GENERAL MEETING -  

The next General Meeting will be June 16, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department on Creighton Avenue. We are attempting to plan a saturation patrol in one of the neighborhoods will be one of the topics of discussion at the meeting. This promises to be different than the other saturation patrols we have participated in so it requires much more detail planning.

Another topic of discussion will be the Children’s Zoo Patrol that took place June 2^nd through June 7^th. The Zoo asked our group to patrol the parking lots during this time, but asked too late for the 2^nd through the 5^th to be presented at a meeting. Member participation was acquired on a scrambled telephone solicitation. It was rushed but turned out to be an enlightening, enjoyable, worthy, and successful event for everyone.

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SCHOOL IS OUT –

Those three words encompass several behavior pattern changes in our adult daily chores. The first and most important pertains to our driving. Young, and even the older ones, children have to adjust their school restriction minds to the freedoms of summer. You find them darting in and out of traffic on the streets and parking lots. We know that they should be watching out for our big cars --- but they don’t. Another summer change is creating chores or finding jobs to occupy the young adults free time. Knowing where they are and what they are doing especially during the evening hours will prevent some problems that you don’t want to visit. During one recent late night visit, vandals broke out the windows of several of the Children’s Zoo vehicles and broke off the side view mirrors. It makes you wonder what mental state of the mind is present to make this destructive type of behavior “fun”. Paid summer jobs for the young adults may not be abundant but there are volunteer jobs out there that “pay” with an education in many areas of life, animal and human, that will reward the young adult for a lifetime.

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THEFT FROM AUTO –

During my Zoo patrols this month, I observed so many people, the adults and younger drivers alike, putting purses, cameras, bags, or whatever into their auto trunks AFTER they parked. I WOULD APRECIATE, and I am sure the police would too, if anyone receiving this letter would talk to friends, relatives, even strangers in the parking lots about the crime prevention measures of not placing items in automotive trunks period. There is not an automobile made that has a trunk that would classify as a safety vault. The corresponding condition that goes with this act is the fact that the individuals perpetrating this act are OBLIVIOUS to their surroundings and who may be watching their actions. I had one young girl that told me “It is just a bag and there is nothing in it”. I tried to inform her that the bag does not have to have anything in it, and that if the thief’s perception that there is something of value here, there will be damage to the car even when there is nothing stolen. I worry that some individuals will not heed the warning and only realize the consequences AFTER the experience.

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NATIONAL NIGHT OUT -

National Night Out will be observed Tuesday August 4^th. Many of the neighborhoods wait until the last minute to plan any activities that will bring neighbors together to get to know one another and communicate for a better understanding of the people around them. This is a great time to initiate a neighborhood watch program so that neighbors can work together to prevent criminal activities from happening before they start. The gathering does not have to include a whole big neighborhood. It can be a block gathering or even two or three neighbors. Any start is better that NOTHING.

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VACATIONS –

Don’t for get to share your vacation plans with trusted neighbors. It will help if any emergencies arise in your absence. You can check in with them from time to time too.