the more difficult areas to forecast severe weather due to the local topography. Everyone should be prepared if wind gusts are higher than anticipated. The Seattle National Weather Service Forecast Office will continue to monitor the evolution of this storm and issue further information as it develops. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or visit www.weather.gov/seattle
http://www.weather.gov/seattle to view the latest weather statements and forecast discussions regarding this impending storm.


Safety

- Please exercise caution when going out doors during a storm.
Downed power lines, objects in the road and fallen trees are not easy to spot at night.

- Treat all power lines as an electrical hazard until rendered safe by your electrical utility. In Seattle, contact Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light at 206.684.3000 to report power outages and/or downed power lines.

- Ground saturation from previous rain and snow has increased the risk of landslides; please use caution near undeveloped hillsides. Trees may also be more prone to fall in high winds when the ground is saturated.

- Do not use gas generators or charcoal heaters indoors. The potential for carbon monoxide poisoning is high. In previous years, use of these devices indoors for heating and power generation resulted in injuries and fatalities.

Personal Preparedness The Seattle Office of Emergency Management offers skills training classes in the areas of Disaster First Aid, Light Search & Rescue Training and Fire Extinguisher and Utility Safety among others. Additionally, this office provides training in SNAP - Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare. A follow-on to the Seattle Disaster Aid and Response Team (SDART) program, SNAP is the newest preparedness program being offered by the City of Seattle. The program is offered throughout the city to help you, your family and your neighborhoods become better prepared for the next disaster. Learn how to put together a disaster supplies kit, create a family disaster plan and organize with your neighbors to take care of each other when disaster strikes.
For more information about SNAP and the other emergency preparedness training offered, contact the Public Education Section of the Seattle Office of Emergency Management at 206-233-7123. Also visit their website at

www.seattle.gov/emergency.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Scam artists target Phinney Ridge - FYI

By Sara Jean Green

Seattle Times staff reporter

A man and a woman who have been going door-to-door in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood soliciting donations for a local nonprofit this morning are scam artists.

Judith Wood, the director of volunteer programs for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, received a telephone call from a resident about the couple early today. The resident told Wood that the duo say they are raising funds for a program at the association's Phinney Neighborhood Center aimed at keeping kids off the streets, off drugs and out of trouble.

Problem is, the association doesn't run any such program.

"We do not do door-to-door solicitations and we don't have any programs designed to keep kids off drugs and off the streets," said Wood. "They have nothing to do with us and we want people to know not to give them any money."

Wood called Seattle police but was told officers can't do anything unless they are able to catch the couple in the act. She's hoping an alert resident will call 911 with a description of the couple and any vehicle they may be driving.

She said they are flashing laminated, photo ID badges in an apparent attempt to appear legitimate and are giving away copies of the association's newspaper, The Phinney Ridge Review. Wood cautioned residents against confronting the scammers, who asked one resident to make out a check to an individual named "Harry."

The Phinney Neighborhood Center is an independent, nonprofit community center at 6532 Phinney Ave. N. The association runs a variety of programs at six locations, including the center, a former school building that houses an after-school care program and a parent-run preschool co-op, Wood said.

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter

Dear Community Friends:

Graffiti
In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in graffiti vandalism throughout the South Precinct area. We’ve heard concerns that the graffiti is associated with gangs marking their territory. Rather than the graffiti vandalism being associated with gang activity, it appears to us to be more individual tagger vandalism. Tagger graffiti represents the majority of the graffiti on our streets today.

The majority of tagging occurs between the hours of midnight and six in the morning. And while some Taggers justify what they do by calling their graffiti “art,” going out at night alone or with others to write, paint, scratch or etch on someone else’s property is at-risk behavior and a crime. In Seattle, it is estimated that millions of dollars are spent each year to paint out or remove graffiti.

Graffiti is Vandalism. It is not art; it is a crime. It is property damage, not free artistic expression. Graffiti affects the public safety of a neighborhood because if it is allowed to flourish, many people have a sense that the neighborhood is unsafe, and if they don’t feel safe, they’ll stop going to that neighborhood. When that happens, the negative, more criminal, less civil elements take over. Unchecked graffiti is a contributing factor the public safety of a community and how people feel about their community.
If you can’t tell, graffiti really gets on my nerves.

Ways You Can Personally Take Control Of Graffiti In Your Neighborhood:
1. If you see graffiti vandalism in progress, call 911.
2. When graffiti appears, whether on your private property or on city/government property, make a police report. Call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
3. Call the Graffiti Hot Line 206-684-7587 to report graffiti on public or private property, including Metro bus stops/shelters.
4. After you report the graffiti vandalism, remove or paint over it immediately. This will help prevent more graffiti. For FREE paint, call Seattle Public Utilities Re-Use Store at 206-386-4093. They are located at 3641 2nd Ave S., Seattle, 98134.
5. Ask merchants in your neighborhood to remove graffiti from their buildings. Thank those who remove it quickly.
6. Work with property and business owners. Let them know they have been vandalized if the were unaware (“Hey, did you know there’s graffiti on the back of your fence?”) Offer to help paint it out.
7. Organize a graffiti paint out. Many chamber of commerce and merchants’ associations have done this in the past. For those of you who are members of chambers of commerce, merchant associations, community groups or block watches, devote some time to getting rid of the graffiti in your neighborhood. Contact Seattle Public utilities Graffiti Hotline at 206-684-7587. They have all the supplies you need to keep your block graffiti free.
8. Tell Children "Graffiti is a crime."

We want to work with you to eliminate graffiti vandalism in our neighborhoods.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Suspicious white vehicle

Hi Neighbors -

We have seen a suspicious white 4 door sedan, grand am or similar, late model (maybe late 80’s or early 90’s). The occupants look pretty strung out, there are usually 3 of them, a white mail driver – 50’s. The other two occupants are a white female and an african american male. We see them at dusk and dawn on various blocks, and they truly appear to be up to no good.  I have yet to get the license plate, but when I do, I will forward the info on. Has anyone else seen this vehicle?

Take care – be safe! L.

Please join us for our annual Picnic at the Precinct 2007

Saturday, September 15, 2007, 1-4pm
at the South Precinct (3001 S Myrtle ST)

All South Precinct Community Members are invited. There is no cost to
attend.

We will have food, music, magic performances, martial arts demonstrations,
dance performances, raffles activities for children and more. Get a Precinct
tour. Meet and interact with your South Precinct officers and members of
our SWAT team, K-9 unit, and others. We hope you can join us!

Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766

One dies, two injured from gunshots in Southeast Seattle

By Christina Siderius

Seattle Times staff reporter

One man died after being shot in the head early this morning in Southeast Seattle, and two other shooting victims were sent to the hospital.

