(NOTE: These minutes were submitted by Patti Mocco, Beat 1224 Facilitator-CPD-CAPS Program Volunteer; Neighbors of West Loop Board Member)
CAPS Beat 1224: 10/1/14 Meeting Minutes
Introduction:
Thank you to everyone for attending and being a part of the conversation.
Thank you to the Alderman and their representatives that came to the Beat meeting. This helps to solve issues that only our Alderman can help solve. Per both Alderman Burnett and Alderman Ervin lighting and tree trimming will be looked into and repaired as needed to help brighten up the streets and help stop robbers from having hiding places.
Thank you to restaurant and bar owners who were also present. Attending the Beat Meeting is part of the liquor license requirements. Attending shows the community, City of Chicago departments and the Policing District that you are willing to work with your neighbors and be good neighbors.
Welcome new faces and thank you to all the homeowners and/or business owners and various community associations that attended the Beat Meeting as your presence is greatly appreciated. We can only make things happen by working together, being proactive and having communication with each other.
We also thank our Beat Officers for attending. When you see them on the street say “Hello,” now you know who is out there walking around protecting us and our valuables! A very special thank you to American Chartered Bank for allowing us to hold our meetings in their building. December will be the last meeting at this location; we will be looking for a new location.
[Editor’s note: Read more after the jump.]
New Business:
Food Drive 10/23 from 8-10:30am (food distribution) Eckhart Park-1300 W Chicago Ave, VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO BAG GOODS get there early to help out
Progress on Previously Identified Problems: Community Concerns
Homeless, panhandling or drug users near Halsted and Van Buren have had negative results when CPD inspected the location. No observations were made of any of these types of individuals.
If you have noise issues please call 911 and you can contact the Dept of Environment at their hotline phone #312-744-7606.
Auto break-ins are a continuing problem. People living in and visiting our neighborhood are still leaving their cars unlocked and valuables in full view. City wide problem!! Please remove your valuables from view when parked on city streets and parking lots. Please work with your neighbors, fellow unit owners, friends and customers to keep their personal belongings out of view. CPD has special Officers working in this area.
Check the website serving the city residents, Clearpath go to ChicagoPolice.org to stay in touch with what is happening in the city. This will give you access to crimes, maps, pictures and other resident information and reporting.
Whether the building you live in does or does not have on-site security please remember security awareness, never let anyone follow you into your building that you do not know. Make sure your garage door closes and/or security fence closes completely when you leave your home/garage. Keep your building safe. A common thing that thieves/burglars do is to follow residents and or their guests in the building and thru open garage doors.
If you see a pot hole, graffiti, tree down, rocks in the roadway, sidewalk(s) broken…. call 311. Make sure that you give exact addresses where problem is located. Names of the street and/or landmarks are not going to help the 311 staff. Remember to get the complaint number so you can follow-up with the issue.
For graffiti prevention there is a new paint that you can purchase at Home Depot or Ace called Graffiti Paint cost about $99. Per gallon. It is a clear paint that you apply to your walls that allows you to wipe them down with soap and water when graffiti happens.
If you see young people with backpacks in the early morning hours please call 911 and give a good description generally speaking these young people have spray paint cans and are putting their mark all around our neighborhood. Please be on the lookout for these “graffiti artists”! Look up…they are usually hanging from the edge of the buildings! Note the graffiti you see in our neighborhood is not gang signs.
Call 911 for crimes and quality of life issues (theft, robberies, assaults, bar noise/disturbance) a suspicious person(s). Note 911 calls are counted, records are kept and our Commander reviews the 911 calls. Please make sure you give exact address of the disturbance do not give only names or landmarks.
Call 311 for overcrowding at bars please make sure to keep the complaint number.
Please note that our Beat Officers are requesting when you call 911 to please leave a phone number in case they need more information when they are looking for or arresting someone or they are on the scene, in many cases they do need extra information or confirmation from the caller. Please do not be afraid to leave your name and contact number with the 911 Operator. Never report any fraudulent information as our Commander will check into any issues reported.
Please note advertising flyers are not to be posted on building or left on auto windshields. Please collect these fliers or cards, write the address location where you found them and bring them to the 12th District Police Station (attn: Sgt. Becki Arguelles) or to the Beat Meetings. Sgt Becki will send letter(s), give warnings and/or fines can be levied at a cost of $100.00 per card found. So please turn in the cards you find.
Arrest Data and ICAM reports:
Top three Incidents (calls for service) 8/6-9/30/14 were: 54-Thefts (down from 59 last period-theft from cars, shoplifting at Walgreen’s, Mariano’s, business office thefts, pick pockets as well as purse and coat pockets, bike theft) 30 – Battery (up from 21 last reporting period), 21- Criminal Damage to Property
34 Arrests (24 last period) : 5 – Battery, 1 – Theft, 2 – Urinate on public way, 2-Assualt, 6 – PCS (Controlled substance), 3- Criminal Trespass to Land, 3 – Criminal Damage to Property, 3 – DUI, 1 – Burglary, 1 – Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 1 – possession of burglary tools, 1 – possession of a stolen vehicle, 1 – Resisting a Police Officer, 1 – Criminal deface of property
New problems and issues:
Regarding the rash of robberies/muggings that our neighborhood has been experiencing: CPD has reported that it is a small crew of three people; one person has been arrested and CPD is seeking the other two.
CPD suggests stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, if you see something suspicious call 911 give good descriptions. CPD suggests practice describing people, height, shoes, jackets, hats, eyes, hair. CPD also mentioned the bad guys do not like to make eye contact so make sure you look at people as you pass.
Get to know your neighbors, open communications, start phone trees when things happen to keep each other informed.
Halloween is around the corner practice safety. Remember only young children should be wearing masks! If you see someone suspicious call 911.
Become involved with your neighborhood join the Beat Meetings, make a difference and see changes happen. All concerns are our concerns! Together we can make a difference. If you have a suggestion for a guest speaker please let me know! What do you want to know about in the city…how does it work???? Just ask let’s see what we can do.
The next meeting is at 6pm Wednesday 12/3/14 at American Chartered Bank 932 W Randolph (corner of Randolph and Sangamon free parking in front and rear of building). District email: caps012@chicagopolice.org.