[PAA-Discuss] FW: FMC News Letter - street crime

[Lee Loe]

Kris's car got broken into last Thurs. at the PAA meeting; it was parked in
the church parking lot. I bet that the rubberband/spark plug trick was used
on her car. Read on. Lee Loe

  _____  

From: Mary Needham [mailto:mn at rti-hou.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 9:07 AM
To: Mary Needham
Subject: FMC News Letter - street crime



I have seen many more young men on bicycles in WP as well, and more
shattered glass on the street, so it is here and now with us as well as
First Montrose common.

Mary N

So come to the Nov 27th General Meeting at St. sTephens!

 

 

Below is a story from First Montrose Common, November 2007 News Letter. They
are located between Richmond & West Alabama, and east of Montrose, west of
the spur 527.  

 

 

What do Rubber bands, Spark plugs, & Bicycles have in Common?

 

As the sun begins to set earlier and earlier each day now, the cool, clear
Autumn evenings bring lots of folks out to enjoy some of Houston's best
weather of the year. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same the idea of
how best to enjoy the early evening hours just after sunset.

 

Just as they have in previous years, young men on bikes have taken to
cruising the streets of FMC shortly, alternating up and down our streets,
block-by-block. It seems so innocent, so healthy-almost bucolic! 

 

In reality these guys are really just casing the neighborhood, checking to
see if anyone is watching. Once they find a quite, dark, area, they ride
around parked cars-slowly circling. They pull a spark plug and a thick band
from their pocket, pause their target vehicle, pull the spark plug back, and
aim for a window. POP! It's done! Your windows crumbles in a shower of
shatter safety glass-without making a sound audible above the background
noises of the freeway in the distance. A quick peak in side, and they grab
whatever is left within reach on the seats. Then, just as quickly as it
began, they ride quietly, calmly out of the neighborhood to survey their
ill-gotten loot! You, on the other hand,will most likely not even know
anything has happened until the next morning-when you discover $200-$700
worth of damage to your car.

 

A number of us attended the Neartown Association meeting Tuesday, October
23, City Council AT-Large 2 Member Sue Lovell took a moment from her
campaigning to warn us of the huge increase in this specific street crime
that has recently begun to plague neighborhoods all around Neartown &
Midtown. She told us that since most vehicles now sport darkly tinted
windows, it is no longer easy for thieves to look through the glass to see
what's inside. So, they just cruise down the block, popping out windows of
each car until they hit the jack-pot.

 

Leaving FMC around 8 pm October 24th, I noticed two men in their 20's to
30's riding along the 600 block of Sul Ross, and the 3900 block of Greeley.
Feeling suspicious, I circled the neighborhood once to catch one standing
beside a parked car onSul Ross- bike laid down alongside the curb in front
of the car. Although I called in to HPD, by the time the officer arrived 20
minutes later, both were long gone. The Officers could not find any evidence
of damage. The next morning, however, I retrieved 11 heavy-duty rubber bands
scattered down the middle and curbs of Jack Street - from the 3800-4000
blocks. Mere co-incidence? You be the Judge.

By Steve Longmire/ First Montrose Common

 

 

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