TIRED OF HAVING YOUR CARS BROKEN INTO OR STOLEN?
WANT TO BE A DETECTIVE?

Lt. Mark Carter is tired of  the thefts too. He's asking those of you who
have cam corders to join him in a search to find out who's doing it. He'd
like you to set up your cam corder,  probably at a second story window and
angle it down the street. You'd let it run until the tape runs out, review
the tape, and call him if  a clue shows up. He'll come by to look at it. You
can run the same tape over and over.

Areas that are of particular interest to Lt. Carter, because they are being
so hard hit, are:
(1) Western Ave. to 42nd St/ Military Rd. to Garrison
(2) Wisconsin Ave. to Nebraska Ave./ Reno Rd to Broadbranch Rd.
(3) Fessenden to Davenport / Conn Ave. to Broadbranch Rd.

However, if you own a cam corder and are not on one of these streets, you
might still let it run. Thieves are not limiting their activities to these
particular locations.

The bonanza clue is the one that shows the guy breaking into the car. But
also of use is the stranger walking down the street. He won't necessarily be
a clue to you, but when Carter sees this same guy over and over and he
appears about the time the cars are broken into, and he doesn't live in the
'Hood, that might pique his interest.

For more information on setting this up, contact Lt. Carter at:
mpdcpsa202@netscape.net. Sometimes you might get him on 282-0038, but the
e-mail route is a better bet.

Good luck, Hercule. Good luck, Miss Marple.
 
 

FORT BAYARD PARK CLEANUP THIS SATURDAY
From:   thomasfine@yahoo.com (Thomas Fine)

There will be a  Fort Bayard Park Spruce-Up Day on
Saturday, June 10 from 9 - 12 followed by a
bring-your-own neighborhood picnic (lemonade and
cookies will be provided).  Participants should bring
work gloves and a lunch.  Anyone wanting further
information may contact the Friends of Fort Bayard
Park president, Maria Alonso-Vasquez at
vasquezalonso@aol.com or 202.966.5633.  Thank you.
 

IONA LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD VOLUNTEERS
From:   ABiagas@iona.org (Alena Biagas)

My name is Alena Biagas and I am the Volunteer Program Coordinator for IONA
Senior Services on 4125 Albemarle Street, N. W., in northwest D.C.  IONA
Senior Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping We are
looking for people who can volunteer 1 to 2 hours a week to visit with or
grocery shop for home-bound seniors.  Orientation and Training (a one-day
session) is provided.  Our next session will probably start in June or July,
and we have them on-going throughout the year.

Please call me at (202) 895-9425, or e-mail me at ABiagas@IONA.org if you
should have any further questions and I will be happy to help you.  I would
also like to be added to your mailing list.  Thanks!
 

REMINDERS:

WISCONSIN AVENUE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
From:  Kersti  at 966 8837
June Clean-Up Weeding Day
Sunday June 11, 2000
1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
We will start at the Fessenden street block and work south.
 

JUDITH HELM ON TENLEYTOWN
From:   longca@nmah.si.edu (Carolyn Long)

Judith Beck Helm is reissuing her book, Tenleytown, D.C.: Country Village to
City Neighborhood in a new hardcover edition with a cover illustration of the
Chappell House at the corner of Albemarle and Nebraska (now demolished) by
the late Lily Spandorf. (Note--this is not a revised/updated edition, it is
the same text in a much more elegant format). Ms. Helm will be speaking to
Janney parents at the Janney PTA meeting Wednesday night, June 14 at 7:00,
and to the general public at the Tenley-Friendship Library on Thursday night,
June 15, also at 7:00. The book will be available for purchase at both these
meetings. The Travel Bookstore on Wisconsin Ave., Politics and Prose on
Connecticut, and the Historical Society of Washington in the Heurich Mansion
will also have the book for sale, and Carolyn Long, 3815 Alton Place,
966-6180, will have a supply of books. The price is $39.95 plus $2.30 tax. If
buying from Carolyn, please pay by check made out to Tenley Press.
 
