BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
January 16th, 2014
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20th, 2014, 7:00pm at Haas Park Field House, 2402 N. Washtenaw.
Officers
Present: SGT Reyes, PO Chavez, SGT Giambrone, PO McNamara, PO Ramirez
Number of Beat 1431 residents present:12
General Announcements
The14th district had a successful 2013 holiday season of giving. Food shelter contributions were made to the Chicago Food Depository and local pantries. Toys were distributed to multiple families in need, as well as to domestic violence shelters and local churches such as St. Sylvester's and Armitage Baptist Churches. SGT Reyes thanks the community for their donations on behalf of Beat 1431 and the greater 14th District.
Residents should not attempt to reserve street parking spots during this Winter. The practice of "dibs" is no longer tolerated in the city.
Residents should call 311 to report animals that are left outside homes in extreme cold temperatures. These calls will likely be forwarded to the animal control department which will lead to scheduled visits with offending pet owners.
There were a couple incidences of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide levels in homes over the last couple of months. SGT Giambrone encourages all property owners to ensure they have working carbon monoxide detectors installed (replacing batteries at least twice a year).
To decrease the likelihood of theft from buildings, SGT Reyes urges residents to always keep doors and windows locked and invest in light timers to make the property appear inhabited when away. It is also a good idea to notify trusted neighbors when being away for a prolonged period of time to keep an eye on the property and pickup mail and newspapers that might accumulate while gone.
PO Chavez warned residents that there has been a pattern of forcible entries targeting seniors in which the criminal pretends to be a utility worker (such as Water Dept., ComEd, etc) and requests access into the home. A common trick these imposters use is to claim there is a water main leak down the street requiring access to your home. These criminals also have props such as reflective vests and other items trying to make themselves look more legitimate. PO Chavez mentioned that a legitimate utility worker will only visit a home if there has been a prior scheduled appointment (likely via phone). Residents should always ask a for an ID from these individuals to better ensure they are legitimate and ask for a phone number to call to confirm the appointment.
Follow the 14th District Police Department on Twitter: @chicagoCAPS14
The 14th District Police Department is now utilizing Twitter to communicate relevant and informative messages throughout our district, including:
Crime Report
Notable reports over the last 2 months:
The14th district had a successful 2013 holiday season of giving. Food shelter contributions were made to the Chicago Food Depository and local pantries. Toys were distributed to multiple families in need, as well as to domestic violence shelters and local churches such as St. Sylvester's and Armitage Baptist Churches. SGT Reyes thanks the community for their donations on behalf of Beat 1431 and the greater 14th District.
Residents should not attempt to reserve street parking spots during this Winter. The practice of "dibs" is no longer tolerated in the city.
Residents should call 311 to report animals that are left outside homes in extreme cold temperatures. These calls will likely be forwarded to the animal control department which will lead to scheduled visits with offending pet owners.
There were a couple incidences of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide levels in homes over the last couple of months. SGT Giambrone encourages all property owners to ensure they have working carbon monoxide detectors installed (replacing batteries at least twice a year).
To decrease the likelihood of theft from buildings, SGT Reyes urges residents to always keep doors and windows locked and invest in light timers to make the property appear inhabited when away. It is also a good idea to notify trusted neighbors when being away for a prolonged period of time to keep an eye on the property and pickup mail and newspapers that might accumulate while gone.
PO Chavez warned residents that there has been a pattern of forcible entries targeting seniors in which the criminal pretends to be a utility worker (such as Water Dept., ComEd, etc) and requests access into the home. A common trick these imposters use is to claim there is a water main leak down the street requiring access to your home. These criminals also have props such as reflective vests and other items trying to make themselves look more legitimate. PO Chavez mentioned that a legitimate utility worker will only visit a home if there has been a prior scheduled appointment (likely via phone). Residents should always ask a for an ID from these individuals to better ensure they are legitimate and ask for a phone number to call to confirm the appointment.
Follow the 14th District Police Department on Twitter: @chicagoCAPS14
The 14th District Police Department is now utilizing Twitter to communicate relevant and informative messages throughout our district, including:
- Recent police activity
- Traffic alerts and road conditions
- Recent arrests
- Suspect updates
- Crime alerts
- Missing persons in the 14th District
- Safety alerts
- Public safety issues
- Beat meetings
- Community events
- Emergency evacuations
- New legislation effecting you and/or your business
Crime Report
Notable reports over the last 2 months:
- Domestic Battery increased from 3 cases to 8, which according to SGT Reyes is a typical increase during colder months where people are more frequently indoors increasing the likelihood of escalating arguments.
