BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
September 2nd, 2010

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 7th, 7:00pm at Chase Elementary School, 2021 N. Point.

Officers Present: SGT Belicki, PO Trempe, PO Smith, SGT Giambrone, PO Houlighan, PO Escavito

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 16

General Announcements

Business Alert
Area Five Detective Division has issued a 14th District Business Alert regarding a current deceptive practice in which suspects pose as Health Department employees attempting to schedule inspections of local businesses. The suspects then tell victims they will receive text messages to their personal cell phones with a "code" to relate to inspectors when they arrive for inspection and to enter into an email. The Department of Health does not have such a procedure. It is unknown at this time if any fraudulent activity has occurred as a result of these attempts.

- Dept. of Health DOES NOT utilize text messaging or websites to schedule inspections.
- Dept. of Health DOES NOT issue a "code" or confirmation number for inspections
- Dept. of Health encourages businesses to ask for employee identification, along with badges

What you can do:
1) Do not give out personal information, such as an email address or cell phone number
2) Call the Department of Health at (312) 747-9844 to verify
3) Contact CAPS office at (312) 744-1261
4) Make other businesses in your area aware of this scam
5) Contact 911 for an emergency

"Choking Game" Community Alert
Chicago Police have become aware of a potentially deadly game children are playing that may result in death or near-death experiences. In the "choking game," participants attempt to experience a euphoric feeling by temporarily depriving the brain of oxygen by applying pressure to the neck until they pass out. Parents may seek information about risks associated with the choking game to help prevent children from playing the game.

- Strange bruising or red marks around the neck
- Bloodshot eyes
- Bed sheets, belts, t-shirts, ties, or ropes tied in strange knots and/or found in unusual places
- Visiting Web sites or chat rooms mentioning asphyxiation or the choking game
- Curiosity about asphyxiation (asking questions like "how does it feel?" or "what happens if?"
- Disorientation and/or grogginess after being alone
- Locked or blocked bedroom or bathroom doors
- Frequent, often severe headaches
- Changes in attitude; becoming more aggressive
- Wear marks on furniture (bunk beds or closet rods)

If parents believe a child is playing the choking game, speak with the young person about the life-threatening dangers associated with the game and seek additional help if necessary.

If you have any questions about the "Choking Game," call Area 5 Detectives at (312) 746-8282

Gang Intervention Probation Program: Community Notice
Mario Williams who resides on the 2000 block of N. Campbell has been arrested and charged with a criminal offense in Illinois and placed in the Gang Intervention Probation Program.
This individual may not associate with known gang members, must refrain from gang activity, and must not possess gang paraphernalia and/or clothing.
He must also obey the curfew hours of 7pm - 7am until May 6th, 2012.

If you see this individual in public disobeying any of the above rules, call 911. You can remain anonymous if you prefer.

"Keepin It Real": Burglary Presentation
Meet "real life" burglars, hear their stories and learn how not to be a victim of theft.

Humboldt Park Field House
1440 N. Sacramento Ave
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
6:30pm - 7:30pm


CLEARMap
From August 1st - 31st, according to CLEARMap, Beat 1431 suffered 80 crimes, an increase of 7 from last month (73):
- 2 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT *
- 1 AGGRAVATED BATTERY *
- 3 BURGLARY *
- 1 CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT *
- 7 DRUG ABUSE VIOLATIONS
- 3 FRAUD
- 27 LARCENY THEFT *
- 4 MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES
- 4 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT *
- 1 OFFENSES AGAINST FAMILY AND CHILDREN / INVOLVING CHILDREN
- 1 ROBBERY
- 1 SEX OFFENSE - CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE
- 4 SIMPLE ASSAULT
- 8 SIMPLE BATTERY
- 13 VANDALISM

* indicates index crimes (most serious offenses)

Click here to view table of all reported crimes (new window)

Beat 1431 Court Advocacy Report
A court advocacy report was not provided.

