MY POLICY ON USING NAMES AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES
When you send in information or an opinion, I will usually include your name
and e-mail address with your statement. I like to do that to give credit to
you and to let other readers know that this is from someone other than
myself.  I will, from time to time, make an exception, especially when
specific crimes or incidents are involved, as shown in a section further down
the page.

If you do not want your name and e-mail used,  tell me that at the beginning
of your statement, each time you send something, and I will honor your
request.
 

2D CAC MEETING CORRECTION
I just learned that the 2D CAC meeting will not be held on June 7th, as
stated in
yesterday's Communit-E.  Instead, a special meeting will be held June 17 for
members and friends of the 2D CAC.  For additional information, contact
President Jim Lively on: NICO626@aol.com

ANC3E MEETING  --  Thursday, June 8 at 7:30 pm.
 

CRITICAL MISSING PERSON ALERT
Date:   5/31/00 9:11:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   owner-d2@this-people.com
The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in
locating a critical missing person last seen today at 7:20 p.m. He was last
seen walking away from 2711 Connecticut Avenue NW, his address.

The missing person is identified as Mark Kleinman. He is described as a
50-year-old white male, bald with brown eyes. Mr. Kleinman is 5'6" in height
and weighs about 230 pounds. Mr. Kleinman has suicidal tendencies and could
be dangerous to himself and others.

Mr. Kleinman was wearing a checkered brown shirt and pants. He had on brown &
white tennis shoes and brown wire-rimmed glasses. Anyone who has information
about Mr. Kleinman's whereabouts is asked to contact the department's Second
District at (202)
282-0070.
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Reports are provided by Crimereports.com and your local police.
 
 

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH -- CRIME ALERTS
Following the Police Lookout Alert about the four teenagers,  and yesterday's
Communit-E (May 30), several of you sent in the following useful and
interesting information. I removed names and e-mail addresses so as not to
embarrass or spotlight anyone who was nice enough to share their experience
with us. This is good stuff.  Keep it coming.
 
***  In response to your first item, I've noticed a man who
appears to be homeless who hangs out in the back of the frame shop at
Ellicott and Wisconsin. It used to be a bank, then a cleaners. Not sure now
of the frame shop name. Several weeks ago I called the shop and left a
message that someone was living/urinating...etc at the back of their store.
Also mentioned that the graffiti on the walls was pretty bad. Never heard
back from them. The apparently homeless guy -- taller, thin African-American
anywhere from 30 - to - 50 -- is not there everyday but seems to frequently
walk around the area aimlessly. Not sure this is helpful, but here it is.
 
***   Just thought you should know that our son's bike was stolen from our
garage, probably on Tuesday, May 16. While the alley door was padlocked, the
yard door was probably open while we worked in the yard.  Certainly, the
thieves
were nervy, coming into the yard to enter the garage from the yard entrance
that faces the house (and we were most likely on the premises). Of course, we
have no
hopes of recovering the bike, but thought neighbors should know that these
thieves are around. Caution, Folks!

***  Yesterday, May 16, four teenagers were seen attempting to enter
backyards on River Road and Garrison Street.  I asked them what was going on
and was told to mind my own business.  While a neighbor and I were observing
them, the youths entered an alley between Garrison and Harrison.  One emerged
from the alley with a bicycle.

At about the same time, two police cars arrived (apparently someone else had
seen them and called the police).  As soon as the young men saw the police
cars, they abandoned the bicycle and ran into an alley between 45th street
and Western Avenue.  Although the police attempted to apprehend them, the
boys apparently ran across Western Avenue into Montgomery County.

 ***  I chased two suspicious black youths away from my alley on Memorial
day.  I
saw a secret service cop go by but she wanted nothing to do with helping out.

***  Date: 5/19/00 - Did anyone tell you about the muggings Wednesday night
in AU Park?  The first one was about 8 PM in the 4600 block of Warren, and
apparently three others shortly thereafter.  Two Hispanic men in a white car.

