22nd police district council candidates forum

 Are you interested in learning more about our 22nd district police council candidates before you vote?

Check out the candidate forum that's happening on 2/17 at Beverly Unitarian Church, 10244 S. Longwood Ave. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the forum runs from 7 to 8:30 pm.

There will also be a Zoom option. Go to the highlighted link for more information.

19th ward town hall meeting 6/5

There will be a town hall meeting on Wednesday 6/5 at the 22nd district police station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave.

unkind acts

In recent weeks, I've noticed a series of malicious acts around the neighborhood. Someone is damaging or destroyed garden fences, plants and trees. The damage I've observed has been in locations from 97th and Damen to 99th and Vanderpoel, including Ridge Park. It's possible that there may be more locations. These are just the ones I've seen. Some of this can be repaired. Some will cost money to fix or replace.

I've seen branches ripped off of trees, a young tree snapped off at the base and killed, plants torn out of the ground and vines pulled from fences. The most heartbreaking was a beautiful young tree destroyed in a yard at 99th and Vanderpoel. An unhealthy tree in Ridge Park was also snapped off at ground level. Some locations have been hit more than once. I have a theory about who might be responsible, but no proof.

Has anyone seen this type of vandalism in additional locations? Has anyone witnessed any of these acts of vandalism? If it's happened to you, please file a police report. 

garage burglaries

They're at it again. Another wave of garage burglaries has started.

Sun-Times story here.

CPD community alert, including phone # for detectives if you have info.

Hopefully these guys will get caught soon.

community safety meeting tonight (Wed. 11/8)

News from BAPA:

"In response to the number of calls we have received from community residents regarding the recent armed robberies in Beverly/Morgan Park, BAPA, the 19th Ward Office and the Beverly Ridge Homeowner Association are hosting this meeting. Neighborhood residents are vital to keeping a community safe. People are encouraged to attend this meeting to help make a plan of action.

Here's the background, in case you missed yesterday's news:
Armed robberies were reported Oct. 12 at 10:40 a.m. in the 9500 block of S. Damen;  Nov. 5 at 9:37 p.m.in the 9900 block of S. Damen; Nov. 6 at 9:15 a.m. in the 10800 block of S. Church; and Nov. 6 at 9:40 a.m. in the 2100 block of West 98th Street.

According to police "suspects were described as two African-American males, thought to be between 14 and 18 years old, weighing between 130 and 150 pounds and standing about 5-foot-5, police said. Two other males were waiting inside the car, described as a silver, four-door sedan. Anyone with information on the armed robberies is asked to contact Area South detectives at (312) 747-8273."

coffee with a cop

If you'd like an opportunity to have a conversation with 22nd district commander and other officers, come to Bridgeport Coffee (9135 S Western) on Wed. 10/4 from 9 am to 10 am.

what's next?

A month ago, many of you experiencing our big Slow Roll ride in Beverly and Morgan Park, either by riding it or seeing it go by.

It was an amazing day that wouldn't have been possible without the involvement of great community partners like Beverly Area Arts Alliance and BAPA. The assistance of police from the 22nd district made it much easier for a group of 200 (yes, 200!) riders to pass through the neighborhood and cross major streets safely. That was especially important because we had so many families with children on the ride.

So what's next? A lot of good conversations came out of that ride - about the possibility of various types of future bike events, how encouraging bike riding for transportation could boost local business districts, how safer bike conditions could encourage bike riding for transportation, etc. The seeds have been planted. How well they grow depends on all of you.

Do you want to be part of future events and/or advocacy work? Do you just want to ride your bike in the neighborhood - for fun or transportation? Is there a neighborhood business or other location you want to ride to but it lacks bike parking? You can search here to see if someone's requested a bike rack, or make a request if there's none in the system yet.

Do you want to see more events like this? Do you want bike lanes, greenways and other changes to help create safer conditions?  Contact Alderman O'Shea and tell him safer bike conditions matter to you. Tell BAPA too. Seeing such a big crowd at Slow Roll was a good start. We need to keep the momentum going to make a difference.

Slow Roll thank you

I'd like to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Saturday's Slow Roll ride such a great time, especially the Slow Roll volunteer squad and the police from the 22nd district who were so helpful in giving us an escort.  Ridge Historical Society deserves their own special thank you for hosting us at the start of the ride.

