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Burleith, a quiet residential community and exists in an urban environment. It is
important to be aware of this, and to take precautions to protect yourself and your property (see
below). Still, Burleith has one of the lowest crime rates in the area. Our main problems are thefts
from cars and from unlocked houses and garages.
The Burleith Citizens Association is a strong supporter of the D.C. Metropolitan
Police. A senior officer of the DC Police Second District usually comes to the monthly meeting of the
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (www.anc2e.com) and gives a
presentation on the crime statistics for the previous month and what citizens can do to prevent
crime. In addition, the BCA has representatives who meet every month with police representatives to
discuss community concerns about any crime-related issues.
The police frequently urge residents to actively prevent crime by following these
steps:
- Always keep your doors locked, even when you are home.
- Provide plenty of lighting outside your house.
- Don't leave valuables in your cars.
- Be aware of your surroundings; if you feel in danger from someone following you, go
immediately to the nearest house and ring the bell.
- Do not hesitate to call 911 right away if anything happens.
Contact the Burleith Citizens Association with any particular safety concern at
bca@burleith.org
Burleith Crime Watch
As in many parts of the District, Burleith has seen an increase in crime, including thefts of
items from cars and porches. Burleith has a Community Outreach Prosecutor who is the liaison
between Burleith and Metropolitan Police Department 2D.
Anita LaRue (anita.larue@usdoj.gov) works for the
U.S. Attorney’s Office and has offered several suggestions for Burleith residents in our
efforts to obtain more police presence, track arrests, and successfully prosecute perpetrators
when caught. Her first suggestion is to call 911 if you witness anything of a suspicious
nature. It may seem trivial at the time, but one never knows if this is a person/event that
has been reported elsewhere in the city. Her second suggestion is to insist that the
investigating officer make and file a report of the incident. For various reasons, one may
experience some hesitancy on the part of the police in making a report; however, these reports
will lead to a record of events or events escalating. These reports, in turn, may lead to a
greater police presence in our area. It is imperative that a report be generated.
In the “squeaky wheel” philosophy of getting things done, it is important for residents to
understand the necessity of starting the process by calling 911 when a police presence is
needed. The second spoke of the wheel is to insist that a record be written. If one is not
satisfied with the police response, please contact Lt. Hedgecock at
john.hedgecock@dc.gov.
Neighborhood Crime Watch
The BCA is looking to organize a Neighborhood Watch Program. The BCA's Safety Committee's
chair Glen Harrison attended a May 2011 meeting on the program. We will need neighbors to
participate in this in order to make it happen and be effective. In particular it is helpful
to have one person per block in order to help manage each's block's specific needs. If we
can get a group together, the BCA can organize a training session. For now, the 3700 and
3800 blocks of T St are the BCA's pilot program. Please contact the BCA at
bca@burleith.org for more information and review the
folowing link for more information:
Neighborhood Watch Guidelines
The MPDC has a variety of resources available to District residents. Whether you are
interested in becoming more involved in community policing, or you have questions or concerns about
policing in your neighborhood, the following resources will be of interest to you:
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1238,q,541607,mpdcNav_GID,1523,mpdcNav,%7C.asp
Police-Community Online Yahoo Groups
The MPD police-community Yahoo discussion groups were created in 2004 for members of
the community so they could share public safety information in an effort to help reduce crime and the
fear of crime. Information shared on the online email lists include community announcements, meeting
dates, crime statistics, safety concerns and ideas, crime reports, and safety tips. The online email
list also acts as a virtual community, which helps strengthen partnerships between the local police
and the communities they serve. It also offers another means of visibility and accessibility for the
community.
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1242,q,565764.asp
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