Callers contacted 911 at 1 a.m., reporting several shots were fired outside in the 3600 block of 33rd Avenue South, said Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson.

The man who eventually died had been shot while in the street. Another shooting victim ran a few blocks before collapsing, while the third person drove less than a mile before being unable to continue.

All three victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

"It is not believed to be random. It is believed the victims and suspect probably knew each other," said Jamieson.

Police believe there may have been more than one suspect.

Christina Siderius: csiderius@seattletimes.com

Recent Arson Activity

Once again, there has been recent arson activity we want to bring to your attention. In the past week there have been several probable Arsons.

On Monday, 8/20/07 at about 1:30am, unknown suspect(s) set fire to the back porch of an occupied residence on the 4500 block of South Alaska St. An attempt was made to set fire to the front porch as well. The suspect(s) also entered the back yard of the neighboring house to the south and dropped burning matches onto the wooden deck attached to the rear of the house. Two previous residential arson incidents in this neighborhood are still under investigation by the Arson/Bomb Squad and have similarities to this incident. - 4/2/07, approximately 11pm: 4600 Block of 43rd Ave. South. Single-family residence. $500,000 loss; unknown person(s) used hand held flame to ignite combustibles on exterior of structure.

- 4/8/07, approximately 1:45am: 5900 Block of 51st Ave. South. Single-family residence. $400,000 loss; unknown person(s) applied an ignitable liquid to exterior of home and lighted the same with an open flame. At this time there is no solid evidence linking these incidents. However, there are similarities: - Houses were situated on corner lots with easy access to the back yards - The fires were started using available materials present - The fires were started at the rear of each structure at ground level underneath enclosed but accessible areas - The houses were occupied at the time. The victims in each reported no prior threats, and know of no reason they might have been targeted. There have been no witnesses located. There is no suspect information at this time. Also early Monday, 8/20/07, at approximately 12:30pm, there was a fire at an
apartment complex on the 3900 Block of S. Hudson ST. The cause of the fire
is unknown at this time, but initial indications are that the origin of the
fire was suspicious in nature. 8/21/07 at approximately 3am, Fire fighters and police responded to a possible arson on the 1900 Block of 23rd Ave S. The building was a vacant warehouse. There are no indications of anyone being injured as a result of the fire. The Seattle Police Department Arson/Bomb Squad is doing the follow-up investigation of all the above incidents. If you have any information that may prove useful to the investigations, please contact 206.684.8980.

Arson Prevention Tips
Because of this recent activity, we want to again give you Fire Prevention information courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department. Help stop arson by taking the following steps: Outside - Lock doors and windows of your home, garage and car. - Remove weeds and grass from around your home. - Remove any trash, boxes or wood stored next to your home. - Lock up gasoline or other liquids that could be used to start a fire. - Trim bushes away from doors and windows. - Leave outside lights on when it is dark. Inside - Test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they will work in a fire. - Make and practice a fire escape plan. Make a map showing two exits from every room. - Make sure windows and screens can be opened easily from the inside if needed for escape. If you see suspicious activity, report it to 9-1-1 while it is happening. If you have information related to an arson, you can call the Arson Alarm
Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON (1-800-552-7776). The person providing information may remain
anonymous. A reward may be provided for information that leads to an arson
conviction.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter

August 10, 2007

Who Ya Gonna Call? (click image at left to see LARGER)

For immediate police response, use 911 to report any crime in progress (or one that recently occurred) or suspicious activity. Examples of what to call about include any incident in which someone is in imminent physical danger (fight disturbance, abuse or assault, robbery), burglary or other property crime that recently occurred. An easy way to think about it is this: if you want a cop to show up, Call 911.

If you don’t need immediate police response, but you want to make a report about something potentially criminal in nature, use our non-emergency number, which is 206.625.5011. Some examples: a car blocking your driveway; a property crime (burglary/car prowl that happened over the weekend while you were out of town) for which you have no evidence or witnesses; graffiti or vandalism.

But who do you call when you have an on-going neighborhood issue that is not just a crime issue? Who do you call when you’ve got a situation that calling 911 is not going to fix? Who do you call when you a question or concern about police services? You call the Community Police Team.

The Community Police Team (CPT) is a separate unit of officers in each Precinct that works on long term, on-going public safety issues. CPT members work one-on-one with neighbors, neighborhood groups, businesses and business associations. CPT Officers often partner with other City, County and State entities to affect neighborhood change. It is not uncommon for officers to work with the Department of Planning and Development regarding zoning and code enforcement issues, with Seattle Public Utilities regarding illegal dumping and graffiti clean up, with Metro Transit regarding issues at or around bus shelters, or with King County Environmental Health on abandoned properties that have become harborages for rats. You think of the agency, CPT is probably working with them on some level to positively impact the public safety of a neighborhood.

Call CPT when you have an issue in your area that cannot be resolved by contacting 911 alone. Examples include (but are definitely not limited to): abandoned vehicles; abandoned properties; nuisance properties; concerns regarding disruptive & uncivil behaviors at businesses, and everything from narcotics activity to a safety presentation for pre-schoolers.

Your South Precinct Community Police Team Officers. See the map accompanying this newsletter
• Officer Mike Alphin is the point of contact for concerns in the New Holly, Seward Park, Brighton, and Othello Park areas. 233-1540, michael.alphin@seattle.gov
• Officer Ed Haynes covers North Beacon Hill. 233-2023, ed.haynes@seattle.gov
• Officer Don Jones has Mount Baker, Genesee, Columbia City/Hillman City and the Lakewood/ Seward Park area. 233-1548, donald.jones@seattle.gov
• Officer Craig “CJ” McRae, serves the South Beacon Hill, Rainier Beach, upper Rainier Beach and Rainier View neighborhoods. 233-1543, craig.mcrae@seattle.gov
• Officer Mike Bonet works specifically with Seattle Housing Authority High-Rise properties. These include Barton Place, Center Park and Beacon Tower. 233-1545, michael.bonet@seattle.gov
• If you are not sure to whom you should speak, call the general CPT line at 386-9184.


So, if these are the people to call about some of the issues listed above, then why do neighbors call me your crime prevention guy? Stay tuned - that answer and more in our next installment.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

National Night Out Against Crime — taking to the streets to make them safer

By Seattle Times staff

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The lights were on, but no one was home.

Instead, thousands of Seattle-area residents took to the streets Tuesday evening to meet with neighbors and police during the annual National Night Out Against Crime. Neighborhoods throughout the region — and across the U.S. — marked the event with barbecues, block parties, parades and ice-cream socials designed to strengthen community spirit and develop partnerships with local law enforcement.

Participants were asked to turn on their porch lights to show solidarity.