If you enjoyed the ride and you'd like to check out future Slow Roll rides in other neighborhoods, I'd encourage you to follow Slow Roll Chicago on Facebook. There's another ride next Saturday.  Until next time....

simple ways to prevent crashes - part 3

Yesterday I was walking home from the train and I saw yet another example of a problem I see every day. One driver was eastbound on 96th and approached the intersection of 96th & Longwood. He came to a full stop at the 4-way stop. He was starting to roll when another driver flew past Ridge Park, going at least 30 mph on Longwood and didn't even slow down at the intersection.

I've often had similar experiences as a pedestrian, when a driver slows down somewhat but doesn't stop, or flies through a 4-way stop intersection going at least the speed limit, nearly hitting me or other people in the crosswalk.

While I understand that police manpower is stretched at times, the lack of enforcement is creating a serious safety problem. Drivers do what they think they can get away with - running red lights or stop signs, failing to yield to pedestrians, etc. I see fewer people walking or riding bikes in some locations because they feel threatened by reckless drivers. Even worse, when this happens, many of those people will drive instead, and some of them become part of the problem.

I would be grateful if our 22nd district police would do some random enforcement stings, especially at morning and evening rush hours, and in areas where baseball and other sports events are happening. Watch locations like 96th & Longwood, 96th & Damen, 100th & Longwood and other spots where reckless drivers regularly create hazardous conditions for people walking or biking.

Write LOTS of tickets, regardless of who the drivers are. Do NOT make exceptions for the "do you know who I am" people. Unfortunately off-duty first responders are some of the worst offenders. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of crash statistics to document how bad the problem can be. We have a lot of scary near misses.

I appeal to the commander of the 22nd district to provide an incentive for safer, more responsible driving so that our neighborhood becomes a safer, more pleasant place for walking and biking again.

did your bike get stolen or is it at risk?

I was talking to a friend who said his bike was stolen from 91st St. Metra station while he was at work.  He confessed that he was only using a cable lock.  I often see this at Metra stations around the neighborhood.

Unfortunately bike theft is a growing problem, even in neighborhoods like ours that are perceived as safe.

It's worth taking a minute to report the theft to police. Even if your bike is not recovered, having data to identify patterns can sometimes result in identification and arrest of the thief down the line.

The Chicago Stolen Bike Registry is a valuable resource - and it's free.  It is maintained by a group of volunteers who are fellow cyclists and viewable by anyone.  Many people in the Chicago area check it, including folks accepting bikes for service at local bike shops.  Use of this database has resulted in the recovery of a number of stolen bikes in recent years.

Bike Index is a free national resource.  It's also worth using.  If you report the theft on all 3, it might take you 10-15 minutes.  It provides useful data. It could help in recovering your bike.

The best thing is to take a few precautions to prevent theft.

1. Cable locks really aren't secure. If that's your only lock, anyone with a bolt cutter can snip it in a few seconds and your bike is gone.

2. If only your frame is locked to the rack, your wheels are fair game. They might be gone when you get back.  Your best bet is to secure both wheels. At the very least, use a U-lock to lock the frame and one wheel and use a heavy cable to connect the other wheel with the lock. If you can take off your front wheel and lock it to the frame, rack and rear wheel, that's a good locking method.

On the closer bike, only the frame is locked to the rack, leaving both wheels
vulnerable. On the second bike, one wheel is secure.

Front wheel and frame are locked to the rack. Rear wheel is locked to the frame.

We have been fortunate that bike theft has not been a major problem in Beverly and Morgan Park, but it has significantly increased in recent years. Several people I know have had bikes stolen here in the last 2 years.

You can find more useful tips here, including a link to register your bike with the Chicago Police Dept.

community alerts - armed robbery

BIA family bike ride

Beverly Improvement Association (BIA) is having a short bike ride along the Major Taylor Trail.  You can enjoy a bit of fall color along the north end of the trail (91st St. to 81st St. and back, about 2.5 miles). Chicago Police will attend. This section of the trail has a stoplight for its only street crossing (87th St. at Damen) so it's okay for younger children on smaller bikes. Paul Weise from Beverly Bike and Ski will offer minor tune-ups. Light refreshments will be provided by.

It happens on Sunday 11/1, starting at 3:30 p.m. at Maggie Cosme Park, just west of the 91st St. Metra station.

wanted - for property theft

By now, most of you have heard the story about a small group's criminal scheme to fraudulently take possession of vacant homes, occupy some of them and illegally rent some to other people.

