Duke City Thieves - WTF???

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Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on September 11, 2008 at 9:32am

Will you be in "Ridgecrest proper" or Parkland Hills? Parkland Hills has its own NA, of which I used to be the Crime Prevention Board Member. I live very close to San Mateo and see lots of interesting stuff.

As far as police response times, I can;t tell you how many times i have had a cop show up too late to an incident (stolen car being jacked around in my cul-de-sac, supposed thief escaping the back door of a house with a large duffel bag -turned out to be the house sitter's kid, NOT a robbery in progress, long story...-, etc.) only to be told that it's hard for them because they have to come "all the way" from the Southeast Substation at Eubank & Central...

if it's a "Priority One"- they tend to come quicker, break in IN PROGRESS gets waaaaay more attention than some thing that occurred even only a minute in the past, for example. I find the phrase "I think the are carrying a weapon" may help the immediacy...

Knock on wood, been there 10 years, no bars on windows although the gorilla cage encasing the front porch/front door makes my wife very happy, 'cause she can keep anybody 6 feet away and separated by iron bars at will. And thankfully, no break-ins-- although there have been 2 incidents of petty thieves trying to use our back yard as a cut through in our confusing neighborhood with no alleys...

Which brings up another point I have made earlier in like posts. I would NEVER buy a place that has back alley access... speaking from personal experience of the first 5 years I lived here (1993-1998.)

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Permalink Reply by Doug R on September 11, 2008 at 12:03pm

Masshole - thanks for the feeback. I'll be living on Anderson SE about 1-1/2 blocks away from Michael Thomas on Carlisle.

My wife and I have already been exchanging emails about ideas for protecting the house. We do all sorts of tricky things. I have beware of Dog signs up, locks, stickers on the windows for security companies, etc.

My cop friends have told me some other tricks. It's basically putting yourself in the mindset of the criminal. Think like him. Then you might cover 50% of what will make them walk away from your house. The other 50% is up to some other factors.

I would never confront these people but at the same time you want to give them the same impression about you - from what I've been told. (Guess I better hit the gym once I'm out...ha ha. My cat is fully grown at 6lbs. I told her she has patrol duty when we move......window sill to window sill. Our early warning system - ha ha)

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Permalink Reply by JJ on September 11, 2008 at 12:59pm

DougR,
We are/will be neighbors. I am a neighborhood block watch captain. Please feel free to email me directly and we can talk more about crime in the 'hood and what we're doing to combat it. I have been thinking it would be nice next spring to have a multi-block block party. Our block is pretty active but I'm not sure about the others.

jjinnm@yahoo.com

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Permalink Reply by misterhinkydink on September 11, 2008 at 8:23am

We leave our cars unlocked (so the windows don't get broken) and they're regularly rummaged through. Twice someone has tried to steal one of our cars, the stereo was stolen from our trailer, my wallet was stolen from my truck, everything from the glove box was taken from one, gas has been siphoned, etc. I figure at least once a week someone at least tries to steal something from us.

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Permalink Reply by Hairy McLairy on September 11, 2008 at 8:26am

We used to do the same thing when we lived down on Central & 14th SW, we had to park on the street in the Country Club area. Everyone would have their windows broken out, we just left the truck doors unlocked and left nothing valuable in the car. Couple of times we found the door wide open, but no broken windows :)

Then we moved down to the Safe South Valley where property crime is low compared to the NE/SE quadrants.

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Permalink Reply by misterhinkydink on September 11, 2008 at 8:41am

I'm in the same neighborhood, Park between 15th and 16th.

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Permalink Reply by Hairy McLairy on September 11, 2008 at 8:50am

That's a tough neighborhood for parked vehicle property crime!

Just before we left last year, siphoning of gasoline was become regular too.

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Permalink Reply by dog breath on September 11, 2008 at 9:18am

I made the mistake of chasing down the kid who was trying to steal my then girlfriend's jeep. ran half naked up the road, barefoot, and he jumped into a car that came at me.

I caught the #3 lookout, but the cops let him go because he was just "standing there".

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Permalink Reply by Stephen CM on September 11, 2008 at 8:24am

It won't necessarily help with your pedals, but you can post information about stolen bikes on http://505recyclery.com/. People can then get in touch with you or the webmaster if they see the bike. The guy who runs the site also sells refurbished bikes for a good price.

Also, a trick I heard about a couple of weeks ago is to put your business card (or something that identifies you) inside the seatpost. If the bike is picked up and you need to prove it's yours, the proof is in the seatpost.

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Permalink Reply by dog breath on September 11, 2008 at 9:35am

thanks I did...

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Permalink Reply by Masshole in Fringecrest on September 11, 2008 at 8:34am

This is my 15th year living within 12 city blocks (east/west, and 2-3 city blocks North/South of Central) of the State Fairgrounds ERRRR Expo New Mexico, and I can tell you from year over year experience that during the State Fair these incidences grow like mold spores...

The UNM incidences are those of opportunity, the more hours spent away from a piece of property, the more vulnerable it is, having been cased by prying eyes. Dog Breath, any chance of taking a "smoke break" to go check on your bike, and move it to a different rack 100 yards away once or twice during the day? I know, then the terrorists have won, but you still have your pedals.

At your house, keep your front well lit, bushes/landscaping neatly trimmed, and park way up your driveway next to the house, of possible.

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Permalink Reply by dog breath on September 11, 2008 at 9:25am

I was in the library for about 30 minutes...

and I think the nastier one's house looks, the less appealing it is to thieves! How's that? (-:

I have grown to appreciate the bars on the windows and doors. At least I know my dogs are safe inside when I leave!

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