Information Bulletin from the 3rd POLICE DISTRICT

STRONG ARM ROBBERIES

LOCATION: 1500 S. 8^th Street             DC#13-03-024805                                 SDD#13-2774

On Tuesday, 04-30-13 at approximately 8:06PM, the 23/H/F complainant was walking S/B on 8^th Street, when she observed a B/M running N/B on 8^th Street. The male charged at the complainant and grabbed her cell phone. The male fled N/B on 8^th Street towards Dickinson. No injuries to the complainant.

Offender Description: Thin, Dark skinned B/M, in his teens, short hair, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt.                              

LOCATION: 1200 S. 8^th Street              DC#13-03-025057                                SDD#13-2784

On Tuesday, 04-30-13 at approximately 8:40PM, the 47/A/F complainant was waiting for the bus on the 1200 block of 8^th Street when the offenders ripped her purse from her shoulder. The offenders fled S/B on 8^th Street then E/B on Reed. No injuries to the complainant.

Offenders Description: #1 Thin, Dark skinned B/M, in his teens, 5’7, short hair, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. #2 15/B/F, 5’2, thin build, black hair in a short pony-tail, wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

Please forward any Intelligence to South Detective Division, S.I.U. (215) 686-7640

The next Neighborhood Ambassador Program (NAP) meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 18th at 7pm. Location will be 1326 S. 9th Street. All are welcome to attend this pivotal meeting where plans will be drawn for a Diversity Festival in the spring, for the revamping of Town Watch, and, as always, reaching out to and helping more neighbors.

If you have questions on our Neighborhood Ambassador Program or would like to join, please email outreach@passyunk.org

General Meeting Thursday 1/3 6:30pm at Columbus Square Park

Our January General Meeting will be held on Thursday 1/3 this month due to the holiday. The location is also different, we will be meeting at Columbus Square Park (corner of 12th and Wharton).

Our guest speaker will be Joel Palmer from Scioli Turco Inc. Scioli Turco is a 501 c 4 (not for profit) corporation that rehabilitates derelict properties in the Philadelphia area in order to beautify neighborhoods while increasing tax revenue to the city. Using private resources Scioli Turco returns them to habitable homes benefiting neighbors who already live there while adding active new members to the community.

If you know of any abandoned properties in our neighborhood, please fill out the survey at the link below to help us build our inventory of abandoned or blighted properties.

http://www.passyunksquare.org/townwatch/abandonedproperties/

Information Bulletin from the 3rd POLICE DISTRICT

2600 Lawrence St.

On 11/19/12, at 12:35 PM, The complainant (82 W/F) stated her husband answered a knock at the door and allowed a B/M into the house posing as a Water Department employee. The offender is described as a B/M, 5’8”, black hat and leather jacket, red shirt.

1300 Titan St.

On 12/01/12, at 2:46 PM, The complainant (91 W/F) stated a W/M knocked on her door and stated he was from PECO and that he needed to check her electric. Nothing was taken. The offenders were described as #1 – W/M, 35yrs, 5’8”, stocky build, clean shaven, brown hair. #2 – W/F, 35 yrs, 5’6”, heavy set wearing a baseball cap.

900 Cantrell St.

On 12/05/12 at 11:00 AM, The complainant (86 W/F) stated she allowed a W/M into her house after he identified himself as a PECO employee. The offender was described as a W/M, 50 yrs old, 6’0”, 200 lbs, glasses, all black clothing, clean shaven, gloves.

900 Dickinson St.

On 12/10/12, at 4:32PM, The complainant (65 W/F) stated she allowed the offenders; 3 – H/M’s, inside her house after they identified themselves as Water Department employees. The offenders fled in a black SUV that was parked on Dickinson St, nothing taken. The offenders were described as #1- H/M, 5’3”, 28yrs, med build, orange reflection vest, #2- H/M, 5’3”, thin build, orange reflection vest, #3- H/M, 5’3”, medium build, orange reflection vest.

Please forward any information to South Detectives 215-686-3013 of males matching the listed descriptions, check on your elderly neighbors & call 911 in you see anything suspicious

P/O Michael Duffy #7441
Philadelphia Police Department
3rd District Crime Prevention Officer
@PPDMikeDuffy

Information from the Philadelphia Police Department 3rd District

Officers will be warning Bicyclist until Labor Day then Traffic Citations will be issued to violators.  