Two of ringleaders escaped capture when arrests were made 2 weeks ago.  The police bulletin about the two who escaped is included above.

community alert: theft of car wheels

From Chicago Police 22nd district:

Wanted for Theft of Car Wheels 22nd District (Morgan Park)

About This Crime:
 This alert gives notice to residents of the Morgan Park (22nd) District of five recent Theft incidents that occurred in the Beverly neighborhood on December 9th, 10th & 17th. In all of these incidents, unknown offenders use a hydraulic jack to lift up a car, remove all four wheels from the car, and leave the car on cinderblocks. Three of the thefts occur in the daytime in the area of the Metra Tracks while the owners were at work. The other two thefts occurred during the midnight hours on the 9900 Block of Western and 11000 block of Campbell.

About The Offenders:
 On December 5th one Male African American Adult and one Juvenile were arrested for taking the wheels off a car on the 9400 Block of South Damen. Offenders were driving a Purple Monte Carlo. This car may still be involved in the recent thefts.
Safety Tips:

•   Consider installing an audible car alarm on your auto.
  
•   Park your car in a well lit and high traffic area.
  
•   Be aware of this situation and alert neighbors in the area about this crime.
  
•   Call 911 immediately and provide a detailed description of any suspicious people
  including any vehicle description and license plate information.
  
  If you have any information about this incident call:
  Area South Property Crimes Bureau at 312-747-8273
  Reference RD#s HX-536281, HX-536903, HX-537611, HX-537900, HX-546027 
  

demonstration for unity and racial harmony tonight

I'm sharing a news item from BAPA:

Community residents are invited to demonstrate for unity and racial harmony at a rally Fri., Sept. 26, 6 p.m., at 110th Street and Hermosa Avenue. Organized by area clergy, 22nd District Police, BAPA, the 19th Ward office, and concerned citizens, the rally is being held in response to recent incidents of racial and derogatory graffiti painted on the property of neighborhood residents.

Contact: Alice Collins 773-233-3100. Read more:  http://www.beverlyreview.net/news/featured_news/article_78b9a610-433e-11e4-967a-0017a43b2370.html

town hall meeting TONIGHT 6/12 at 22nd district police station

The 19th Ward, Civic Association of Morgan Park, and Old Morgan Park Civic Association will co-host a Town Hall Meeting TONIGHT 6/12 at 7 p.m. at the 22nd District Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave.

Ald. Matt O'Shea and 22nd District Police Commander Daniel Godsel will discuss their work in the Morgan Park community. Representatives from several city agencies and departments will be present to address individual concerns from 19th Ward residents.  

town hall meeting TONIGHT at 22nd district police station

Tonight (June 13th) at 7:00 p.m., the 19th Ward, Civic Association of Morgan Park, and Old Morgan Park Civic Association will co-host a town hall meeting at the 22nd District Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey Ave.  Commander Jim Gibson of the 22nd District and Alderman Matt O'Shea, as well as several city agencies and departments, will talk about current initiatives and answer questions from residents.

A Silent Witness

On Saturday 10/27, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the Chicago Police Dept. 22nd district Domestic Violence Subcommittee will present an exhibit: "A Silent Witness," a tribute to victims of domestic violence.

There will be speakers, refreshments, a balloon release and information at the 22nd district police station, 1900 W. Monterey. 

For more information, please call the CAPS office at 312-745-0620.

19th ward town hall meeting on Thurs. 5/31

On Thursday 5/31, the 19th Ward, Civic Association of Morgan Park, and Old Morgan Park Civic Association will co-host a Town Hall Meeting at the 22nd District Chicago Police Station, 1900 W. Monterey at 7:00 p.m. 

Our new 22nd District Commander Jim Gibson, various city departments and Alderman Matt O'Shea will be there to respond to your neighborhood concerns.

burglary prevention tips

A friend in another Chicago neighborhood got this set of excellent tips at her neighborhood CAPS meeting.  I thought they were worth sharing, especially in light of the periodic patterns of daytime burglaries we've had that suggest the work of professional burglary crews.

The 13th District Police Station featured a presentation on burglary by convicted criminals. On the panel were three men convicted of burglary and one man convicted of credit card fraud and identity theft.

1. Know your neighbors next to you, across from you, and to the back. Work with your block club and neighborhood watch group. The best deterrent is a nosy neighbor. Sometimes that's a retired person or someone who works at home during the day.

This is consistent with my experiences in other neighborhoods.  Knowing your neighbors and recognizing their frequent visitors can make a difference.  Exchanging information at CAPS meetings and through EveryBlock can give you helpful insights on what's happening on your block and nearby.

2. Mornings and afternoons are the favorite times for burglars. Each of the burglars cased your home, sometimes well in advance of deciding to rob you. They know your routine and know when someone is not likely to be home. Vary your routine and don’t make it obvious that when you leave no one is home.

We've certainly seen patterns here in our neighborhood in the past year suggesting that burglars are casing the area before breaking in.

a. Leave a radio or TV on and use the light timers or leave a light on. You want the appearance to someone outside that there is a person in the house. These particular burglars did not want any confrontation whatsoever from people in the house.

b. Dogs are not necessarily a deterrent, unless they are trained specifically to protect your property. One man said he would just give the dog a pork chop and it was preoccupied.

3. Alarms can work but not always. Do your homework on which alarms work best for you.

a. Alarms that use wires or magnets for connection can be easily bypassed by a skilled burglar. GSM, wireless, or satellite type alarms are hard to bypass.

b. Motion detectors are good but place them in non-obvious places. One of the men was caught because he tripped a motion sensor that was placed near the foot of stairs in the basement and he did not see it or know to bypass it.

c. Make sure that you have a password or safe word that you can remember. The alarm company representative should not be giving you hints on the phone to help you remember your password in the event the alarm is tripped accidentally.

Alarm signs in the window or on the lawn have a marginal effect on the burglar who is going to break in out of desperation or opportunity. For the one who is casing your home, it is not a deterrent since they can see right away if you actually have an alarm.

4. Valuables – are they in the master bedroom and/or closet? These burglars went straight to the master bedroom where they said a majority of people kept their valuables and jewelry. Hiding in the closet is not a good idea, as this is also a place where most people hide things. One guy said that he thought maybe people liked to sleep surrounded by their nice things. Also, these guys often used the pillowcases on your bed for stashing their haul. Others only took what they could carry in their pockets. Also, many people keep prescription drugs in the kitchen, which is another target the burglars liked.

Burglars spend very little time in your home. These guys wanted to get in and get out. One guy stated he was in and out with thousands of dollars of valuables in less than a couple minutes.

5. Know who is in your home. Know who your kids bring home. Often times the burglar is someone you know or who knows you. One of the guys said he made friends and got to know the people he robbed before he burglarized their home. Another guy was hired by people to steal specific things. He related that he was even hired by the “guy who sold you the item.”

6. Your home. Make sure all your windows and doors are properly locked and secured - EVERY window no matter where it is located. Also, if you have a steel door, make sure the frame is also steel. Use your deadbolts and invest in good long and sturdy ones. The burglars’ tools of trade included their foot (for kicking in doors), a crowbar, and a screwdriver.

I can tell you from personal experience that, if your entry area is secluded or not well lit, burglars will not be shy about kicking in the door if they feel they are unlikely to be noticed.  This happened to my neighbors in two different locations.  A steel door is worthless without a long, high quality deadbolt AND a steel door frame secured with long screws.

7. Your car. Do not leave your garage opener in a visible location in your vehicle with any information on your home address. Burglars have broken into vehicles to take the remote and then taken documents in the glove compartment with the home address on it. Don’t write your home address on your garage opener.

8. Your garage. Make sure the garage door closes completely. Burglars have been leaving sticks on the door which fall down and block the sensors when the garage door goes up. When you drive away thinking the door has closed, it actually goes up because of the sensors. Also, change your door opener frequencies from time to time.

9. Your stuff. Invest in a cheap engraver (about $20 a craft stores) and engrave something in a hidden area on your valuable for future identification purposes (like a star or a secret name on the inside cover of your TV) or log down all serial numbers etc. of your valuables, so in the event the Police are able to retrieve your stolen property, you can identify it in a way that the Police can confirm it is yours. Otherwise, you will NOT get it back. It's worth asking whether the 22nd District also has a couple of engravers that residents can use.  

10. Outdoor motion lights and cameras. Outside motion lights are helpful, but make sure they are in an unreachable area where they cannot be tampered with. These guys stated that they often times used garbage cans to climb over fences and to take out motion lights. This is the same with cameras. Make sure they actually work (this is from the moderator) because police like to use the footage to catch the burglar.

These are some of the things I learned at the forum. The 13th District also has the following tips with the recent rise in home invasions:

• Keep the perimeter of your property well lit. 
• Report suspicious activity immediately – Call 911.
• Keep doors and windows secured.
• Immediately repair any broken windows, doors, locks.
• Never pursue a fleeing assailant. Provide the information to the police.
• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information.
• If you are a victim, do not touch anything. Call police immediately.