Crime roundup

March 10th, 2010 · 19 Comments

Here’s a little roundup of crime reports we’ve received in the last couple of days.

Julie reports that several garbage cans were rifled this morning on NW 87th between 6th and 8th NW. Lids were removed and garbage strewn all around.
Nyasha reports that someone broke into his vehicle Monday night at 86th and 6th. They rifled through papers in the glove compartment and took an iPod. The car was on the street. The windows were not broken and for some reason the alarm didn’t go off.
Jennifer reports that early Monday morning, someone broke into her minivan and stole the stereo. The car was parked in front of their house on Greenwood and 59th. The alarm went off but the thief got away. They reported it to the police, who took the report over the phone.

So, here’s a question for PhinneyWood readers. Some people complain that we write about crime too often, while others complain that we don’t cover every incident. How would you like to see smaller crimes like this reported on PhinneyWood? Should we do a weekly roundup? Should we dedicate a special Forum listing just for crime? What ideas do you have for better crime reporting?

Tags: Uncategorized

19 responses so far ↓

1 Chris // Mar 10, 2010 at 3:18 pm

I personally enjoy (although that is a terrible way to put it) reading the crime reports. I like to know the type of things happening in my area both good and bad. Our car was also broken into a few weeks back and it sounds like a very similar setup to the story Nyasha reported. Perhaps by seeing a pattern in the reporting we will all be able to avoid being victimized. A weekly posting feels about right to me. If people don’t want to read it because they enjoy pretending this isn’t happening in their area then posting it in its own section seems fine to me.
2 Phinneygirl // Mar 10, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Just an FYI: Nyasha is a man. He’s very nice and has a business in the neighborhood.
3 Phinneyman // Mar 10, 2010 at 3:31 pm

I second Chris’s motion. We look to Phinneywood.com to report facts pertaining to our neighborhood and these are facts. If someone wishes not to be informed, he/she can simply choose not to read the article.
4 Jon // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:08 pm

Leave it be. Crime reports are okay by me.
5 Neighbor // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:16 pm

In the old days, there used to be newspapers, and newspapers would publish this information in their “police blotter.” In the absence of newspapers and their police blotter, I would urge Phinneywood to keep the proverbial fire.
6 spring // Mar 10, 2010 at 6:53 pm

I like knowing whats going on in my neighbourhood so I can be on alert and protect myself. I feel the same as a lot of others, if people want to hide thier head in the sand and pretend the world is a good place then don’t read it. I say we need to know.
7 Matt // Mar 10, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Like others have said, I definitely like being aware of what’s going on. The weekly roundup is a good format too, particularly if some people are feeling a bit flooded by the reports.
8 the-other-neighbor // Mar 10, 2010 at 8:08 pm

I think the weekly crime reports are appropriate. You could do the “after the jump” style posting where you summarize the post and have the details that can be viewed if you click “more here” or whatever you would like. That way the folks who don’t care to see the smaller crimes can just keep scrolling and the rest of us can click.

Thanks for all of your hard work, I appreciate knowing what is going on in the neighborhood, good and bad!
9 anotherneighbor // Mar 11, 2010 at 3:04 am

I agree with the other neighbor. If the crimes are small, a weekly report is fine. If they are larger, more significant crimes, please alert us right away.
10 Too Muchmoney // Mar 11, 2010 at 4:19 am

I DON’T like continually reading about petty crime. Daily or weekly. How about a separate place for people who obsess over every little “crime”?
11 Iron City Mike // Mar 11, 2010 at 7:55 am

I believe in being informed, but the daily reports are too much, and can give a false impression of the neighborhood that I have come to enjoy. Had I knew about and read this blog a year ago, I never would have moved here, thinking Greenwood (or as some call it GreenHood) was a crime-riddled slum. Same goes for those “Drug dealers we are watching you” signs - all they do in my opinion is keep down property values by making it seem like we are in gang land.
12 seattle mike // Mar 11, 2010 at 10:11 am

Please keep reporting on crime. If someone doesn’t want to read it they can just keep scrolling. Minor ones are great on a weekly basis, but do please post more serious ones right away.
13 North Greenwood // Mar 11, 2010 at 3:04 pm

I prefer to be in the know. Keep it up.
14 iheartgreenwood // Mar 11, 2010 at 9:24 pm

I like to hear about crime as it happens. These reports are one of the main reasons why I read phinneywood. If something’s going on in the ‘hood, I look here first–I know you’ll know about it, and I know you care. It makes me feel connected to my neighbors, and actually a little safer–knowledge is power. For those who do not like the crime reports, may I suggest you just skip over what you don’t want to read?
15 wunderkuken // Mar 11, 2010 at 10:25 pm

I’m with Chris (1st poster) - I’d rather know what’s going on in the hood. It does bring the community together (even though it’s not for a very nice reason) and keeps us vigilant.
16 baselle // Mar 11, 2010 at 10:57 pm

I think its important to report on crime. When I was a college student in a high crime neighborhood, the student newspaper published a weekly crime map so you got an idea of where the hot spots were. Any thoughts on doing that?
17 baselle // Mar 11, 2010 at 11:01 pm

Oh yes, the crime map also had a legend - markers for robbery, theft, assault, rape, mostly burglary … told you I went to college in a high crime area - Hyde Park Chicago 1980-1984.
18 Too Muchmoney // Mar 12, 2010 at 5:28 am

Since all of you are so fixated by crime and other Bad Things perhaps you should have your own web site devoted to all the horrible aspects of life in our community.Then you all could get your daily dose of horror and leave me, with my more positive attitude, in peace!
19 Dr. O // Mar 15, 2010 at 10:11 am

I like reading the blog, but seriously, do we really need to be constantly updated on these petty crimes that happen in our neighborhood. The first one on the garbage cans is hilarious, probably was a family of racoons Julie! Please only report on the major crimes in our area, that’s appreicated. Otherwise, it can be a downer.