• Under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, a bicycle being ridden on the street IS considered a vehicle, and as such riders are subject to the same “rules of the road” as any other motorist.

•  Not only are riders expected to follow the provisions of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code when riding their bicycle on the highway (such as stopping at stop signs and red signals, riding the correct way on one way streets, yielding to pedestrians in the crosswalk and even speed restrictions), riders are subject to the same penalties as motorists. Police Officers CAN issue traffic violations to riders who are observed breaking the law.

•  Riders CAN face the same civil penalties as a motorist if their actions result in an accident or injury.

•  Riders also CAN face the same criminal penalties as a motorist! Not only does this include possible charges if their actions result in property damage or injury to another, this also includes D.U.I. If an Officer determines a rider is operating a bicycle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, they CAN be arrested and charged with D.U.I. under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.

•  Riders are expected to utilize the roadway and follow traffic patterns like any other vehicle, however the City of Philadelphia has enacted a special ordinance designed to protect pedestrians on the sidewalk. It states that “no person 12 years of age or more shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in any district.” It also states “whenever any person is riding on the sidewalk” (after exiting the roadway and reaching your destination) “such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.” A Police Officer CAN issue a traffic violation with a fine of $55.50 to riders observed violating this ordinance.

Philadelphia Police Department Warning (example)

Information from the Philadelphia Police Department 3rd District

SUMMER CRIME PREVENTION BULLETIN

Don’t let thieves spoil your summer vacation! While you’re away, your homes and vehicles may be vulnerable to burglary, theft or vandalism- take steps to protect your home and vehicle before you leave!

Tips to Protect Your Home

• Always secure your windows and doors while you are away, even if only for a few minutes but especially for long periods of time and at night. Pay particular attention to ground floor and out of sight (such as rear or side) entrance ways.
• Consider the use of security or motion lighting, especially near out of sight entrance ways. Also, consider trimming shrubbery near windows and doors which thieves may use to conceal themselves.
• If you have an alarm system, make sure it is armed and your monitoring company has updated emergency contact information. If you are allowing anyone to be inside while you are away, be sure to provide them a temporary code and notify your monitoring company who has permission in case police are inadvertently called.
• Even if you don’t have an alarm system, stickers and signs can be purchased and placed in visible locations around your property which imply you do and may deter thieves. The same goes for a “beware of dog” sign.
• Bring all valuables (such as your grill, bicycles or metal benches) inside if possible. If not, secure them with case-hardened chains and locks. Transparent, shatter-proof film can be purchased and placed on vulnerable windows.
• Remove window air-conditioning units, which can be easily removed for theft or to gain access inside, whenever possible. Also, secure any ladders and remove objects from under windows on which thieves could stand on to climb inside. Remove any items that can be opportunistically used to break windows or locks (like tools or even large rocks) from your yard and around your home.
• Don’t leave valuables, credit card, car keys or cash in open spaces when you plan to be out, take steps to move them to a secure location in case a thief does get into your home.
• Ask someone you trust to collect your papers, packages and mail or have them held at the post office while you’re away. When mail piles up not only does it become a target for theft, but it lets thieves know no one has been home for a while. Also, consider the use of automatic timed lighting devices both inside and outside of your home while you are away.
• Record the serial numbers of all of your valuable electronics and keep it in a safe place, it may help Police to trace and track them if stolen.
• Notify your local police station that you will be away so periodic checks can be made on your property. Make sure you provide emergency contact information and a list of anyone who is allowed to be on or in your property while you’re away.
•  

Tips to Protect Your Vehicle

• Always attempt to park in well lit, well-populated areas whenever possible, especially when leaving your vehicle for long periods of time.
• Always be sure your windows are up and doors are locked when leaving your vehicle unattended, even if only for a few minutes-but especially if for long periods of time.
• Never leave valuables in plain view. If possible, place items in a secure area (like the trunk or a locked compartment) or take them with you.
• Thieves will often break into a vehicle even if it appears there may be items of value inside. Remove docking stations for your GPS or music devices from the windshield when not in use, and be sure to wipe the suction cup “ring” from the window.
• Keep your vehicle washed and clean. Vehicles that appear overly dirty and neglected, especially those that have been parked in the same place for an extended period of time, give the impression that an owner rarely checks on the vehicle and it may be an easy target for theft, vandalism or even unwarranted towing.
• Never leave spare keys for your vehicle or home inside of your vehicle. Spare keys enable thieves’ access to steal your vehicle, and access to your home as well. Consider keeping your paperwork in your wallet instead of your glove-box- these items have your home address on them.

