-----Original Message-----
From: University City District <[email protected]>
To: frbyers <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, May 9, 2013 3:45 pm
Subject: University City Crime Update and Alert - May 2013
You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive crime updates
from UCD.
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to the May edition of the University City Crime Update, a monthly UCD
email to keep you informed about crime patterns and baseline information in
University City. Each month we chart serious crime activity in University City
as well as provide a 13-month context for that activity.
In April, 2013, 16 serious crimes were committed within the University City
District boundaries. (See map below.) We're pleased to report that three
related arrests have already been made. Apart from month-to-month fluctuations,
we're encouraged by the long-term public safety trends illustrated by our data.
(Below you'll also see charted a 13-month crime overview.)
Please note, however, that since Monday, April 29 we've seen a spike in both
armed robberies and residential burglaries (at least seven and four,
respectively).
In addition, many of these robberies occurred before or at dusk. As always,
UCD, the Philadelphia police department, the Penn and Drexel police departments
and other institutional public safety divisions respond with a strategic and
coordinated effort to address these and other crimes in the neighborhood. But,
we ask you to use extra caution and remain vigilant.
Deter robbers:
Limit the amount of time you will spend walking or running at night. Remember
fewer people are out at night.
Keep your head up and scan your surroundings as you walk alone.
Choose large streets and more populated walkways. Walking down small, deserted
streets raises your risk of being robbed or assaulted.
Project an attitude of calm and purpose. According to statistics, walkers who
look like they know where they are going are less likely targets.
Act on your gut feelings. If someone gives you a bad feeling, tell him clearly
to leave you alone, and walk away.
Give directions from a distance. Do not approach a car which has stopped to ask
you directions.
Leave your headphones at home. Listening to music while you are walking
distracts you from your surroundings and prevents you from hearing someone
approaching you.
Deter burglars:
Use light switched timers to realistically simulate occupancy. Light up the
porch and yard with a time controller.
Have lawns mowed, sidewalks swept, hedges clipped on schedule.
Lock all exterior doors securely. If you are worried about someone picking or
forcing the lock - which is generally easy to do - use more secure locks
including ones considered pick-resistant.
Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your property when you are away. Do the same
for them.
Arrange to have a neighbor pick up your mail, circulars and newspapers when you
are on vacation. If that isn't possible, cancel all deliveries, including
newspapers. Arrange with your post office to hold your mail or leave it with a
neighbor.
Never advertise your departure. This may be easier said than done, especially
for those who often share personal information on social networking sites (such
as Facebook and Twitter).
University City's partnership of public safety departments continues to
rigorously review crime patterns and determine deployment strategies in a
proactive effort to assure that University City remains an incredibly safe
place to live, work and play.
As always, we ask you to consider the following:
Please be aware of your surroundings at all times. Remember that anyone in
University City in need of a Walking Escort - someone to accompany them to
transportation, a meeting, home, class, etc. - can call 215-898-9255 or
215-387-3942 between 10am-3am and a UCD Ambassador will be dispatched. If you
are a block captain, community association representative, employer, etc.,
encourage others to use this service and to program this telephone number in
their mobile phone now.
Do you have a community meeting coming up? Are you a block captain? UCD has
handy postcards and magnets advertising our free public safety services.
Contact [email protected] to obtain them.
Follow the Twitter feeds of both The Philadelphia Police Department
(@PhillyPolice) and West Philadelphia Detective Joseph Murray (@PPDJoeMurray)
for up to date information.
We hope you find this information useful, and we welcome your feedback and
questions. Most importantly, as this email is sent to a targeted list of block
captains and civic association representatives, please forward liberally to
your neighbors and colleagues in University City. When forwarding, click the
link to "forward email" (at the very bottom of this email) so that the image is
shared as well. And, as always, we invite you to reach out to us with your
concerns and feedback. Don't hesitate to contact Steve Walsh at 215-243-0555
x239 or [email protected]
Sincerely yours,
Matt Bergheiser
Executive Director, UCD
Steve Walsh
Director of Community and Business Services, UCD
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University City District | 3940 Chestnut Street | Philadelphia | PA | 19104