 

CRIMES IN PSA 202, May 1 to June 4
ROBBERY
-- gun,  5300 Wisconsin,  5/9,  0015,  parking lot  (closed)
-- snatch,  3700 Warren,  5/4,  1122,  house
-- knife,  4700 Warren,  5/17,  2200,  sidewalk
-- other armed,  4900 Western,  5/17,  2146,  sidewalk
-- F&V,  5300 43rd St.,  6/4,  1505,  sidewalk
ASSAULT
-- 3900 Windom,  5/21,  sidewalk
-- 4600 Ellicott,  knife,  5/25,  street  (closed)
BURGLARY
-- 4200 Wisconsin,  unknown
-- 4200 Wisconsin,  restaurant
-- 5300 Wisconsin,  restaurant
-- 5300 Wisconsin,  restaurant
-- 3800 Gramercy,  attempt, house
THEFT
There were 28 reported thefts.  At least two were shoplifting. Locations
included: stores, restaurants, hotel, school,  house, yard, garage.  (5
closed)
THEFT FROM AUTO
-- 4400 Alton (closed)
-- 4200 Butterworth
-- 4900 Chesapeake
-- 4300 Jenifer
-- 4400 Wisconsin
-- 5300 Wisconsin
-- 5300 Wisconsin
-- 5300 Wisconsin
-- 4700 41st St.
STOLEN AUTO
-- 4500 Albemarle
-- 4700 Belt
-- 4800 Belt
-- 4600 Verplank
-- 4600 Warren
-- 5200 Western
-- 5300 Wisconsin
-- 4400 38th St.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
-- 4200 Wisconsin,  hospital
-- 4400 Wisconsin,  street (closed)
-- 4900 Wisconsin,  street
-- 3800 Yuma,  sidewalk
-- 5400 41st., sidewalk
-- 4900 47th,  street
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
-- 4500 Wisconsin,  street
-- 4900 Wisconsin,  gas station
-- 5300 Wisconsin,  street
-- 4000 Albemarle,  unknown
-- 4900 47th,  street
UNLAWFUL ENTRY DISORDER
-- 3900 Chesapeake,  school  (closed)

SUMMARY- Starting January 1, 2000
Sex Abuse -- Jan- (non rape) 1; Feb-0; Mar-0; Apr-0; May-0
Robbery -- Jan-8; Feb-1; Mar-4; Apr-1; May-4; Jun-1
Assault -- Jan-1; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-0; May-1
Burglary -- Jan-2; Feb-6; Mar-10; Apr-6; May-5
Theft -- Jan-27; Feb-17; Mar-18; Apr-32; May-27; Jun-1
Theft From Auto-- Jan-18; Feb-34; Mar-9; Apr-13; May-9
Stolen Auto -- Jan-5; Feb-7; Mar-5; Apr-5; May-6; Jun-2
Arson -- Jan-0; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-1; May-0
Simple Assault -- Jan-1; Feb-7; Mar-4; Apr-3 (includes 1 threat); May-6
Destruction of Property -- Jan-5; Feb-0; Mar-4; Apr-3; May-5
Fraud -- Jan-2; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-0; May-0
Indecent Exposure Disorder -- Jan-0; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-0; May-0
Breaking & Entering Vending -- Jan-0; Feb-0; Mar; Apr-0
Drug Possession Arrest -- Jan-1; Feb-0; Mar; Apr-0
Unlawful Entry Disorder -- Jan-1; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-1; May-0; Jun-1
Carrying Pistol Without License Arrest -- Jan-0; Feb-1; Mar; Apr-0
Fugitive From Justice Warrant Arrest -- Jan-0; Feb-0; Mar-1; Apr-0

Total To Date: 339
Jan - 73;  Feb - 73;  Mar - 59;  Apr - 65;  May - 64; June - 5
 

STOLEN SHRUBS
From:   lenkind@od.nih.gov (Dona Lenkin)
We noticed that apparently while we were on vacation, a shrub was dug up and
stolen from our front yard!  Has this type of theft occurred to others in the
neighborhood?
 