The best thing you can do to prevent crime is be neighborly. Alert those you trust when you will be away, and ask them to keep an eye on your property and vehicle while you’re gone. Return the favor when your neighbors are away!

We’re giving you a summer vacation from General Meetings for July and August, so we’ll see you in September with updates from our committees who have been busy working straight through these hot months to make Passyunk Square even better!  Speaking of committees, our 2012 Board of Directors and Committees have been announced:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pam Zenzola, President
Angel D’Ippolito, Vice-President Outreach
Sarah Anton, Treasurer and Beautification Committee Co-Chair
Karin Morris, Secretary and Planning Committee Chair
Christine Knapp, Immediate Past President
Andrew Emma, Beautification Committee Co-Chair
Chris DiCapua, Parks Liaison
Ilene Wilder, Fundraising and Events Committee Chair
Carmela Fioretti, Trash and Recycling Committee
Cassie Knox, Communications Committee Chair

COMMITTEES
Beautification Clean-ups, plantings, banners, block efforts
co-chairs: Andrew Emma and Sarah Anton
Communications Public relations, external communication
chair: Cassie Knox
Zoning Monitoring zoning change requests
chair: John Digiulio
Outreach Giving every resident of the neighborhood a chance to become involved
chair: Angel D’Ippolito
Safety / Passyunk Square Town Watch
chair: Kim Davis
Trash & Recycling
chair: Carmela Fioretti
Planning Convening stakeholders to help choose what we want the area to look like in the future
chair: Karin Morris
Fund Raising/Sapling Program For association activities
chair: Ilene Wilder
Education Supporting schools in the neighborhood
chair: Open

From the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities

Are there any abandoned bicycles crowding the sidewalk in your neighborhood?  Now’s your time to do something about it!  The Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) and the Philadelphia Streets Department need your help to identify all of the abandoned bikes in the city in preparation for an Abandoned Bike Clean-Up project.  On July 23^rd, the Streets department will be conducting a clean sweep of abandoned bicycles.

Removing abandoned bicycles from city streets helps bicyclists by making bicycle parking easier to find and it helps non-bicyclists by clearing-out scarce sidewalk space.  Abandoned bikes are those that have missing or damaged parts, are in un-useable condition, and have been locked in the same location for one month or more.  These bikes will be tagged with notification for removal by the city one week before the scheduled removal.  All of the bicycles that are removed during the sweep will be donated to local charities for refurbishment.

What can you do to help?

Call 311 to report an abandoned bike.  When notifying 311, you’ll need to know the location of the bicycle; what the bike is locked to; and any distinguishing features including color, broken or missing parts, or any unique identifiers.

Together we can make a big difference to clear the city of abandoned bicycles.

http://phillymotu.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/were-looking-for-abandoned-bikes/

Please join new Town Watch leader Kimberly Davis at 11AM on Saturday, March 10for the next Town Watch meet-up. Town Watch meets in front of the 3rd District Police Station at 11th & Wharton.

After last month’s Town Watch walk was canceled due to snow, we’re hoping for better weather.

For more information visit the Passyunk Square Civic Association’s Town Watch page.  If you have done one or two Town Watch walks in the past, please consider attending and passing on the insight gained from your experience. Those who are new to the Passyunk Civic Association or the neighborhood or who haven’t tried Town Watch yet will find that it’s a great way to get to know your neighborhood and neighbors.

Let’s make it a fun time! Feel free to bring your kids, dogs, coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, cider, cameras, whatever! Email Kimberly at townwatch@passyunk.or if you want to join the Town Watch mailing list and let us know you’ll be attending so we have an idea of how many to expect. See you Saturday, March 10!