Reported Shots Fired Beat Map
-Residents reported gun shots fired on Francis, near Bingham and Stave between 2am - 2:30am, Saturday morning, 8/28.

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) 2113 Bingham continues to be a location for gang and drug activity between the hours of 3pm and 2am. Empty lots at 2120 and 2110 are also being used by these offenders. PO Trempe reported that he spoke with the property owner at 2113 who claims he has tried to curtail the activity to no avail.
SGT Belicki asked residents to provide as much detail as possible when describing this activity to aid police in investigating the problem. Residents are also strongly urged to call 911 to get the attention this problem needs.
2) Residents reported gun shots fired on Francis, near Bingham and Stave between 2am - 2:30am last Saturday morning, 8/28.
3) PO Trempe reported that he has noticed gang activity around Chase School at Francis and Chase, there seems to be heavier recruiting occurring.
4) Graffiti is plaguing this section, particularly along the Blue Line tracks and in the alleys. Graffiti with "KWT" and "Big L" tags have been seen all over the Beat
5) Vagrants are seen loitering outside Mariano's at Prindiville and Milwaukee daily. They are reportedly drug users and thieves. Residents asked police officers for help in dealing with this situation. They also would like Mariano's and the neighboring dollar store to install motion detecting security lights and cameras. SGT Belicki mentioned that she and other officers will be speaking directly with the owners of these businesses and request that they also place "No Tresspassing" signs outside the property to help discourage the loitering of these vagrants and also give officers another cause to arrest them.
Officers again strongly urged residents to call 911 to report this problem, even if it means calling several times a day or everyday to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.
Residents also suggested threatening to take away the business licenses to Mariano's if the business continues to allow the vagrants to loiter on the premises.
6) There was a major drug arrest at 2123 N. Point, August 19th. Carlos Guerrero was arrested in possession of $250,000 worth of heroin and $500,000 in cocaine and other drugs.
action: Residents are urged to continue calling 911 to report the ongoing gang and criminal activity.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) A representative from V Live at 2047 N. Milwaukee reported that it has been a quiet month and that there were no arrests made.
2) A representative from Congress Pizza reported that there has not been any recent gang or criminal activity.
3) PO Trempe reported that he learned that Tini Martini is under new ownership and they are interested in improving the clientele of the establishment.
4) Residents reported that Walgreens has applied for a liquor license to sell beer and wine. There was a community meeting regarding the request last week. Residents and police are not pleased with this request, if approved, it will provide more access to alcohol for the vagrants loitering along Milwaukee, exacerbating an already challenging situation.
Officers reported that Walgreens continually has homeless aggressively begging outside the business. Walgreens apparently is not calling the police to disperse these transients.
action: Club 2047 criminal activity, Congress Theater & Tini Martini nuisances and Congress Pizza gang activity remain priorities in this section.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) A resident reported witnessing a young male on a bicycle, cruising up and down Medill and stopping at a car to check the door handle. The car happened to be owned by the onlooking resident. The resident yelled out to the young male who responded, "wrong car" and biked off. Residents are encouraged to keep their car doors locked and to remove anything of value from the inside of the car to help prevent auto theft and break-ins.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) Drinking, littering and noise continue to be a nuisance along Talman during late nights, particularly in conjunction with Tini Martini and Congress events.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) Residents reported an increase in car break-ins and stolen GPS units along the 2700 block of Logan Blvd and along Washtenaw. Officers re-emphasized the importance of not keeping any valuables in the car, including GPS, iPods, laptops, tablet computers, loose change and IPass transmitters.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 if they hear or see any suspicious activity.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Residents reported drug sales activity in the alley behind Artesian near Western.
2) Graffiti has been a problem in the section, particularly on Tile Outlet which has been tagged by "KWT."
3) Residents noticed that the skate park has some railings missing from steps into the park as well as a few access holes that should be addressed by the Chicago Park District. Officers requested that resents call these concerns into the Chicago Park District to resolve.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti

Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang graffiti
2) Gang drug activity
3) Gang weapons violence

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