"It presents an opportunity for people to be neighborly," said Matt Peskin, executive director of the National Association of Town Watch and organizer of the first National Night Out in 1984. "The interaction is what is the cornerstone of National Night Out. You're getting people out and talking."

Times reporters visited several National Night Out events Tuesday to capture the spirit of an event that makes friends of longtime neighbors and partners of police, and helps rekindle neighborhood unity. This is what they found:

South Rainier Avenue

Just around the block from what they called "our infamous car wash," neighbors at the block party for the Rainier-Othello Safety Organization (ROSA) watched dozens of children dig into barbecued ribs, bounce around an inflatable dragon and ride their bikes up and down the street — something they wish could happen more often.

Unfortunately, the drug dealing and prostitution that emanates from the area around the car wash on the corner of South Rainier Avenue and Othello Street, according to police, draws an unsavory crowd most evenings. Through ROSA, the neighbors are instituting regular neighborhood walks, beautifying the street and confronting the drug dealers — all to make it clear that crime is unwelcome. "We've discovered, actually, that some of the best ways to help are also the nicest ways," said Leslie Miller, who organized Tuesday's block party. "Know your neighbors. Clean up your yard."

Seattle police South Precinct Capt. Tom Byer stopped by to say hello and grab a plate of ribs. He said his officers have also been cracking down on traffic enforcement. The traffic stops make it safer to walk the streets, he said, but have also led to a number of gun seizures.

SHARE PHOTOS OF EVENT
FULL STORY

LOST BLACKBERRY

Hi neighbors -
A BlackBerry was lost while walking dogs on Wed. night – contact jlfredericks@gmail.com - or call 412-9355 if found. Thanks! L.

Humane Society for Seattle/King County offers a $5,000 REWARD

Humane Society for Seattle/King County offers a $5,000 REWARD
for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person who organizes dog fights, participates in dog fights, promotes dog fighting,
or officiates at dog fights.

For full link/story: For http://www.seattlehumane.org/pr07-26-2007michaelvick.shtml

Free water saving shower heads

http://www.savingwater.org/inside_bathroom_showerheads.htm

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter 7.13.07

Dear Community Friends

Residential Burglary

We cannot stress enough the importance of taking steps to secure your home to prevent burglary.

As we’ve detailed in the past, we often see an increase in home burglaries during warm weather months. Windows are left open for ventilation, yet we often forget to close and lock those windows as we leave the home, which creates an opportunity for a would-be burglar to gain entry without using any force. Recent incident reports show a marked increase in the number of burglaries where the burglar entered through an opened and unlocked window.

Additionally, we’ve had those rare burglaries where an attempt or successful entry was made into the home while the residents were there. I stress that occupied burglaries are rare. Most burglars do not want to encounter anyone, which is why the majority of residential burglaries take place during the day when residents are most likely to be away from the home at work. In cases where a resident was home, the burglar may have just been in the home long enough to take a few items before fleeing; in other cases the would-be burglar fled after realizing that the home was not vacant.

You may think it’s safe to leave a window open for ventilation because of its height off the ground. This is not always the case. In a recent incident, burglars used a lawn chair from the person’s back yard to boost themselves up to the point where they could reach and further open the already opened kitchen window. In another incident, a neighbor’s ladder was used to gain entry via a second story window.

Open and unlocked windows are not the only way burglars are gaining entry into the home. Quite often, a rear door is forced open, usually by kicking it near the knob/lock.

Another thing we often see this time of year is burglaries of residences when the occupants are away on vacation or may have gone out of town for a few days. In these instances, there are telltale signs that indicate someone hasn’t been at the home in a while. These include mail and/or newspapers piling up, curtains drawn during the daytime, porch lights left on during daylight, … things that make it apparent that no one has been home in a while.

What You Can Do

Burglary, like most crime, is a crime of opportunity. Let’s eliminate those opportunities and possibly, therefore, the crime.
• Always close and lock windows whenever away from the home. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, but not wide enough for someone to gain entry, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to allow the window to open no more than 4”

. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops installed on the inside track, which will also prevent the window from being opened too far. We still advise that you close and lock all windows and doors for any time you area away from your home. While we understand the desire to ventilate the home when you are not there because of the heat, be aware that you make your home vulnerable and you create an opportunity for the burglar

. Install good quality dead bolt locks with at least a 1” throw on all exterior doors.

. Replace the existing screws in the strike plates with screws that are 3”-4” long. When a door is forced open, it is the jamb that splinters and gives, not the door. By securing the strike plates with 3”-4” long screws, you secure the jamb to the wall stud. When the deadbolt lock is engaged, the bolt goes into the jamb and the jamb is now secured to the framing of the home. This makes it much more difficult for a person to force open a properly locked door.
. If you’re going to be away for an extended time, ask a friend or trusted neighbor to watch your home.

. Let your trusted neighbors know that you plan to be out town so that they can watch your home for you. If they see suspicious activity while you are gone, they will know to call 911 for you.


. Have the Post Office hold your mail and hold your newspaper delivery.

. Make it appear that your home is occupied. You can do this by having timers set within the home that will turn lights on and off. You may want to consider timers for your exterior lights or photocell attachments (which activate when it gets dark and go off when it becomes light).

. Secure all tools, including ladders, so they cannot be used to gain entry into your home or that of a neighbor.



Night Out 2007 Reminder

Once again, we wanted to send you a reminder about National Night Out Against Crime 2007. It is Tuesday, August 7th. To find out more about this, please contact Kathy Kaminski, Seattle Neighborhood Group’s Weed & Seed Program Coordinator at 206.323.9671 or email at kathy@sngi.org.


Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter 6.22.07

Dear Community Friends,

Recent Arson Activity
On Thursday, June 14, 2007, South Seattle experienced several arson
incidents. At approximately 6:45 pm, fire was set to the Japanese
Presbyterian Church (1800 Block 24th Ave S). While Arson investigators were
at the scene, materials in a dumpster on the 1700 Block of 22nd Ave S. were
ignited. Approximately 10 minutes after that, a sofa was set ablaze behind
some businesses on the 2000 block of 21st Ave S. All of these incidents are
under investigation by Arson and Bomb Squad detectives; three people of
interest have been identified. Additionally, at about 10 pm Thursday night,
a home on the 1500 Block of 25th Ave S experienced a fire that appeared to
start in the basement portion of the home. Patrol officers did detain a
person of interest near the scene, but it cannot be proven that the house
fire was deliberately set, nor that it was related to the other fires that
occurred in the vicinity.

On Friday, June 15th, Arson and Bomb Squad detectives conducted a stake out
of the U-Haul location on the on the 2500 block of Rainier Ave S. For about
five weeks, this U-Haul location had experienced a number of car prowls,
thefts and small fires being set in the engine compartments of their
vehicles. As a result of the stakeout, the detectives arrested the
individual responsible. It has not been determined if this individual is
responsible for the arsons that occurred the previous day.

