Crime-fighting tips.

The following notes were from the Sycamore Grove Neighborhood Watch group meeting led by Col. Mark Collins along with Maj. Phillips and Dep. Chief Smith, all of the Central Precinct.

• The top problems in our area are 1) theft from motor vehicles and 2) residential burglaries.
• There has been a rumor going around that there are no police officers on duty after midnight in the area between Perkins and Yates and Poplar north. This is not true.
• The MPD’s holiday plan is being put together right now. There are three big events coming up that will tax them: Halloween is on a Friday night (please mind your children and know where they are); the COGIC convention is getting ready to start, and restaurants and hotels will be full; Election Day is next Tuesday.
• Officers like riding our ward.
• Go to MemphisPolice.org (I think this is correct) and click on Real Time Crime Center. It updates crimes constantly…right now. If you have specific info on cases, email them or call 545-COPS.
  
• Call the Central Precinct and tell them if you are going to be out of town, and they will check on your house.
• Many auto thefts are older vehicles, which were easier to steal.
• Thieves will look in a car, and, if they see nothing, likely they will pass it by. Never leave a weapon in a car, or, for that matter, anything else.
  
• When asked if a sting could be done around here, Col. Collins said it is very labor intensive and hard to do in a large area like this, but it isn’t impossible. It is easier to do in a more confined area.
• What often happens with break-ins is that one person will drop another off and he will come back after they communicate by cell phone. Often they will knock on the front door, and, if no one answers, they will go around to the back door and break in. Good lighting will help.
• They cannot patrol for every large party but will try to check up if you are having one and notify them. But don’t count on them for your security
• Blake Elliot asked about possibly getting speed bumps on Oak Grove to slow up criminals as they try to speed off as well as others who generally drive too fast. This will take an organized effort, but Blake is going to look into it by calling the Traffic Engineer’s Dept.
• If you see a suspicious person, call 545-COPS or email Cyberwatch. Use 911 for emergencies. One of our neighbors who saw a burglary in progress recently and didn’t realize until too late what was happening was brave enough to tell us about it and was very apologetic. Col. Collins told her not to apologize, that police officers sometimes do the same.