urbanSTL

Last night, my wife and son were watching television around 8:45. I was in the bedroom dozing at the time. (I know that's lame, but I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep, so I was exhausted.)



Anyway, my wife went to the front door after she heard a loud truck outside, and when she did, she noticed a teenage boy inside a car across the street with another frantically talking to him outside the car. The car belonged to my neighbor's son and daughter-in-law, who were visiting from Little Rock.



When my wife came in to tell me what was happening, I reached into my pocket and pressed the panic alarm button on my remote since our car was parked nearby, and as soon as I activated our car alarm the suspects fled. We then proceeded across the street to tell our neighbor to notify her and then to call the police, and just when we approached her front door, her son and daughter-in-law arrived in another car. When we explained what happened, her son jumped back in the car to chase the two miscreants while his wife stayed with us and called the police.



The police arrived quickly. Our neighbor's son found the two boys, but after he cornered them in an alley, they went their separate ways. Another neighbor spotted them a couple of blocks away, but the police couldn't find them after a thorough search of the area. Nothing was taken from the car, but the kids popped the driver's side door lock to gain access to the car, they rummaged through the glovebox and console, and then they attempted to start the car before I activated the panic alarm on our car which was just enough to scare these kids. I didn't see them, but based on what my wife and other witnesses saw, they were probably about 14 or 15 years old (surprise, surprise).



While there wasn't much that could be done once the report was filed and the initial search came up empty, at least I think I got the attention of these lowlifes before they could steal the car. And I thought it was pretty brazen to try and steal a car just an hour or so after sundown, although no one would accuse these scumbags of being mental giants anyway. And lest anyone think this is just another day in the city or another reminder that I live in a transitional neighborhood, some of my wife's friends in McFallon had their cars broken into in their driveway the other day. It seems like this crap is more common wherever you go these days.



So much for a peaceful Sunday evening...

^

Good thinking. I don't know that I would have thought to do that.

^ I think the main reason that I activated the panic alarm instinctively is because I've done so in the past. Fortunately, I've never witnessed anyone trying to break into a car on my block in the four years I've been here, but there are some kids that live nearby who ride their skateboards in the street. Normally I park my car in the garage, so there are no issues. However, a couple of times when my car was parked on the street near our home, I witnessed the aforementioned kids getting too close for comfort to the car in my opinion. So instead of confronting them about it, I just activated the panic alarm. It's a factory alarm, but I guess the horn is loud enough to scare these kiddies off anyway. Works every time.

I noticed the other day something odd on our garage. At the very top of the side, some of the siding was chipped and broken off. Just above that, on the aluminum flashing that runs along the top, there is a hole that is unmistakably a bullet hole. You can see where it went through the flashing, down and hit the siding. I looked for the bullet in our bushes but couldn't find it. It must be there somewhere though.



Now, this is on the side of our garage that faces our fenced backyard and is about 8 feet high. And the bullet trajectory is pretty straight or slightly downward. So either this bullet fell out of the air or was shot from a roof or deck nearby.



Either way, it's right above the door we use everyday to get to our garage.



We hear gunshots every couple of weeks, but still. I'm unnerved about this.

Heard from my cop buddy, that the 'Game Crazy' store, on Grand near Arsenal, was robbed at gunpoint Monday, I believe it was Monday. The thug had something over his head and sunglasses on. Got $600.



The way things are today, if it isn't bolted down, welded down or too heavy to move, the low life scumbags are going to steal it or rob you.



Sick world we live in.

He has since been arrested.

Great news!! One less thug robbing and stealing. =D>

kujay wrote:We hear gunshots every couple of weeks, but still. I'm unnerved about this.

I can't say I blame you for being unnerved about that. Hearing gunshots is bad enough.



Last night, just a couple of nights after someone attempted to steal a car across the street from my house, I heard a hammering noise outside my living room window. I was still a little bit jumpy from the other evening, only to discover that some people from my parish put a sign in our yard welcoming our son to the kindergarten class.

^Those damn church hoodlums!



Actually, it's a good thing you're not one of those "shoot first and ask questions later" types.

ThreeOneFour wrote:

kujay wrote:We hear gunshots every couple of weeks, but still. I'm unnerved about this.

I can't say I blame you for being unnerved about that. Hearing gunshots is bad enough.



Last night, just a couple of nights after someone attempted to steal a car across the street from my house, I heard a hammering noise outside my living room window. I was still a little bit jumpy from the other evening, only to discover that some people from my parish put a sign in our yard welcoming our son to the kindergarten class.

Funny.



I also noticed yesterday one of those flowery crosses in the front yard of a vacant house on our block. I have looked at Geo St. Louis and the P-D but haven't seen anything about anyone dying or being killed there. The house has been vacant for at least two years. Odd.

Framer wrote:Actually, it's a good thing you're not one of those "shoot first and ask questions later" types.

That's what my wife said.



Hopefully we won't encounter that type of parent whenever we return the favor to kindergarten parents at the beginning of the next school year.

There was a shooting on our block on Friday night around 10:30.