You may recall two arsons occurred early April 2007 in the Columbia
City/Hillman City area. These two arsons are still open investigations.

What You Can Do
Except for the house fire on the 1500 Block of 25th Ave S, all the fires
were started using available combustible materials present at the location
and were ignited with a hand held flame. To help prevent arson, we offer the
following tips from the Seattle Fire Department:
· Lock doors and windows of your home, garage and car.
· Remove weeds and grass from around your home.
· Remove any trash, boxes or wood stored next to your home.
· Lock up gasoline or other liquids that could be used to start a fire.
· Trim bushes away from doors and windows.
· Leave outside lights on when it is dark.

As always, if you see suspicious activity, report it to 9-1-1 while it is
happening.

Independence Day Celebrations

Another safety reminder we want to give you is regarding fireworks. City of
Seattle ordinances prohibit the sale, possession, use, or discharge of all
fireworks within city limits (including parks). Emphasis is placed on
fireworks because of: the potential of Injury to persons because of
carelessness or maliciousness; damage to property, and; the danger of fire.
Last year, the Seattle Police Department implemented Fireworks Emphasis
Teams to enforce the fireworks ban. Expect to see them this year, enforcing
the fireworks ban, confiscating them and arresting violators. Don¹t say I
didn¹t warn you.

Night Out 2007 Reminder
Finally, a reminder about National Night Out Against Crime 2007. It is
Tuesday, August 7th. To register your block or group for Night Out on-line,
go to www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/Default.htm
<http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/Default.htm>. If you want to close
your street off, you can indicate that on the registration form. The
deadline to register your group for Night Out is Friday, July 27th.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Aggressive Drivers Response Team

From June 14th South Precinct Email Community Newsletter

Aggressive Drivers Response Team
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities can be attributed to aggressive driving. Hallmarks of aggressive driving includes excessive speed, frequent or unsafe lane changes, tailgating, disregarding traffic control devices, cutting off other drivers, obscene hand gestures as well as making threats or yelling profanities.

In early May, Mayor Greg Nickels and Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske announced the formation of a special traffic unit that will target aggressive and dangerous drivers on Seattle streets. The goal of the ten-member Aggressive Drivers Response Team (ADRT) is to improve pedestrian and driver safety across the city.

All of the members of the ADRT squad were selected from the Traffic Unit and are extensively trained in emergency vehicle operation. They target areas that are known for aggressive driving, including Rainier Avenue South. They will also work chronic community traffic complaints, school zone violations and conduct pedestrian emphasis.

The officers will be driving the latest addition to the Seattle Police Department fleet, the 2007 Dodge Charger, which are equipped with digital video cameras integrated with an onboard mobile data computer.


Night Out Against Crime 2007

“Night Out” is a national Crime Prevention event. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to learn about crime prevention, while also celebrating your community and spending time with your neighbors. Night Out 2007 is Tuesday, August 7, 2007.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “What do aggressive driving and Night Out have to do with each other?” This year, the Seattle Police Department is encouraging Night Out participants to look at the issue of speeding and vehicular safety.

In the past year, we have seen a number of fatalities and accidents involving inattentive drivers and pedestrians. We’ve also seen a number of fatalities as a result of speeding. Rarely do we talk about speeding as a risk to our own or others personal safety. Yet, speeding reduces a driver’s ability to respond to or stop in emergency situations. Crash severity increases with the speed of the vehicle at impact and the effectiveness of restraint devices decline as impact speed increases. The probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury grows with higher speed at impact.

Let’s spend a few moments during our Night Out celebrations to consider our own driving habits and how we might be contributing to this dangerous problem. Let’s make a pledge to not speed in our or anyone else’s neighborhood.

To register your block for Night Out Against Crime 2007 on line, please use the following link:
http://www.seattle.gov/police/nightout/. If you would like a member from our Aggressive Driving Response Team to stop by your event, please indicate that on your Night Out registration.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Beginning Yoga After 50 with Sally Carley

Yoga on Beacon ( http://www.yogaonbeacon.com )

Beginning Sunday, June 10 th, from 5 - 6:30 PM $72 for 6 classes

Think you have to be young, fit and flexible to practice yoga? Think again!

This workshop is for you, even if you are just a tad under 50, or maybe a
bit older. If you have yearned to try yoga but have been reluctant due to
concerns about weight, injuries, health issues, inflexibility, or age, here
is your chance to begin practicing yoga!

This six-part series will introduce yoga basics, including sitting and
standing poses ( asana) breathing practices (pranayama ), and meditation.
Taught in a light-hearted and accessible way, these classes will help you
gain insight into the benefits to be gained from the practice of traditional
Hatha yoga.

206.324.YOGA (9642)

Mt. Baker neighbors hit streets to reduce burglaries

Good reading:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003724758_mtbaker28m.html

If you wish to post to the blog, send mail to
beaconcrimewatch.leeshaw@blogger.com in plain text.

Cheers! L.

Bayview House Status Update

Hello neighbors -
Following are paraphrased details that were provided by the Ringo sisters who have spoken to the owner of the Bayview house that caught on fire last sat.

The insurance company wants to get in as soon as possible to assess damage so the house doesn't sit there too long w/ water, etc, and damage the foundation structure. They will have to send the tenant an eviction notice w/timeline to remove belongings. After that point they will haul stuff out. Sounds like that could be taken care of in the next few weeks. Based on my conversation with her, it sounds like they want to rebuild a new little house to rent out.

Insurance company predicted about 6 months until the new building is done. We will see!

Anyway, just thought you might like to know.

Fire Slide Show on Flickr - if you are interested

http://flickr.com/photos/divide/sets/72157600233591607/

Community newsletter - Summertime Security Tips

Summertime Security Tips
During warm weather months, we often see an increase in burglary and theft.
Reasons for this include:

- Windows at residences left open for ventilation when residents are not
home.

- Unattended open garages while residents are working in the yard or have
briefly left the home.

- Unattended personal belongings while at a park or other recreational
venue.

- Unattended personal belongings visible in our vehicles.

Given this anticipated increase, we want to reiterate some summer time
safety tips to help reduce incidents of burglary and theft.

Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your doors and windows. If you
want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, but not wide enough for
someone to gain entry, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to allow
the window to open no more than 4². For double hung windows, consider sash
pins. Some windows have stops installed on the inside track, which will
also prevent the window from being opened too far.

Lock Your Doors
I have seen reports of someone stepping out to the store for a short bit and
leaving their doors visibly open. They returned to find someone had
burglarized the home. Anytime you leave your home, close and lock your
doors. Let¹s not make it easy for the burglar.

Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave your front
door open and/or unlocked. If you have a garage or storage unit that is out
of your line of sight, be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to
anyone who may be walking or driving by. Close those doors as well.

Do Not Leave Personal Belongings Unattended
Whether they are in a shopping cart or on a picnic blanket, always maintain
positive control over your belongings. Never leave personal belongings
unattended in your vehicle. Seattle has an incredibly high rate of theft of
personal property from vehicles, particularly at public parks.

Home Security ­ What Works
We¹re continuing our theme of practical and effective security tips to help
secure your home from residential burglary and to make your neighborhood
less attractive to the potential burglar.

Recommendations Regarding Sliding Windows & Doors:
· Most sliding windows and doors are designed to be removed from the window
track from the 3/4-to-fully opened position. They should not be able to be
removed from a partially opened position. Installing flat head screws in
the upper track of the window can help. Install the screws high enough for
the window or door to slide freely, but low enough to prevent the window
from being lifted up and out of the track from a partially opened position.
· Use dowels for sliding windows and doors. You can use two sizes of dowels,
one for when the window is in the closed position and one to allow the
window to be opened enough for ventilation (no more than 4²) but not allow
someone to force the window open further to gain entry. We still advise
that you close and lock all windows and doors for any time you area away
from your home.
· Where you have single pane glass windows, consider replacing them with
thermal insulated, double pane windows. They are better for security as well
as the energy efficiency of the home. Yes, this is a high cost fix, but it
is worth it.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Arson - Kind of?

Hi all - as I can imagine everyone is a little shocked, but not really surprised at the outcome of the events from this past Saturday when a fire broke out on the 1900 block of S. Bayview.

While I feel for the occupant (Dan) on many levels, I am hoping that this will be cause for some positive outcome down the road.

I can only imagine how long the property will sit like that, festering, while the irresponsible landlord does nothing. But I am going to hope for the best for the immediate neighbor's sake.

Hopefully we can all at least feel some compasion for Dan, as no one likes to see a person go through something as stressful and demoralizing as a house fire.

Thankfully - no one was injured.

While the police do feel it was arson - they have somewhat assured us that is was not a crazed arsonist that is targeting our neighborhood, so we can all rest easy on this news. I am sure we all pretty much know this, but it is always nice to have it confirmed.

While I was given little information, the police do feel this is potentially an event triggered by Dan's association with the suspect.

Meanwhile - it is still in our best interest to report any suspicious activities involving strangers roaming around our neighborhood...one never really knows for sure. Thanks everyone for being such great neighbors and cooperating when able with the authorities.

Until next time - Lee

Beacon Hill Block Watch Summit

Come share your concerns and successes!

Saturday, May 19, 2007
10 AM - Noon
El Centro de la Raza
Salvador Allende Room
Downstairs, Northeast Corner

* Building a Safe Community: Block Watches Working Together
* Problem Houses and Suspicious Vehicles: Creating Solutions
* The Central Core Alcohol Impact Area and Beacon Hill: Expanding the AIA
* Reclaiming Beacon Hill's Greenbelts: Making a Safe Future for Our Forests

Participants include representatives from the Seattle Police Department, the
Seattle Neighborhood Group, the Seattle City Attorney's Office, and the
Washington State Liquor Control Board.

Updates will include information from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods,
the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Community Court of the Seattle
City Attorney's Office, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and
the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Community Newsletter May 2007

Reporting Crime to the Police

This subject was previously covered some time ago, so we thought it was time to revisit this topic. We need people to use the 9-1-1 system to report crimes that have occurred, crimes in progress, or suspicious activity. Calls for service let us know the crime trends in a neighborhood, where we need to focus our attention, and how we assign our resources.

Call 9-1-1 when:
• When you have a Police, Fire or Medical emergency.
• To report a crime that is in progress, or has just occurred.
• There is a situation that could - or does - pose a danger to life, property, or both.
• There is suspicious activity involving a person(s), or vehicle, that appears criminal in intent.
Please Note: Seattle Police 9-1-1 operators have immediate access to interpreters who can assist in communicating with callers, and TTY machines at every station. Also, if you are reporting an emergency occurring in another city (i.e. you are talking with a family member in Everett and they start having a heart attack) call 9-1-1 to be transferred to the appropriate jurisdiction.
9-1-1 calls from pay phones and cell phones are free.

The Seattle Police Non Emergency Line: (206) 625-5011
Reasons for calling the non-emergency number include, but are not limited to the following:
• You want to report a nuisance, such as a noise or parking complaint.
• To report a non-emergency crime, one that did not just occur, and the suspect(s) are not in the immediate area.
• You have questions about something suspicious occurring in your neighborhood, and you are not sure it is criminal activity.

What To Expect When You Call:
Try to remain patient and calm while the 9-1-1 operator asks you questions. They are trained to ask specific questions to quickly determine what is wrong and what type of assistance to send. Please stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up.

Be Prepared To Answer These Questions:
• Is it an emergency? Using the previous definitions, if the situation is not an emergency, please tell that to the operator up front.
• Your EXACT location: This may not always be the same as where the activity is occurring, but from where you are calling.
• The location of the activity: If you don’t have an exact location, give us the best location you can (near the intersection of Smith Ave. & Jones St.)
• Time lapse: Our response can be based on whether the crime happened five minutes ago, five hours ago, or is currently in progress.
• The exact activity you are reporting
• Suspect Information: Any information you can provide clothing, height, weight, age, direction of travel, etc. will be helpful to the responding officer(s).
• Weapon information. Are there any weapons involved? What type?

Phone Reports
With some crime reporting, you may be asked if you are willing to do a phone report rather than having an officer respond. This frees the officers to respond to other emergency calls.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community NewsletterApril 18, 2007

Dear Community Friends,

Crime Terminology

Here¹s a summation of a number of conversations I¹ve had:
Crime Victim (CV): I¹ve been robbed!
Mark (M): Really? Tell me what happened.
CV: Well, I went to the store and someone came in through the garage and
robbed me. They took my laptop and some jewelry. In broad daylight!
M: Actually, you weren¹t robbed. You were burglarized.
CV: What? What difference does it make? Someone stole my stuff!
M: Okay, on that we can agree.

The reason I point this out is because for law enforcement, there is a
difference between Robbery, Home Invasion Robbery, Burglary, Trespass and
Theft. When you talk to law enforcement or call 911, the language you use
makes a difference. So, with that introduction out of the way, I¹m going to
give you the plain language definitions of each term.

Trespass is when someone enters physical property, not his or her own,
without permission. It could be a parking lot, a business, or somebody¹s
yard. If that person does not have permission to go there, or has not been
given implicit permission because of the type of business (a fast food
place, for example) the person is trespassing. If the person is told they
are trespassing and is asked to leave, if they refuse to leave, that person
can be arrested for trespassing.

