Islanders Turn Out to Hear About Crime
January 20, 2010 by Ken Elmore · 1 Comment
If you were a criminal Davis Islands is the last place you wanted to hang out on Tuesday night. The Tampa Police department brought out the big guns to talk to islanders about a recent burglaries and crime on Davis Islands.
It was standing room only at the Davis Islands Garden Club as TPD Chief Jane Castor delivered the news. Yes, there were 6 more auto and home burglaries in 2009 than there was the previous year, but in the grand scheme of things, not to be considered a serious crime trend. Castor did tell the Neighborhood Watch group gathered that many of the crimes were due to unlocked doors and open garages. 61% of the auto break-ins involved unlocked cars, and 50% of the home burglaries occurred when doors were unlocked or garage doors open.
A recommendation by the Chief to encourage everyone on the island to become involved in the renewed Neighborhood Watch Program, and also establish an email alert system to notify people on the island if crime or suspicious activity is occurring.
Questions to Chief Cast ranged from how do we protect ourselves to juveniles at night ringing doorbells. Residents were encouraged to call the non-emergency phone number for Tampa Police when they saw anything on the island that looked out of the ordinary. (813) 231-6130.
Harold Moore, Davis Islands Neighborhood Watch coordinator says 20 additional people signed up to participate in the program during the meeting. If you are interested in being a block captain or just want more information on the program, he can be reached at mooretrux@aol.com.
Businesses on the island were also encouraged to develop its own Business Watch program. Some business owners spoke of shoplifting and forgery cases that have occurred in the village business district. Chamber President George Arroyo told DI Buzz the idea would be discussed with Chamber members at its next monthly meeting.
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I truly appreciate the interest demonstrated last Tuesday evening at our Neighborhood Watch meeting. At one point I counted over 80 people in the room.
Chief of Police Jane Castor fielded questions and offered tips and statistics about crime for over 45 minutes. Major Sal Ruggiero, other officers and our Crime Prevention Practitioner, Maryanne Hunsberger were there to help with questions, setup, logging attendance, and keeping me in line.
Speaking of Maryanne, she was instrumental in getting us the new Neighborhood Watch signs that are placed strategically around the Islands.
Please take advantage of the cool weather, and spend a few minutes visiting your neighbors, getting names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses, to build a communications tree. You will also want to share your contact information with them for a two way flow of tips and happenings. In this way, every part of our neighborhoods will be tuned in and watchful for unusual circumstances.
Please remember to keep your garages closed and your vehicles locked. At our home, we have had an alarm system for some time, but recently had an exterior siren installed, so if there is a problem, the whole neighborhood will know. We also keep the auto keys in the bedroom, so we can activate the car alarms with the panic buttons in the event of a home invasion. During the day, we will enable the “chime” feature, so if any exterior door opens, we know it.
Be safe, and be alert.
Thanks again for your interest!
Harold Moore
Coordinator