SWCC crime thread

[crk]

Originally Posted by moritz391

Yes, because it creates a safer, more attractive neighborhood. Isn't that the point of these boards?

The odd prison-yard lighting will do nothing to promote safety in the neighborhood as a whole. Neither will throwing one's hands up in the air in disgust. The situation is unfortunate and people are just looking for viable solutions that don't create more problems.

Turning on my porch light seems to work well at discouraging the noisy locals on the block when its getting late and they're outside hollarin' at each other. Its just a small 15 watt "Energy Efficient" bulb, supposed to be the equivalent of a 50-60w bulb according to the packaging (its pretty bright).

[union]

Walking past there this morning i noticed quite a few houses between 1720ish and 1736 Cath dont even have lights outside to turn on if they wanted to. This may become a lead for a local electrician...

Hopefully the one guy who didnt get caught gets shot up in the next round of 2am firings, i wish these guys had better aim! I mean, 5 shots and not one hit, maybe SOSNA could sponsor target practice or something?????

[mr. snrub]

this discussion has been interesting to me. i had no idea it was common practice to turn off your porch light -- everyone on our block turns it on as it gets dark and leaves it on all night. doesn't everyone?

[Mr. Brightside]

Originally Posted by Reba

...so some poor girl gets a loaded gun put to the side of her head for 15 bucks and we're focusing on pretty lights and eco-friendly bulbs?????

...ps...Will...my frustration isn't towards you....but I quoted this so people would know what I was talking about. Thanks for posting so we are all aware.

There are some things we, as citizens, can control and others we cant ... unless you advocate gathering up a lynch mob to dispense vigilante justice. Improving lighting in the area is not a panacea, but it's a tangible step that we can take. What constructive suggestions do you have?

[taylork]

Originally Posted by mr. snrub

this discussion has been interesting to me. i had no idea it was common practice to turn off your porch light -- everyone on our block turns it on as it gets dark and leaves it on all night. doesn't everyone?

Yean, maybe in bizarro world. where I come from, you leave the proch light on in the day, cuz the sun needs all the help it can get. And since thethe sun ain't out during the night, why give it a hand?

[Reba]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brightside

There are some things we, as citizens, can control and others we cant ... unless you advocate gathering up a lynch mob to dispense vigilante justice. Improving lighting in the area is not a panacea, but it's a tangible step that we can take. What constructive suggestions do you have?

As always, you've missed my point. I'm just saying that instead of showing some concern about this girl, we've focused on pretty lighting and $8,000 garage doors. There is safety, like worrying about tripping over an uneven sidewalk, and then safety, like worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint. I think the 'worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint should be the priority and the other will follow.

My ideas are the same as always, zero tolerance for people who deal drugs, carry guns, break into houses, basically, those who break the law. However, for some odd reason, I find people are more willing to put up with drug dealing bar owners than those with ugly garage doors.

I have a bright, ugly motion detector light outside of my house. I put it up after our cars had smashed windows several times and my basement was broken into and cleaned out....haven't had a problem since. In fact, the other night, I woke up at 3am to the sound, 'don't shoot, please don't shoot!)....I went to the window and saw a man backing away from the front of my house as the bright lights went on and speaking into a cell phone...'bring the car around'. He jumped into a car and sped off...called 911...and reported it. Don't know what would have happened if the lights didn't go on....maybe it helped, maybe it didn't.

[Mr. Brightside]

Originally Posted by Reba

As always, you've missed my point. I'm just saying that instead of showing some concern about this girl, we've focused on pretty lighting and $8,000 garage doors. There is safety, like worrying about tripping over an uneven sidewalk, and then safety, like worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint. I think the 'worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint should be the priority and the other will follow.

My ideas are the same as always, zero tolerance for people who deal drugs, carry guns, break into houses, basically, those who break the law. However, for some odd reason, I find people are more willing to put up with drug dealing bar owners than those with ugly garage doors.

No, I didn't miss your point. You chided a poster for worrying about lighting. What did you think, that he could personally hand out stiffer penalties to criminals?

[Lolly]

Originally Posted by Reba

I have a bright, ugly motion detector light outside of my house. I put it up after our cars had smashed windows several times and my basement was broken into and cleaned out....haven't had a problem since.

I'd say that's a pretty good advertisement for having more lights.

[lbphilly]

Originally Posted by Reba

As always, you've missed my point. I'm just saying that instead of showing some concern about this girl, we've focused on pretty lighting and $8,000 garage doors. There is safety, like worrying about tripping over an uneven sidewalk, and then safety, like worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint. I think the 'worrying about getting mugged at gunpoint should be the priority and the other will follow.

My ideas are the same as always, zero tolerance for people who deal drugs, carry guns, break into houses, basically, those who break the law. However, for some odd reason, I find people are more willing to put up with drug dealing bar owners than those with ugly garage doors.

I have a bright, ugly motion detector light outside of my house. I put it up after our cars had smashed windows several times and my basement was broken into and cleaned out....haven't had a problem since. In fact, the other night, I woke up at 3am to the sound, 'don't shoot, please don't shoot!)....I went to the window and saw a man backing away from the front of my house as the bright lights went on and speaking into a cell phone...'bring the car around'. He jumped into a car and sped off...called 911...and reported it. Don't know what would have happened if the lights didn't go on....maybe it helped, maybe it didn't.

This is the crime thread. I don't believe anyone is discussing garage doors on this thread.

I also think everyone is agreeing that muggers, like roaches, loathe a well-lighted environment. Yes, some muggers -- like some roaches -- will conduct their affairs in broad daylight. But the discussion about whether it takes "stadium lighting" or less aggressive lighting to deter muggers strikes me as a productive use of the crime thread.

If I were Queen of the Neighborhood (and you all should thank God, fasting, that I'm not), we'd have a zoning overlay mandating that any work on a house requiring an L&I permit also include provision for a stoop light. We'd also have a SOSNA initiative to get stoop lights financed for those who couldn't afford them, such as our elderly residents trying to get by on Social Security. A line of porch lights cuts down on the activities of the baddies in ways that the stadium lighting doesn't -- those big overhead lights don't penetrate under our lovely trees.

[crk]

Originally Posted by Reba

As always, you've missed my point. I'm just saying that instead of showing some concern about this girl, we've focused on pretty lighting

Sounds to me like people are discussing how better lighting could help deter/prevent incidents like that from happening again. Its easier to see bad guys when its light out, and I'm pretty sure thats a pretty good deterrent.