Burglary is when someone enters physical property, not his or her own,
without permission, with the intent to commit a crime. The crime could be
to take belongings from the property (i.e. theft), or against a person
within the property (i.e. assault). This could be a residence (residential
burglary), a place of business (commercial burglary), a detached storage
shed or garage (kinda counts as residential), or even a public storage unit
or storage yard (kinda more commercial). It doesn¹t matter if force is used
to gain entry, if someone was home at the time (in the case of a residential
burglary) and it doesn¹t matter is something is stolen. The unlawful entry
of the property with intent to commit a crime is burglary. For the record,
most residential burglaries occur during the day, (when most folks are away
at work) and most commercial burglaries occur at night (when most workers
are at their residence).

Robbery is the physical taking of property from another individual by the
use of force or the implied use of force. An example would be a lady
walking down the street and someone comes up from behind, grabs her purse
off of her shoulder, and though the lady tries to hang on, the purse is
taken anyway; that is a strong-arm robbery, better known as a purse snatch.
Say a guy is walking down the street and another guy comes up to him and
says, ³give me your wallet,² while showing a knife or other weapon. That¹s
an armed robbery, whether the weapon was used or not. The physical taking
of another person¹s property through force - or implied use of force - is
robbery, whether a weapon is used or not. Use or implication of a weapon
just helps us categorize the ³type² of robbery.

Theft is when property is taken, period. Shoplift (taking something from a
store without paying for it), auto theft and auto accessory theft (car
stereo/CD player) are examples of theft. One form of theft frequently
happens when we go shopping and we leave our belongings (purse, backpack,
wallet) unattended. While we¹re busy looking on the bottom shelf for the
least expensive oatmeal, someone has taken the purse or backpack, or taken
something out of the purse or backpack (wallet, cell phone) without
permission, or knowledge, or direct threat or actual use of force. No one
implied a threat or used force to take it from you; no one entered your home
or place of business to get it; it was there and they took it. That¹s theft.

Home Invasion Robbery is a whole different kind of critter. A home invasion
robbery is when the perpetrators enter the home with the intent of finding
someone there. The perpetrators use weapons and (often) actual violence to
get the people in the home to give them money, jewelry and other belongings.
Household members in the home are often restrained, threatened and beaten,
and they are often told that if they report the crime to the police, they
will be killed. This is a scary type of occurrence. Thankfully, it is also
extremely rare, which is why it gets so much media attention when it
happens.

The term ³Home Invasion Robbery² is more of a media creation rather than an
actual crime, but the term has been widely adopted. If the perpetrators
unlawfully enter the property, the crime is primarily a burglary. However,
the introduction of guns or other dangerous weapons by the perpetrators, and
the threat or use of those weapons, allow the crime to be charged as both
burglary and robbery in many cases. If weapons are used, there is a weapons
enhancement added at sentencing (which means the suspects will do more time
if convicted), and a firearms enhancement if a gun was used ­ an automatic
five year additional sentence if convicted.

So, when you call 911 to report a crime, or you talk to police officers
about a crime, be sure as to which crime you¹re talking about. If someone
entered your residence without your permission sometime over the weekend
while you were out of town, don¹t call in saying you had a Home Invasion
Burglary. No, you had a burglary. If someone takes a shopping bag from
your car while you were in The Mall doing some more shopping, don¹t call 911
to report you were robbed. No, you had a theft.

I hope this clears things up a bit.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Burglar Wanted

Our neighobr Craig Thompson wants to know if anyone has seen this man. He is apparently wanted for a burglary on Island Crest Drive . If you see this man call 911 as he is wanted in connection with SPD case # 07-136189.

Recent Arsons in the South End

Dear Community Friends,

In the past week there have been 2 Arson fires of note:
- 4/2/07, approximately 11pm: 4600 Block of 43rd Ave. South. Single-family
residence. $500,000 loss, Unknown person(s) used hand held flame to ignite
combustibles on exterior of structure.
- 4/8/07, Approximately 1:45am: 5900 Block of 51st Ave. South.
Single-family residence. $400,000 loss, Unknown person(s) applied an
ignitable liquid to exterior of home and lighted the same with an open
flame.

At this time there is no solid evidence linking these two incidents.
However, there are similarities:
- Both houses were situated on corner lots with easy access to the back
yards
- The fires were started using available materials present
- The fires were started at the rear of each structure at ground level
underneath enclosed but accessible areas
- The houses were occupied at the time.
The victims in each reported no prior threats, and know of no reason they
might have been targeted. There have been no witnesses located. There is
no suspect information at this time. The Seattle Police Department
Arson/Bomb Squad is doing the follow-up investigation of both incidents. If
you have any information that may prove useful to the investigations, please
contact 206.684.8980

The following information is courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department.

Help Stop Arson
Fires started by people to hurt others or damage property are called arson.
Arson is a crime.
Help stop arson by taking the following steps:

Outside
- Lock doors and windows of your home, garage and car.
- Remove weeds and grass from around your home.
- Remove any trash, boxes or wood stored next to your home.
- Lock up gasoline or other liquids that could be used to start a fire.
- Trim bushes away from doors and windows.
- Leave outside lights on when it is dark.

Inside
- Test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they will work in a fire.
- Make and practice a fire escape plan. Make a map showing two exits from
every room.
- Make sure windows and screens can be opened easily from the inside if
needed for escape.

If you see suspicious activity, report it to 9-1-1 while it is happening.

If you have information related to an arson fire, you can call the Arson
Alarm Hotline at

1-800-55-ARSON (1-800-552-7776). The person providing information may
remain anonymous. A reward may be provided for information that leads to an
arson conviction.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

South Precinct Email Community Newsletter - April 4, 2007

Dear Community Friends,

Domestic Violence
This week we have seen local and national news reports that have brought the
issue of domestic violence to the forefront.

· On Monday, April 2, 32007, Rebecca Griego was shot and killed by her
ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Rowan. Griego had a restraining order against Rowan
as he had repeatedly threatened her during and after their on-and-off
relationship. He stalked and harassed her and her family. Though she had
moved and changed her phone number, Rowan continued to call her at work.
Co-workers were advised of the situation and told to watch out for him.
Even with that, Rowan went to Griego¹s place of employment at the University
of Washington, shot her as she was alone in her office, then shot himself.

· On Tuesday, April 3, 2007, Clara Riddles, of College Park, Georgia,
was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend, Arthur Mann, at the CNN Center complex
in Atlanta. Witnesses saw Mann pulling Riddles by her hair. Riddles was
screaming, trying to wrestle free of Mann. Witnesses said Riddles appeared
to be shot at point-blank range, ³Šlike he [Mann] had the gun right on top
of her head and shot her." Mann was subsequently shot by a security
officer, is currently in a hospital in stable condition, and has been
charged with Riddles¹ murder.

