Dispatch from Beat 1434 CAPS Meeting
By chicago-pipeline at June 20, 2012 | 10:34 pm | Print
By Jonathan Wang
An increase in burglaries and robberies were the focal point of discussion at the Beat 1434 CAPS meeting which took place earlier this evening at the Wicker Park Bucktown Library, 1701 N. Milwaukee.
In one case brought up by Bucktown resident Steve Jensen that occurred at 12:15PM today, a resident living in a garden apartment on the 2000 block of W. Dickens was approached yesterday by burglars posing as contractors who then proceeded to burglarize her home today. The offender is now in custody, per Jensen. 14th District Police Officers encouraged residents to keep drapes drawn and valuables hidden so that electronics and other items of interest to thieves cannot be seen from the street.
Police also reminded residents to comply with robbers instead of fighting back. Sgt. Giambrone shared a recent incident which occurred on the 1800 block of North Milwaukee, wherein a female victim was approached by an offender with a firearm and said to him, “Are you Efffing kidding me?” Giambrone noted that the victim was then struck by the offender (but not shot).
“If you have something of value, it’s not as valuable as your life,” Giambrone cautioned the approx. 15 attendees. He also noted that police are equipped to track iPhones and Android phones through the GPS tracking systems built into those devices, and if residents have such phones, they should install the apps to make it easier for police to recoup their phone in the event of theft.
There have been 30 arrests made in Beat 1434 from April 18 – June 20, 2012. Among the notable crimes were an aggravated criminal sexual abuse on the 1700 block of N. Maplewood where the victim was under 13 years old, the impersonation of a charitable organization by a minor, and five instances of possession of cannabis that Giambrone noted will likely be tickets soon, and not arrests. In addition to the arrests, 17 burglaries with forced entry occurred in the period.
Following up from April’s meeting, prostitution is down though one or two possible ‘ladies of the night’ were still spotted on North Ave. by citizen patrols at 1 or 2 am. The taggers Steve Jensen caught in the act of painting the Bloomingdale Line viaduct near Marshfield in April were, however, acquitted in court when the public defender raising the possibility that they were granted permission by the owner, Canadian Pacific. Police scoffed at this defense but were unable to refute it in court.
Attendees at the meeting noted an increase in rail riders, mostly youth, camping out atop the Bloomingdale Line. Police suggested that witnesses call 911 and provide the cross street to Bloomingdale as well as clothing, description, and the direction suspects may be traveling. While the embankment is still owned by Canadian Pacific, Chicago police are able to access and make arrests on the property.
Other new business included the renewal of the Riptide Lounge’s (1745 W Armitage) 4AM liquor license. 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack was in attendance at the meeting as well as Kerri Stojack from his office. Any 32nd Ward residents living within 250 feet of the Riptide Lounge are invited to comment on the renewal. Facilitator Sandy Johnson also requested additional court advocates to attend trials for misdemeanors in the neighborhood. Interested residents should contact Officer Sonia Moriarty at sonia.moriarty@chicagopolice.
By Jonathan Wang
About the Author: Jonathan Wang lives in Bucktown.