- Motor vehicle theft reports doubled from 4 to 8, some of these reports are believed to be for cars that were towed because they were parked in snow being plowed. Residents are encouraged to be mindful of posted snow tow zone parking spots.
- There was an increase in cases of thefts totaling greater than $500. SGT Reyes commented that this is typical during the holiday
season with delivered packages being stolen from front entryways of
properties. PO McNamara added that some of these criminal offenders were caught based on strong eye witness accounts from neighbors who called 911.
Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) Good news was shared by residents that the infamous problem property on the 2700 block of W. Francis Pl. has apparently been sold or foreclosed and the Spanish Lord gang members who resided there have packed up all their belongings and are gone. It is believed that one of these gang members has now moved onto Rockwell just North of CVS. Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant in this area and the police are doing the same.
action: Residents are urged to continue calling 911 to report the ongoing gang and criminal activity.
action: Residents are urged to continue calling 911 to report the ongoing gang and criminal activity.
SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) Owners of Congress Pizza are expected to attend an upcoming city meeting to address multiple building violations while the business remains open. The Chicago Department of Business Affairs last met with Congess Pizza in December and identified specific items to address or the business would incur extremely costly fines. Residents are encouraged to follow up with the 1st Ward Alderman's office for further information.
2) A felony arrest was made on Anthony Jones for robbery, attempted criminal sexual assault and fighting with the arresting officers. Anthony Jones has a criminal history and resides on the 2200 block of Campbell. The criminal court date was not known at the time, Court Advocates plan to follow up and potentially attend the hearing.
action:
Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report any criminal activity from Concord Music Hall and Congress Pizza.2) A felony arrest was made on Anthony Jones for robbery, attempted criminal sexual assault and fighting with the arresting officers. Anthony Jones has a criminal history and resides on the 2200 block of Campbell. The criminal court date was not known at the time, Court Advocates plan to follow up and potentially attend the hearing.
SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) Los Recuerdos (just East of our Beat) is still closed due to multiple business violations. When it was open, this has been a problem property over the last several months.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) During the evening of 12/30/2013, two properties on the 2600 block of Lyndale were vandalized with MLD gang graffiti. Residents called in the graffiti to 311 and the city department painted over the graffiti on one property (within 24 hours) but neglected to remove the graffiti on the vinyl siding of the other property.
2) Parents/guardians continue to park their cars illegally when dropping their kids off at Goethe Elementary School. They continue to block driving lanes and garages along Talman, Belden and Lyndale. 911 calls are being made to tow cars that are blocking garages along Lyndale. This is a consistent problem weekday mornings between 7:30am and 8am. SGT Reyes notified the daytime Beat officers to monitor the traffic flow problems and to discourage the illegal parking in alleys, they parked their police cars at the entrances. Despite these periodic efforts, the illegal parking continues.
2) Parents/guardians continue to park their cars illegally when dropping their kids off at Goethe Elementary School. They continue to block driving lanes and garages along Talman, Belden and Lyndale. 911 calls are being made to tow cars that are blocking garages along Lyndale. This is a consistent problem weekday mornings between 7:30am and 8am. SGT Reyes notified the daytime Beat officers to monitor the traffic flow problems and to discourage the illegal parking in alleys, they parked their police cars at the entrances. Despite these periodic efforts, the illegal parking continues.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report illegal parking and other criminal activity and 311 for graffiti.
SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
There were no shared reports for this section.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) There remains a few homeless individuals loitering at the Kennedy expressway and Artesian. Officers have been dispersing several of the homeless congregations in the area. Notices are being posted to communicate that loitering is prohibited. This is a district and citywide problem.
2) Tile Outlet continues to get tagged repeatedly and might benefit from having a mural created to cover the area as well as a camera installed to capture the vandalism.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
Neighboring Beat Report: 2300 block of Altgeld and Montana
1) SGT Reyes mentioned that he visited the 2300 block of Altgeld and Montana very frequently to investigate previous resident reports of drug activity. Neither SGT Reyes nor the Gang and Tactical police teams were able to identify any of the described criminal activity.
2) Tile Outlet continues to get tagged repeatedly and might benefit from having a mural created to cover the area as well as a camera installed to capture the vandalism.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
Neighboring Beat Report: 2300 block of Altgeld and Montana
1) SGT Reyes mentioned that he visited the 2300 block of Altgeld and Montana very frequently to investigate previous resident reports of drug activity. Neither SGT Reyes nor the Gang and Tactical police teams were able to identify any of the described criminal activity.
Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang graffiti2) Drug activity3) Congress Pizza
DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPS volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.