Domestic violence is the ugly elephant in the room that nobody really wants
to talk about. Much domestic abuse goes unreported. The victims (or as I
prefer to refer to them as ­ the survivors) may feel shamed, trapped, or
afraid. While many of us may think, ³just leave.² Think about the above
examples. These women did everything they could. They got out, they had
retraining orders, they moved on. Unfortunately, the ex-boyfriends did not.
It is a fact that a person is far more likely to be assaulted, abused, or
raped by someone they know, have trusted or live with than they are by a
stranger. In most instances, the victims or survivors have options. There
is assistance for those who want or need it, and there is always something
that can be done.

Seattle Police Response to Domestic Violence

Seattle Police respond to domestic violence calls more than any other
person-to-person crime. A domestic violence call is dispatched with the
highest priority because of the potential for harm or death. Once at the
scene of the domestic violence call, if there is evidence of physical
assault, the abuser will be arrested, removed from the scene and charged
with domestic violence Assault. Arrest and removal of the abuser is
mandatory per Washington state law.

Further, Seattle is one of the only police departments in the country that
has a dedicated Domestic Violence Investigations unit. The detectives in
this unit consider their work ³Murder Prevention.² That should give you an
idea of how serious they take the issue.

Additionally, Seattle has a unique program called the Domestic Violence
Victim Support Team. The Victim Support Team is a partnership between
community volunteers and police. The program is designed to address the gap
in services for domestic violence victims that often occurs over the
weekend, working with the survivors from the time patrol officers respond to
a domestic violence call to the time advocates, detectives and prosecutors
make contact with the victim(s) for follow up. Victim Support Team
volunteers provide crisis intervention, safety planning, help locating
emergency resources, transportation to a safe location, and referrals to
over 100 community agencies. For more information about the Victim Support
Team, or to get involved, please call (206) 684-7721.

There are a number of state, local and national domestic violence resources.
If you know those who need assistance, good starting points are the King
County Coalition Against Domestic Violence website (www.kcadv.org
<http://www.kcadv.org/> ) or call the Washington State Domestic Violence
hotline: 1-800-562-6025.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Community Update March 2007

Dear Community Friends,

Home Invasion Robberies Update
As you are well aware, we’ve experienced a series of home invasion robberies in the past few months. The first one that came to our attention was the one that occurred in the Mount Baker neighborhood in late January 2007. There were also home invasion robberies in the Lakeridge area and South Beacon Hill. The good news: two suspects have been arrested and charged, and a third suspect has been identified and is currently being sought.

Eyewitness accounts from the victims of these crimes proved critical to placing these individuals at the crime scenes. South Precinct detectives were able to get identification from a photomontage, get the suspect information out to officers, and within hours of the warrant being released, SWAT officers arrested the first suspect.

Working with Bellevue PD (who identified one of the three suspects as being involved in a kidnapping, burglary and assault), and King County detectives, the second suspect was identified. He was located at a Renton pawnshop as he tried to unload property identified as stolen in the home invasion robberies. When this suspect was arrested, he had property on him from the Mount Baker home invasion robbery. When a warrant was served where this suspect was residing, additional property from the Mount Baker, Lakeridge and South Beacon Hill home invasion robberies was recovered.

The third suspect was eventually identified and a $500,000 warrant was issued for his arrest. This suspect seems to have “gone to ground”, but it’s only a matter of time before he is found, arrested and charged. After all, his name and photo are all over the news and every law enforcement agency and informant is out looking for the guy.

These arrests and eyewitnesses who picked the suspects out of a line-up have helped detectives close cases in multiple jurisdictions dating back to November 2006. These include the Bellevue case mentioned above, a West Seattle burglary, the Mount Baker, Lakeridge and South Beacon Hill home invasions robberies, and other home invasion robberies in South and West Seattle.

Many have expressed frustration, anger and fear about these robberies. We understand. There was a lot of frustration and anger about how police were responding to these crimes. Again, we understand. There are a couple of take-aways from these events that need to be highlighted.
1) Home invasion robberies are scary. Fortunately, they are very rare. It is the type of crime we fear the most, but one that happens the least.
2) Police will respond to the 911 call, they will collect evidence, the detectives will follow-up on the evidence and investigate to the best of their ability, and they will beat the bushes to close cases, using every resource they have.
3) Eyewitness information, and the willingness of witnesses and victims to come forward, were essential to getting the suspects identified, arrested and charged. If not for those people who were able to pick the suspects out of a photomontage, we would not have had any probable cause to arrest or charge any of these individuals with any crime.

These incidents stress how important it is that crimes are reported, even if an officer is not able to respond immediately. They also stress the importance paying attention to what is happening in your neighborhood so you can point out to police that which is out of the ordinary, and of people’s willingness to make a statement about the crime and identify those involved. Police don’t solve crimes alone. They don’t catch criminals alone. Police strive to do their best. But it can’t be done without you. The arrests of these home invasion robbery suspects are further proof of that. We scored a win, and while it was the detectives that did the grunt work to make it happen, it is you that facilitated that win.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

NEW - Break in on 18th south of College

From Wade Tibke -

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I live on 18th Ave S. just south of college. In the middle of the day (this Monday)... three dark complected males in their late teens/early 20s kicked down my front door in broad daylight. One of them stood watch out front while the other two broke down the dead bolted door and proceeded to look through drawers etc. Fortunately three neighbors heard them kick open the door (again the front door at noon)... and called the cops. The cops arrived shortly thereafter. The intruders had been scared off by the neighbors coming out... and as far as I can tell basically only took change. It's amazing how bold they must feel to attempt this. The one on lookout took off very quickly after they busted the door... and the other two ran out the back. I did not speak to the cops (they were gone when I arrived).. but apparently they told one of the neighbors they may have caught one of them. One neighbor actually spoke to the guy on outlook. He told the neighbor that he was looking for his pit bull.

People need to look out for any suspicious activity and call 911 immediately. These people obviously look out of place in the neighborhood.

Thanks,

Wade

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South Precinct Email Community Newsletter 2/7/07

Dear Community Friends,

Recent Activity
There have been several reported incidents of Home Invasion Robberies in the Seattle area. In the past two weeks, one home invasion robbery occurred in the Mount Baker neighborhood, one near Othello Park and one in the Lakeridge neighborhood just south of the city limits. The times of when these have occurred vary; two occurred in late evening hours while one occurred during early morning. One of the victims was injured during the robbery. The number of perpetrators has been 2-4 individuals, most likely males ranging in age from mid/late teens – early/mid 20s. The perpetrators were armed in two of the events. Witnesses have not been able to provide definitive suspect descriptions for any of the perpetrators and we do not know at this time if the same perpetrators committed all three robberies. In the Lakeridge robbery, the perpetrators stole the victim’s vehicle, a gray 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, (license # 595-VWS) and it has yet to be located. If you see this car, call 911 immediately. The driver and occupants are considered armed and dangerous.

