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  SAFETY AWARENESS

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

ENROLL TODAY!
Email Discussion Group Visit the Community Group Site Subscribe by Sending a Blank Email to:
Second District http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MPD-2D/ MPD-2D-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
 
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