BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
January 5, 2006

The next meeting is scheduled for February 2, 2006, 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: PO Ortiz, PO Macniff, PO Crawford, PO Rios of Community Policing

General Announcements
Our Beat 1431 suffered 38 property crimes last month, down 6 from the previous month, according to the Citizen ICAM from 12/5/2005 through 1/5/2006.

There were several reports of car related thefts the past month. Please try to park in well-lit and heavily travelled areas and keep nothing of any value visible inside the car. More auto theft prevention tips can be accessed here.

SECTION 1
1) Criminal activity has dramatically diminished over the past month due in large part to the cold temperatures. Criminal activity has moved indoors or inside cars.
action: Bingham and Stave streets remain a consistent area of reported criminal activity and require continued police attention and calls to 911.

SECTION 2
1) There was an attempted auto theft reported December 20th at 10am on the 2200 block of Maplewood. Apparently the criminals were in a van and drove alongside the vehicle to attempt a burglarly. A barking dog alerted residents who then called 911.
2) There was no further update on the overflow parking contract between the Congress Theater and Chase Elementary School. First Ward Alderman Manny Flores has requested to see the contract Congress Theater has with Chase Elementary School to use the school's parking lot to handle overflow parking for concerts. Residents and police have complained that cars are haphazardly parked in the school, oftentimes overhanging pedestrian sidewalks.

SECTION 3
1) Graffiti continued throughout the past month.
2) Homeless were reported to be loitering behind Danny's Liquors and harassing passersby.
3) A gang related fight was reported in the alley behind Danny's Liquors.
action: Danny's Liquors to continue to disperse homeless congregating around premises.

SECTION 4
1) Congress theater patrons continue to park in Goethe Elementary School diagonal parking on Talman littering alcohol bottles and loitering before and after shows.
2) There has been an increase in late night/early morning drinking (between 1am - 3am) in cars along Talman from Lyndale to Medill. After the individuals finish drinking in their cars, they discard their bottles onto the boulevard before driving away.
action: Police and residents to continue focused attention on gang activity in this area. Residents are strongly encouraged to call 911.

SECTION 5 & 6
1) Gang graffiti such as the Maniac Latin Disciples Altgeld and Washtenaw (MLD AW) continues to be a major problem in these sections.
A resident walked through the area and reported at least 21 large cases of graffiti.
2) Car windows were smashed along Altgeld and Campbell.
3) There was a burglary at a residence on the 2400 block of Campbell. The intruder entered and left the house within 5 minutes despite a burglar alarm on the premises.
4) Graffiti reported last month on the Kennedy expressway viaduct has been removed.
action: Car break-ins, homeless, graffiti and gang activity continues to be a blight in this section. Residents should continue to call 911.

Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Graffiti
2) Section 1 criminal activity on Bingham and Stave.
3) Residents should continue to call 911 and are encouraged to establish phone trees to increase the number of 911 calls.

DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPs volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.