In one case, the intruders gained entry by forcing open a basement window. In another, intruders knocked on the door and the victim answered and opened the door, even though he didn’t know who they were.

When someone comes to your door, we advise that you answer the door. Let the person outside the door know that someone is home. Since burglars mostly try to avoid someone being home, by letting them know you’re there you may thwart a burglary attempt. Answering the door does not mean opening the door. Always know who’s on the other side of that door before you open it. Even if you are expecting someone, take a moment to look outside and see who is there. If you do not have a peephole, either go to a side window that allows you to see who’s at the door or install one. If you don’t recognize the person, do not open the door. Talk to them through the door. Don’t worry about being rude; this is about your safety, not their feelings. By not opening the door, you keep a barrier between you and the unknown person. You are better protected and have more safety options.

Home Security – What Works
We’re continuing our theme of practical and effective security tips to help secure your home from residential burglary and to make your neighborhood less attractive to the potential burglar.

Recommendations Regarding Doors With Glass Portions:
Doors with glass panels are vulnerable. An intruder could break the glass panel, reach in and unlock the door. Consider one or more of the following options:
• Install a flip latch close to the floor out of arms reach.
• Install a floor bolt on the door, with a bolt that extends at least 1” into the floor.
• If the door has a single cylinder deadbolt – or no dead bolt - consider replacing the installing a double cylinder deadbolt lock. This would require a key to be used to open the lock from the inside as well. Remember to remove the key from the lock and store it away from the reach of the door. Note: per Seattle Fire Code, double cylinder deadbolts cannot be installed in rental properties.
• Cover the window of the door with Plexiglas or decorative grillwork that will prevent an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching in to unlock the door.
• Replace the glass portion with more durable, thicker glass.
• Replacement with a solid door that has some glass in the upper portion, but with thicker, more durable glass and smaller panes.
• Replace the door with one that is solid core with no glass upper panel.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator

Suspicious Car - Sunday 2/4 6:00 amFrom Brook on 17th and Bayview

If you see a car fitting this description, try to get the plate #.
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Sunday morning at about 6:00 I watched a maroon car (possibly a Prelude -- it was hard to tell) pull up next to our car. The driver stepped out, checked our driver's door and, finding it locked, got back in and drove off. I couldn't tell much about the driver in the dark except that he was male. I called 911 and reported it, then an officer came by in about 10 minutes to get more info.
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FedEx package - was it mis-delivered?

Hi neighbors -

We were supposed to receive a box on Friday Feb. 2nd - but it never arrived.

FedEx did not notify us of its delivery, then suddenly their tracking system
updated on Sunday telling us it had been delivered.

We were wondering if any of you may have received it by mistake.

Our neighbor - Jeannie - has had at least two packages mis-delivered by
FedEx.

It couldbe that it was stolen from our porch, but we both find this
difficult to fathom since we have stuff delivered all of the time.

We actually think FedEx lost it, which also can happen.

Whether it is lost - or stolen - we'll probably never know.

If the crooks who perform the random thefts and break-ins in our hood are
becomming that bold, then alternate delivery methods might be necessary.

I encourage everyone to be on the look out for mysterious folks, wandering
about on foot with large packages.

The package was a pair of land roller in-line skates, which makes it even
odder that they have turned up missing.

Thanks everyone - and take care!

Sincerely, Lee Shaw

Jan. 9th South Precinct Email Community Newsletter - GOOD TIPS!

Dear Community Friends,

Happy New Year! Over the next few newsletters, we¹re going to include
practical and effective security tips to help secure your home from
residential burglary and to make your neighborhood less attractive to the
potential burglar.

Home Security ­ What Works
Physically securing your home is usually one of the least expensive and most
effective burglary prevention measures. First, lock your doors and windows.
When you are away from home, even for a short period of time, make sure your
doors are locked and that your windows are shut and locked. Burglars look
for an opportunity. An open window or door is an opportunity and I still
read a number of incident reports where the burglar gained entry through an
opened or unlocked door or window.

Recommendations Regarding Your Doors Include:
· Exterior doors should be strong enough to withstand excessive force (i.e.
solid core wood or metal).

· Install good quality dead bolt locks with at least a 1² throw on all
exterior doors.

· Replace the existing screws in the strike plates with screws that are 3-4²
long. When a door is forced open, it is the jamb that splinters and gives,
not the door. By securing the strike plates with 3²-4² long screws, you
secure the jamb to the wall stud. When the deadbolt lock is engaged, the
bolt goes into the jamb and the jamb is now secured to the framing of the
home. This makes it much more difficult for a person to force open a
properly locked door.

· If you have double cylinder deadbolt locks (one that requires a key on
both sides to open it), don¹t leave the keys in the lock, clearly displayed
or within close proximity of the doors. Note: per Seattle Fire Code, double
cylinder deadbolts cannot be installed in rental properties.

· If there is an interior door that separates the garage from the main
living area, consider it the same as an exterior door and adopt the same
precautions; deadbolt lock with a 1² throw and longer screws in the strike
plates.

· The main entrance door should have a door-wide angle (180 degree)
viewer/peephole.

In our next newsletter, we¹ll discuss windows and doors with glass portions.

Be Mindful Who Is Out And About In Your Neighborhood.
Recently in the North Beacon Hill area, a young man (16-20) knocked twice on
a neighbor¹s door at mid-day. The neighbor was slow to answer the door and
assumes the young man thought that no one was home because he started to
jiggle the door handle as the resident approached the door. When the
resident answered the door, the young man quickly asked where the VA
hospital was and soon was on his way. The doorknob jiggle told the resident
that the man¹s story was probably not legit and a police report was filed.
About an hour later, another neighbor a few blocks away had an unknown male
come to the door. He knocked loudly several times and rang the doorbell.
His two friends (one of whom fits the description given of the young man in
the previous incident) waited for him on the sidewalk. When the resident
answered the door, the young man asked for Cyrus. Afterwards, the young man
went on his way. The neighbor found it suspicious, but didn¹t file a report
because there was no overt attempt to gain entry.

What is described above is a typical burglar tactic: find out if someone is
home; if they are come up with some cover story as to why you¹re there; if
no one is home, look for an open door window or make forced entry where you
are least likely to be observed. Two things to keep in mind: First, if it
seems suspicious to you, it probably is. Tell each other and call 911.
Second, you don¹t have to wait for an overt attempt before you act. Trust
your gut.

Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!

Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator