Unfortunately STL is in a red state where the thinking is firmly in the "fix gun violence with more guns" camp. It's not Metrolink's fault, this is going to be a problem as long as STL has poverty and easy access to guns.Prob a good idea to start trying to prevent this kind of crap before thinking of expanding.
can the street level camera track where he went? didn't think so. what if it hadn't captured a clear photo, as is more often the case? the two technologies ideally work together. nothing "silly" about it.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021Unlike the silly spy plane (which captures dots) the street level cameras have captured a perfectly clear photo of the suspect.
neither could the spy plane, it flys 1/3 of the city at a time, so i guess its 33% chance that it would have been on this spot? if he got on the train or anything covered the plane lost him.urban_dilettante wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021can the street level camera track where he went? didn't think so. what if it hadn't captured a clear photo, as is more often the case? the two technologies ideally work together. nothing "silly" about it.dbInSouthCity wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021Unlike the silly spy plane (which captures dots) the street level cameras have captured a perfectly clear photo of the suspect.
I live in Soulard where we organize "safety walks" usually twice a year where we go out on foot (or golf cart) to look for lights that are out or other safety issues for pedestrians. We have had our alderman and 3rd district police officers join us in the past. I would encourage all neighborhood groups to do this as well. It really helps to raise awareness of these issues and build rapport with neighbors as well as city officials and PD.imran wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021PSA
Spouse and I (like many people) started daily neighborhood walks since the pandemic (no matter what the weather). We usually go out for 45 mins after getting home from work so its dark by then. I've been surprised by the number of street and alley lights in my neighborhood that were not on. Dark spots create opportunity for crime of course.
St Louis has a self-reporting system so if no one reports that a light is out, it does not get fixed (What!!)
The reporting is easy for street lights. I do it on my cell phone via CSB (citizen service bureau) where you have to locate the closest building address to identify the location
For Alley lights you have to call Ameren at 1-800-552-7583 preferably with a pole number that starts with STLA followed by numbers or they can search by the nearest property address.
I've reported upwards of 20 lights out so far in our walk radius. Once you report them though they are fixed in a matter of days.
I would encourage everyone to look around in your neighborhoods and report. Its low hanging fruit where crime prevention is concerned.
My wife and I bought a Ring doorbell. They're not expensive. I've been hoping people will buy this form of security in droves as it has a low barrier to entry, and I think it would legitimately help thwart criminals if we had several down every block.gone corporate wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021^Great to hear. Indeed, cameras work.
After the double-shooting down the block from me last week, the STL PD asked my neighbor and I if we knew where security cameras were on that block and if there were any other ones proximate to it, i.e. in the apartment and condo buildings nearby...
Remember when Aldermen French got traffic cameras into his ward a few years ago? How it picked up a clear photo of a drive-by in progress right after it went live? Cameras can get results that lead to both arrests and decreases in future crimes where the cameras are. The City's Finest implemented its Real Time Crime Center in 2015, and while it surely didn't eliminate crime all on its own, it certainly has helped dissipate certain high crime areas.
Perhaps the solution is the Ring-style doorbell camera system. Can these be subsidized for the sake of public safety? Can these be affordably put on vacants and plugged into the Real Time Crime Center? Could nonprofit fundraising be done to accomplish these goals? Could technologies like these be made a regular feature on all new build residential?
That is a very good idea. (if they could figure out electric tie-in or frequent battery swaps - or solar charging)GoHarvOrGoHome wrote: ↑Feb 01, 2021Cameras are so cheap these days that subsidizing them for property and homeowners would be relatively easy compared to even 10 years ago.
It would be useful for the LRA to have some cameras too to install on their properties. A lot of problems happen on these bombed out LRA blocks with little to no residents.
