A few months ago, our neighborhood started experiencing some daytime burglaries -- kick in the door, quickly grab jewelry, guns and computers. Neighbors started talking to neighbors, a neighborhood blog facilitated communications and, after a few meetings, we formed a Community Watch. A Greensboro Police Department Community Watch liaison came to an organizational meeting and gave us some ideas for what to look for and how to respond. Today we put one of the suggestions to use with pleasing results.
For years, we have had shady door-to-door solicitors. Many of us, me included, have stories of "college kids" selling [magazines, books, mugs] to pay for [a trip, tuition, books] to whom we gave money (me, $42) only to never receive what we thought we bought. That's bad enough, but we had started to suspect that some of these "solicitors" might actually just be scoping the neighborhood, seeing what houses are empty during the day, who looks vulnerable, what items of value might be within easy reach. The GPD Community Watch liaison told us when these people come around to ask for a city-issued solicitor's license and, if they didn't have one, tell them to leave the neighborhood then call the cops if they don't.
Today, a very pleasant-mannered young lady showed up on our doorstep. Without introducing herself, she started asking questions of me: Am I a father? Is the education of my children my purview or my wife's? I interrupted and told her, "Before I give you any information, you will tell me who you are and why you are here."
She answered with "I'm a student at the University of Arizona and I've been talking to some of your neighbors..." followed by more questions for me. I interrupted again, "Are you selling something?" She answered yes, but didn't offer any more information. "Do you have a solicitor's license?" I asked. She did not. I politely, but directly told her, that we have had a problem with scammers in our neighborhood, that the City of Greensboro required her to have a license and since she did not, she must leave our neighborhood or I would call the cops.
She shrugged an "OK," got in her car and drove further into the neighborhood. I got in my car and found her knocking on another door and started video taping. When my neighbor answered the door for the solicitor and saw my camera, she came over to talk to me. I introduced myself and mentioned that this was one of the things we were supposed to be on the lookout for as part of the Community Watch. She told me their block captain lives across the street and I should go get her. The block captain turned out to be someone I know, so when she answered the door, she didn't hesitate to spring into action. She called the non-emergency number of the GPD and with cool precision described the situation: described the person, gave the make and model of the car, even rattled off the license plate number, "Arizona plate, Alpha, Alpha, Alpha..."
By now, the solicitor was getting back into her car and driving away. The neighbor she had approached had provided her with requested directions to a nearby gas station. After a few pleasantries with the neighbors, I got in my car and headed back home. Two blocks away, I saw a police car ahead of me make a u-turn and head in the direction of the block captain's house. It couldn't have been more than five minutes since our call to the non-emergency number.
I guess my point of this little tale is two-fold. One, despite my general attitude of live and let live, it is good to know that, when warranted, nosy neighbors can help protect their community; and, two, despite the sometimes negative perceptions of GPD response times, statistics don't always tell the story. A cop on the scene in a few minutes is superb police service. I'll eventually get the details of how it all ended, but for now I know this: Our community watch worked and the GPD worked.
Good for you. It takes some balls to get into a car and follow a potential bad guy (or gal). Also this morning, we had some 'church ladies' visit and before they could try to sell me their religion, I pointed to the mezzuzah on the door(post). When they recognized it and offered me a "good day," (very pleasant, no issues), and left. I didn't call the cops or the neighborhood watch (which we don't have but should). But we get lots of students and you've given me good questions to ask.
ReplyDeleteWhat's it take to start a neighborhood watch? About how many families?
Roch,
ReplyDeleteWhatever is true about the larger problems in the GPD, we need to remember that the vast majority of the men and women out on the beat are committed and competent professionals who care about the public good and try to be as responsive as they can. I have only ever had positive interactions with members of the GPD. We had a car patrolling our neighborhood for a long time and the officer was very responsive to the communitie's needs. If we would all look out more for each other as you did, there would be way less crime. Good work.
Joel
Sue,
ReplyDeleteWe had just over 100 people (I'd guess about 75 households) at the last meeting I attended. This in a neighborhood with about 150 homes. The link above will take you details.
Joel,
Thanks for the comments. I agree.
One other thing, Sue. Religious organizations are exempt from the permit requirement, as are other door-to-door activities that don't involve selling something -- as it should be, I suppose.
ReplyDelete