***  Sometimes I just don't know about people.  Just this
morning I'm looking at the neighbors' house and they
have been gone all night (new born baby just arrived)
and two windows on the "ground" floor are open with
only one of those sliding screens that you slip in
under the window.  It would only take about 40 seconds
for someone to go in and then have a party in there,
getting what they need and leaving through the front
door.  Keeping a close eye on it now, waiting for them
to come home.

***  Let me refresh your memory by reminding you that my house was broken
into in February during the day.  The suspects were a couple who had been in
and around the neighborhood since last fall.  They usually ask for yard work,
then for money, and have made themselves unwelcome by their attitudes.  Your
crime report in today's Communit-E notes a robbery/snatch in the 3700 block
of Warren on May 4 at ll:45 a.m.  According to the police, two people sought
work from the resident, then wanted money and snatched cash from her and ran.
 I spoke to Cdr. Newsham at 2nd District, gave him the report # of my
incident, asked him to compare the two.  He was very cooperative and said he
would look into it.  I can't say for sure that these are the work of the same
people, but our neighbors should be alerted to the possibility that a couple,
black, may be responsible for some of the crime in our area.  Let me stress,
Kathy, "may."  I know only that they were outside my house the day of my
break-in, and that they have made themselves unwelcome around here.  Thank
you for all you do, good neighbor.

***   Just wanted to mention that we have repeatedly been bothered by an
exceptionally smart and articulate man named Donald who often comes by at
very late hours, e.g.  11 pm  and asks for money loans. We have tried giving
him paid household jobs in the day but he has not performed satisfactorily
and when I tried to get a reference for him, he had misrepresented himself.

*** Here's a warning about a "contractor" working in our area.
A fellow, who was walking around our neighborhood several weeks
ago, asked to clean our gutters.  Upon checking two references on our block
(both said he did acceptably what they'd paid him to do), I agreed to his
doing the job for us.  He pointed out some potential roof problems, and I
agreed to have him repair them also.  I explained in detail what I expected
so that he clearly understood what was to be done.  I observed some of his
effort but needed to leave for a meeting.  He asked that I pay cash because
he'd lost his billfold with all identification needed to cash checks.  (The
references later said he'd told them the same story.)  He gave me his
name/address/phone and promised to complete all work, so I paid him.

Although his ladder and tar bucket remained, we didn't see or hear from
him for five days, at which time the ladder and bucket were gone.
However, I noted several items had not been completed.  Three days later, my
wife saw him on our block and reminded him of the work to be completed.  He
acknowledged her complaint and promised to do it promptly.  Yesterday
I was home during the rain and noticed water overflowing our rear gutter, so
I went out to inspect.  Of the five gutters he was to clear out, only two
appeared to work properly; the others were clogged.  (I am now suspect of
his roof work, also.)

The phone number he  provided was false, and the owner of that number
said I was the fourth caller to complain about this contractor's activity. He
did not know why this person picked his number to give out.  Unfortunately,
he had discarded information about the other complainants, but he recalled
that two were from Alexandria who claimed to be out substantial sums to the
"roofer" with their jobs still not completed.

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This is a classic case of  why it is unwise to hire someone who comes to your
door, soliciting work. If  you didn't call them, I strongly advise you not to
use them. For roofing and gutter work, I recommend Jack's Roofing at
301-585-4985. I also recommend for all workmen, no matter how well known,
that you  watch to make sure they did it right, and never pay any workman in
advance. It they are reputable they will either accept a check when they are
done and you are satisfied or they will send you a bill. Some large jobs may
ask for a partial payment in advance, but not for the entire job. In those
cases be very careful about their references. As this gentleman found out,
even references on the block aren't always reliable.

Regarding stolen bicycles:  It's really important to get your bike registered
with the police so that if it is stolen, you might get it back. The police
storage building in southeast  used to, and probably still does, have
hundreds of unclaimed and unregistered bikes that are eventually given away
to charities or auctioned off.

 Even if it's not registered, it's worth your while to make a call to the
desk sergeant at 2D at 282- 0070. Ask for the "desk sergeant" and ask him or
her if there are any found/stolen bikes at 2D and could you come over to see
if you can identify yours? It doesn't hurt to call. You might luck out. Take
any proof of ownership that you have. And get it or the next one you buy
registered.
 --  KS
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