I was upstairs watching television and didn't even hear the shots. Went to bed later and was none the wiser. Apparently the block was taped off and there were police everywhere.



I'm not afraid, because as usual it wasn't random. Just typical "settling a beef." I'm mostly just embarassed.

Framer wrote:^Those damn church hoodlums!



Actually, it's a good thing you're not one of those "shoot first and ask questions later" types.

Imagine having to explain that one in confession!

Report from Dogtown-



3 men were knocking on doors today saying they are from AT&T. They asked crazy questions like when this individual's husband would be home. This person got freaked and called the police. The 3 men were arrested and there are apparently cop cars swarming this area of Dogtown as we speak.

I would actually be more suspicious of people in suits saying they were from AT&T than the people that were arrested.

^^ Sorry Doug, these guys were caucasian...no need to chime in here.

Where was this in Dogtown???

I have told my wife to speak through the door to anyone that comes around, ANYONE. If it's a DirecTV guy without a DirecTV truck, shoot through the door (just kidding). There is too much of this bullsh*t going on any more, and I don't want to take any chances.

Where was this in Dogtown???

Graham st.

There has been a sophisticated ring of bicycle [only] theives in the DeBaliviere neck of the woods. Unfortunately this non-violent nuisance has led to people putting fliers up all over the place about crime. While I'm trying to sell a condo. Sigh.

throatybeard wrote:There has been a sophisticated ring of bicycle [only] theives in the DeBaliviere neck of the woods. Unfortunately this non-violent nuisance has led to people putting fliers up all over the place about crime. While I'm trying to sell a condo. Sigh.

Whereya movin' to?

Update from the Clayton/Tamm Neighborhood association:



Ladies and Gentlemen: We have the below described individuals that are currently committing burglaries in the Dog Town neighborhoods. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you see any individuals or a vehicle matching the description below. This is a priority, we will respond. Do not approach the individuals let us do the Policing; we need you to be our additional eyes and ears in the community. As you see we have witnesses that are helping identify the suspects, however they didn’t initially call the police when they first saw these individuals. Reminder; Do not hesitate to call the police when you see something or someone suspicious in your neighborhood. Dial 911 for suspicious persons and we will respond. Let’s pass this information on to your neighbors.



Respectfully,



Captain Ronnie Robinson

Commander Dist. 2



Subject: Dogtown Burglaries

The listed burglaries have similar shoeprints recovered from the scenes and are believed to have been committed by the same suspects:



6648 Oakland (4 Apartments) 1:30pm (08/17)



09-51230



09-51231



09-51232



09-51233



1912 McCausland 11:14am (08/21)



09-52182



1553 Kraft 11:45am (Today)



09-54711



1305 Lousiville 10:30am-12:00pm (Today)



09-54704



In the burglaries on Oakland and McCausland, witnesses described the suspects as 3-4 black males, 18-25 years old, occupying a “sporty” black vehicle hatchback with temporary tags MO. A15-???



**Ladies and Gentlemen: Last night we arrested 4 individuals riding bicycles in the district after they had assaulted and robbed two victims in Francis Park. The individuals were 4 B/M teenagers who did not live in the district. If you see multiple individuals 3 or more, black or white, who look suspicious and are engaging in suspicious activity please do not hesitate to call 911 for suspicious persons. We will respond. Take a look at the information below and if you see a vehicle matching the description please dial 911 or if you know of persons and vehicle that may match do not hesitate to send me an email with the information. Keep communicating and we will definitely reduce crime and send a message to the criminals who are trying to destroy our district. Please share this information.



Thank you for your concern



Captain Ronnie Robinson

Commander Dist. 2



The below described vehicle was seen leaving several car cloutings in District 2. The vehicle may have a loud muffler. The vehicle should be occupied by 3 or 4 white males. Any help in locating this vehicle/occupants would be greatly appreciated.



Incident: Stealing from a Vehicle



Location: 6460 Smiley



DATE/TIMES: 8-28-09



SUSPECTS: W-M late teens, shoulder length (or longer) curly black hair, black shirt. He was with three other subjects, W-M teens, in a black Grand Prix.



SYNOPSIS: Witness was leaving for work when he saw the described subject inside of a vehicle parked at the curb, as he approached the subject got into a black Grand Prix occupied by three other subjects and they fled turning onto Arsenal then north on Tamm. He saw a possible plate of 730-WR.







INCIDENT: Stealing from a Vehicle



LOCATION: 5956 Columbia



DATE/TIMES: 8-28-09 4:40 a.m.



SUSPECTS: 4 subjects occupying a black vehicle



SYNOPSIS: Witness was a block away and saw 4 subjects get out of a vehicle parked at the curb and jump into a black vehicle (possibly a Grand Prix or Grand Am). The vehicle then turned and went south on Hampton. Witness saw the door left open on the vehicle at the curb when he got up to it. By then, the subjects were gone. They got an I-Pod and tried to rip the radio out of the dash, but were unsuccessful and left it lying in the street, still connected to the wires.