There will be NO August General Meeting. The next General Meeting will be September 15, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. at the Police Department on Creighton Avenue. As members of Concerned Citizen’s Watch, each of us has beneficial thoughts and suggestions for making our organization and the Fort Wayne community a better place in which to live. Our General Meetings are the ideal place to share those beneficial ideas, so please plan to attend. When each of you members joined Concerned Citizen’s Watch, you expressed a commitment to become involved in reducing crime within our city. Now is the time to show that commitment by attending our meetings. You will not regret giving the small amount of time.

THEFT FROM AUTO -

Where do I begin after viewing Sunday’s crime report in the Journal-Gazette? The police department has estimated that 60 to 75 percent of the break-ins to auto occur to unlocked vehicles. The percentage of victims leaving valuables in the car has to be much higher than the 75 percent. I guess the point that I am trying to make AGAIN is that people seem to maintain the attitude "It won’t happen to me" and fail to listen and/or heed the advice of the law enforcement officers. As Concerned Citizen’s Watch members, you should make it your duty to spread the words, "CRIME PREVENTION", to your family, your neighbors, your friends, and anyone else you see passing out "opportunities" to the criminals. "Theft from auto" is one crime that could be drastically reduced through due diligence and using the BRAIN. Leaving your car windows cracked open when you car is sitting out in the hot sun is risky but leaving your windows wide open with valuables in plain view and the keys in the ignition is absolutely STUPID even if your car happens to be parked in front of the police station. When you begin to offer suggestions to the people around you about crime prevention measures, don’t get discouraged or frustrated as I am sure police officers do when they don’t listen. You will have to keep telling them again and again and again --- like I am doing. Please, let’s make an effort to reduce the "theft from auto" crimes.

SCHOOL STARTS SOON -

It may seem like I am picking on the young adults, but having been one a long time ago, I still remember the expanded free time just before the start of school and the seeming need for "excitement" before the "scheduling" begins. As adults, we see this as our vacations ends and the drudgery of work sets in. Parents should be more aware of their teenagers’ late night activities and neighbors should be more conscious of activities that can be considered vandalism. Young adults should be made aware of the destructive nature of some activities and the infringements suffered by some of the victims. "Fun" should not be viewed as fun when it promotes a detriment to others. Summer vacations will cease soon and we can expect them to return next year with the same "excitements" and problems as this year. Maybe we can plan a different path for next year now!

HALLOWEEN SEASON -

Halloween at the zoo is approaching fast. We will have the parking lot patrols again this year, and as always, enjoy seeing the excitement within the young "kids" at getting dressed up in the many different costumes. If you would like to participate in our "fun", come to the general meetings in September and October or call one of the CCW officers. The patrols are so much different than our other zoo patrols in that they cover nighttime hours and the customers are coming and going in short periods of time. You won’t be bored.

CCW FINANCES -

Our bank balance on July 30th was $915.63 thanks to the donations of a couple of generous members. We are not getting the donations from the neighborhood associations as we have had in the past, but that is understandable in today’s’ economy.