Under the threat of 12 inches of snow, about a dozen citizens attended the Feb. 8 Beat 2431 meeting. In addition, five police officers attended, including 24th District Cmdr. Michael Wick.
Police reported that the following were the Top 10 crimes on the beat in January 2010:
- Domestic battery, simple -- 11
- Criminal damage to vehicle -- 6; hint: don't leave valuable in your auto to tempt thieves
- Simple battery -- 4
- Simple assault -- 3
- Theft over $300 -- 3
- Motor vehicle theft -- 3
- Possession of 30 grams or less of cannabis -- 3
- Theft under $300 -- 2
- Theft from building -- 2
- Robbery with a handgun -- 1
Police noted that a man who lives on our beat was arrested in January and charged with robbery with a handgun, though not the crime noted above.
In January, there were 20 arrests made on the beat, and 360 district-wide. There were a total a 750 calls for service on the beat, compared to 11,302 district-wide.
Sgt. John Delgado shared some tips on how not to become a victim. He reminded people to always beware of their surroundings, especially while talking on a cell phone or listening to an MP3 player. Try to walk in well-lit areas, walk in groups if possible, and avoid alleys.
A neighbor from the 1100 block of W. Morse reminded police that spring is just a couple of months away, and asked them to stay in front of the homeless problem. Homeless people often camp out in Loyola Park and intimidate park-goers, including children. He said the police and 49th Wark Ald. Joe Moore were both helpful in the fall in alleviating the problem.
The meeting ended with a reminder that meetings for the rest of the year will occur on the regular schedule -- the third Monday of the month. The next meeting is March 15. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.
