[Summit] FW: Summary of meeting with Providence police re: break-ins

[carolyn birnbaum]

 The update below was sent to me.  I find it a bit odd, because on Friday,
Oct. 16th, I was at a friend's house on Summit and 10th when a neighbor came
by to say their home had been broken into and computers stolen.  Either they
didn't report it, or the Summit neighborhood doesn't count?

Dear East Side Neighbors,
     Here is a summary of the salient points discussed at tonight's meeting
with Lieutenant John Ryan, Lieutenant Paul Campbell and Sergeant Billy Dwyer
of the Providence Police:
*Update on the recent activity:
*--There have been no reported break-ins in the neighborhood since October
7th.
--They have a few leads (i.e. fingerprints, DNA samples from a cigarette
butt) but to date nothing concrete enough to identify a suspect.
--A suspicious vehicle similar to the one driven by the intruder was
spotted.   It is not known if this car is the one we are looking for, but it
had a RI license plate starting with "V" and ending in "85".
--They still actively working on this case, and have a patrolman assigned to
the neighborhood on a daily basis.
*Safety advice:
*--Install and use your alarm.   The police considered this to be of utmost
importance.
--Trim your hedges so they are beneath window level.
--Have ample outdoor lighting, and install it out of reach. (Some intruders
unscrew the bulbs from outdoor lights within their reach.)
--Make sure no TVs, computers and CD players are visible through your
windows.   The glow of a TV through the curtains at night announces its
presence.   In some instances, intruders have come back the next day (when
no one is home) to steal the TV.
--If you leave lights on when you're out, mix them up so it's not always the
same pattern.
--Do not leave purses anywhere visible through a window.
--Surveillance cameras are helpful, but primarily if they produce a good
quality picture.
--A dog can be a deterrent to intruders....but some intruders "befriend"
dogs by feeding them, thereby quieting them.
--Keep active communication with your neighbors and share information about
any suspicious activities.
--Call the police with information about any unusual activity.   Their
non-emergency line is 401-272-3121.
*What we are doing:
*--We have expanded our neighbor communications network in two ways:
     --Increased our "blind copy" email blast list; and
     --Started a neighborhood list containing names, street addresses and
emails for distribution to other      neighbors.   (Only those who gave
consent to distribute their contact information as specified are on this
     list.)   This list will be emailed to you within the next couple of
days.
--The police will put up "Neighborhood Watch" signs in the area;
--The police will be calling National Grid to repair the inoperative street
light at President and Cole, as well as the erratically operative one at
President and Slater.   If anyone wants to help pressure National Grid into
action on this, please call them at 800-465-1212.
     I will pass along any significant information as it comes along.
     *If you do not wish to receive these emails, please let me know.
*
Cheryl Simmons






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