911 AND CELL PHONES
From:  Anonymous resident
About a month ago I witnessed someone breaking into a vehicle across the
street from my house at 10:30 in the morning on a weekday.  I grabbed my cell
phone and actually followed the guy from a discrete distance up and down
alleyways as he made his way to the nearest metro station, while talking with
the 911 operator to direct police to where he was.  (The operator quite
correctly upbraided me for following the perp, but I was so angry that
someone should be so brazen as to disturb the peace of my block that all I
could think of was making sure he be caught.)   After about 5 minutes I
flagged down a patrol car which was responding to my call, hopped in the
front seat, and identified the guy for the police officer, who proceeded to
arrest him in the 4100 block of Chesapeake Street, NW (with the help of two
back-up units which responded about 2 minutes later).  I then went back to
the scene of the crime, and walked with several police officers along the
route the thief had taken until we found the discarded bag he had stolen in
an alleyway.  At that point, a neighbor spotted us and came to tell the
officers that she had been on her back deck and had seen the man rifle the
bag and was on the verge of calling the police herself.

P.S.  I actually called 911 twice, and both times was connected initially to
the Montgomery County Police.  The first time, when I asked for the "DC
Police", the operator thought I said "State Police" and put me through to the
MD State Police.  I eventually got the DC 911 operator, but it took me 70 or
80 seconds.  ( The DC operator picked up on the first ring, but the
Montgomery County operator required 8 or 9 rings, both times!)  I use Sprint
PCS, one of the most popular cell phone services.   I live at least a mile
inside the District line.  I am wondering if any one else in the 'hood has
had a similar experience, and if this is something that should be looked into
by the public safety authorities.
 

RECOMMENDATIONS AND WARNINGS FROM RESIDENTS

*** FYI-  My neighbor hired a man to clean up her garden.
Twice he came back asking for more money.  She said
"never again."   Also be cautious of a man in a mini van with Virginia
tags.  He likes to do small repairs on cars.  While he
did an excellent job on my husbands car, the small
ding in my car cost me an additional $180.00 to
re-repair at a professional auto body shop.

*** From: sellis@pd.state.gov (Ellis, Susan)
The man who does such excellent brick and concrete work at low cost is
Alphonso Gibbs, 301-499-0259.  He recently completed my front walk in red
brick.

*** From: Lshneier@worldbank.org
Seeing your reference to Jack's roofing (which I agree is very good), I
thought I
would ask you if you would post a request for a good painting contractor for
interior
 and exterior work.  Everyone whom I've asked in the neighborhood says they
would not recommend their painters!  Any help in finding a reliable firm
would be appreciated.

*** From: Kriegi (Ethel Kriegsfeld)
 I belong to DELBE Home Services.  Whenever anything goes wrong ANYWHERE in
or out of the house I call them and they send good craftspeople at fair
prices and have saved my life on more than one occasion.  Maybe other people
could use them too.  Phone Number: 202/237/0187  Ask for Sarah she is very
helpful.  Service is prompt and good.

*** From: aajacks@starpower.net (Aaron Epstein)
Is anyone doing anything about the gas company's damage to Albemarle St.?  I
suggest withholding of gas payments until the company puts the street back to
its previous condition?
 

*** From: EJOHNSON@fcc.gov (Elias Johnson)
On Wednesday, May 24 between the hours of 9 and 11 PM, we had our '91 Honda,
Accord stolen from in front of our house. The car was locked and had a club
on the steering wheel.

On Friday, May 26 at 3:30 AM the police called to say they had found our car
in an alley in the fourth district.  The thief had pulled the ignition switch
out and jumped started the car with a screw driver.  The thief also had cut
the steering wheel with a hack saw and removed the club.

The car was missing the two doors on the right hand side along with the front
and back seats.  Also, two children car seats where taken, along with some
other odds and ends.  I gather that in these kinds of situations it is even
rare that your car is ever found.

Cars are stolen from our neighborhood on a pretty regular basis and there is
little being done about it.  I am told that car owners should have ignition
disablers installed on their cars to try to keep this from happening.
 

MY POLICY ON USING NAMES AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES -- KS
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.

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.