Public Safety Update: November 3, 2022
FHNA Members,
Recent Crimes in Sector 4
I wanted to send an email update to share some information with you all. If you follow social media, the police scanner or the citizen app you know we are in a season of some very troubling crime. As the FHNA Public Safety team leader I wanted to give you some updates that we have received from the Southern District Command Staff and I want to ask you to complete a quick survey.
On Tuesday night at our monthly Community Relations Council/Command Staff meeting Major Velte and Captain Brust shared a lot of information about recent crimes in Sector 4. If you are not aware we are in the city's Southern District which is divided up into four sectors. We are in Sector 4 and FHNA specifically is Post 942.
Over the past couple of weeks there has been a trend of crimes that usually begins with a car being stolen in a different district. Then it is driven all around the city including South Baltimore where the suspects exit the car and commit armed robberies, street robberies, aggravated assaults or carjackings. You may have noticed this going back a few weeks as these crimes usually happen in a very quick succession. A few weeks back there was a stolen red Kia connected to crimes. Last Thursday afternoon there were three within two hours. On Tuesday night there were a few around Riverside Park. Then last night there was a carjacking at William and Montgomery. (Note: I have not heard if Command Staff believe this is connected or an outlier.) In one instance the stolen car was recovered and connected to over 30 crimes in the city.
The pattern is something Command Staff is aware of and working to address. They have strong leads that they are working but one issue they are facing is that this is not just a group of 5-6 people committing crimes over and over again. The suspects are recruiting other friends so the group changes and has various individuals involved. Also, it is believed that the group includes children as young as 8-10 years old.
At times it can feel like there is nothing we can do but that isn't true. Here are a few things we can do as a community:
If you see something, say something. At times you will see a group of people walking around in clothing that doesn't fit the current weather patterns. For instance, Tuesday was an unseasonably warm day. If you see a group of people with winter jackets and winter masks on when it isn't cold it is ok to be suspicious. It is ok to call 911 to report suspicious behavior. Calls like this do not bother the BPD; they assist them in doing their job.
Be mindful when in transition from one point to another. If you are unloading groceries with your car double parked and hazards on, be mindful of your surroundings. Also, if you are ending a call in the car before going to the house please be aware. When going from point A to point B don't be distracted on your phone and take your earbuds out.
If you do not have security cameras please purchase and install. After events like the carjacking last night the first thing BPD requests is video footage. Video footage is one of the top resources in solving crimes. If you don't have security cameras please consider buying them and ensure that they are recording/storing properly. I am happy to help if you need any assistance. This is a great option and I am sure there will be many more deals this holiday season.
If you are a victim please don't try to be a hero. One of the best descriptions you can provide the police is the suspect's shoes. Coats, backpacks and hoodies can easily be tossed after a crime. However, a suspect will rarely take their shoes off after a crime. Some shoes are very easy to spot due to the creative color schemes.
On Tuesday night I was standing in the parking lot at the Southern District Police office when the first call for service went in. Immediately patrol cars from Cherry Hill and Brooklyn were flying down HWY 2 headed to the peninsula. This is because every shift supervisor has been told by Major Velte to flood the area with resources in response to the first call for service that fits this pattern. They are sending extra resources as well as using street segment data and time data to be as intentional as possible. Our monthly meetings (1 Tuesday night each month at 7) is your best opportunity to speak to Major Velte and Captain Brust about any concerns you have. Please make plans to join us in December.
Please email the public safety team at fhna.publicsafety@gmail.com if you have any questions.