MPD report about cars vulnerable to break-ins in our neighborhood

From: John T. Salatti <john.salatti@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 9:17 AM
Subject: Report from MPD about cars vulnerable to break-ins in our neighborhood
 

Good morning, 

 

Recently one block in the neighborhood in particular experienced several car break-ins.  I contacted Cmdr. Solberg at the Fifth District about these incidents and 5D immediately began keeping an eye on that block and checking for car break-in thieves around the neighborhood generally.  I have stayed in contact with Lt. Randy Griffin about these break-ins and received this report from him early this morning that I share with you for your information:

Mr. Salatti,

 

I felt I should give you a personal observation as well.  Sunday morning at approximately 3:00 a.m., I walked the unit block of U St. N.W. and peered into the vehicles that were parked on the street.  I only walked that one block, but I observed a thief's paradise.  I saw cellular telephones, suit cases and backpacks on the seats of cars.  I saw power cords extending from the cigarette lighters in almost every car.  I even saw a fat change purse lying on the front passenger seat of one car.  Some vehicles had tennis rackets and assorted clothes in the back seats.  At least one vehicle had unlocked doors.  Although only one block was canvassed, it is an indication that preventive measures can be increased throughout the entire neighborhood.

 

In the recent weeks, the members of PSA 501 have placed theft, burglary and robbery safety pamphlets on vehicle windows in Bloomingdale and I have made several crime safety postings on the list serv.  The PSA 501 officers have been scouring the streets; stopping and identifying individuals in hopes of getting closer to locating a suspect for the vehicle break ins.  Crime prevention is also discussed in the countless meetings held with the different organizations within PSA 501.  My hopes are that you may be able to reach a few more individuals with the vehicle safety information and that we can collectively address this issue.  Every little bit helps.

 

Talk to you soon.  Thanks for everything!

*************************************

So there you have it.  I look forward to the day when car break-ins are things we just reminisce about like the open air drug markets and prostitution, but we are not there yet.  Although I wish we could leave the kinds of items out in the open in our cars that the Lt. noted in his walk about, we just can't.  In addition to working closely with MPD and providing solid information to police about criminal activity of any kind, we still have to be vigilant about not making ourselves targets for those thieves and burglars who are just waiting to take advantage.  Yes, crime is down and we have fewer criminals over all wandering our streets, but we still have some criminals who come into the neighborhood and try car doors and even home doors to see if they are unlocked.  So let's do our best and look out for one another.  I won't ever mind if someone comes to me and lets me know that I left something in my car; I appreciate knowing that someone has my back.

 

If you have any other information about the break-ins or other crimes on your block, please let me know.  I can get that information quickly to the right people at 5D so that we can get the best police response possible.

Here is also a more general report from the Lt. about car break-ins and what to do to minimize the likelihood of one.

On Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 8:16 AM, John T. Salatti <john.salatti@gmail.com> wrote:

Mr. Salatti:

Based on the preliminary research of the vehicle break-ins, here are a few safety tips:

 

1.                   ALL belongings should be removed from the interior of the vehicle.  This includes but is not limited to GPS mounts, car chargers, US currency (in any form).  Car chargers and GPS mounts suggest that there may be an electronic device or GPS inside of the vehicle.

2.                   Invest in a vehicle alarm.  Often times, thieves will pull on the handles to doors before entering them.  Pulling on the door locks is not just a method of entering a vehicle that does not have locked doors, but it is a tool used by thieves to determine if the vehicle has an alarm.

3.                   Residents should lock their vehicle doors.

4.                   Although difficult at times with on street parking, residents should attempt to park their vehicle in well lighted areas.

 

Again, the suggestions are specific to the car break-ins that have been reported in the area recently.  Please pass these safety tips on to the community.  We  (MPD) have recently placed car safety pamphlets on countless cars in Bloomingdale and throughout PSA 501 but every little bit helps.  Thank you for all of your years of involvement.

Have a great day,

John

 

John T. Salatti
(202) 986-2592
"Together, Building a Better Bloomingdale"