Crimewatch Update

If you read my earlier post, you’ll want to read this.  A random encounter with a neighbor down the street led to an in home meeting with one of the CPDs finest.  I won’t go into details, but suffice to say I’m not the only one who noticed some crazy stuff in the ‘hood  as of late.  Tori, a few neighbors and I all sat down for a few minutes with the officer to explain the situation.  Long story short from the cop: keep track of vehicles make/model, time of visits and anything else that might help the CPD.  If action picks up again (it’s slowed this week) email or call and we’ll try to get some traffic stops around the house.  Don’t do anything stupid. (Funny sidebar: when I was entering this officers info into my iPhone, he saw me taking his picture for a contact icon and flipped out.  Never thought I’d scare a cop!  I guess he was worried that the whole meeting would get put on the youtubes.)  Anyway, things have mellowed out around here.  I’ve painted over my graffitied garage, and the recent burst of nice weather has people outside keeping an eye on everything.  We did find out that the last person we know that rented the troubled house moved out a couple of months ago…glad to know it wasn’t  him, I would have felt a little bad for narcing on him.  We’re also in the process of talking with the landlord, who we know doesn’t like shady stuff going on at her houses.

The really great thing is that it only took talking to some neighbors and getting a little organized!  It’s amazing the positive things that can happen when you strike up a conversation on your street…

Add comment March 13th, 2009

South Clintonville Crime…WTF, Dude?

So pissed off right now.  The past two weeks we’ve been watching a neighbors house become a quickie mart for meth or crack or… something.  Non stop traffic in our back alley, people running in the house, then back out within five minutes.  The customers are less than gracious, parking wherever is convenient (my back yard, neighbors spots…whatever.  The alley is getting torn up and littered.)  I’ve spoken to neighbors and placed a few tips via the Columbus Police tip line.  I’m pretty liberal about this kind of stuff, but when no attempt is made to be discrete and damage is being done to property in the ‘hood, I get a little irked.  

Today I was returning home from a trip to the baby store and I pulled past my garage to find a huge day-glo green tag on my garage wall.  I really don’t think that the two things are related, but I can’t help but feel doubly violated.  The “broken window theory” has it’s faults, but it’s hard not to reach the conclusion that crime breeds crime.  Clintonvilles southern and eastern borders bump into some dicey neighborhoods, and I refuse to let that element creep into the part of Columbus that I love the most.  We’ve got a baby on the way and I don’t want to have to lose sleep wondering if this is the right place to be living.

Spring is around the corner, and I’m anticipating that the increased outdoor activities of the neighborhood will help stop this kind of activity.  I’m also planning a trip to the local police station to talk with some of our local cops and share my concerns.  Crochety?  Hell yes.  But this is my home.  It just grinds my gears.

2 comments February 28th, 2009