Yes, I would love to see more lighting. Orangina's email to the list of immediate neighbors has already sparked discussion! The Osage/Pine alley does not have the street-style lights that are in the Osage/Larchwood alley.

Then again, lighting won't help with these broad-daylight burglaries. Although it's still a good idea to pursue, I agree.

Fuzz, I know this isn't your main point, but I'm curious: this group of kids was actually hanging out on the sidewalk in front of the houses, not in the alley. Hanging out in the alley, call the cops; I get that. Do you recommend calling if the kids are on the street-side? Maybe it's a meaningless distinction, but I would bet that the fact that the kids were out front played into the neighbors' decisions not to call.

Lisa

Anyone know what the deal is with the helicopter? I swear it's been flying around the neighborhood (north of Baltimore, near the upper 40s maybe) for at least half an hour! Manhunt much?

Yes, at 8:30 or so the helicopter was directly above 51st and Locust. There also were about 10 or so police vehicles at/near the intersection. I am not sure what they were looking for or what happened. Awhile later they moved back a few blocks.

It will be all over the news tomorrow but Philly police exchanged fire with robbery suspects at 53rd and Ludlow. I think they arrested a few people and I don't think any police were shot. Not sure about the suspects.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news...e_suspect.html

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A house on our block of 51st between Pine and Osage was robbed early this morning. Seems like someone went in through a window that had a dryer vent installed which meant easier access (looked almost like going in through an air conditioner.)

Folks were home and called police. The guy ran out through the front of the house and ran right through a window! It looked like something from a Looney Tunes cartoon. Police arrived really quickly but no arrests as far as I know.

Seemed pretty brazen. Around 6am and right in the window with people home...

If they are loitering on your block, sitting on your neighbor's steps, or just being a nuisance on your block then definitely call. Do these kids live on the block? If not, then what are they doing on the block if not walking through? Combine loitering with recent break-ins and calling 911 is a must.

I did not read the article but we handled that job and both kids are arrested. 17 and 18 years old. We recovered a .38 revolver from the second kid with 4 spent casings. He admitted to shooting at the police and knowing that they were police before he shot.

He also admits his role in 2 robberies minutes before the police shootout. One of the victims was a real nice kid who just got donr work at Burger King in King of Prussia. Never been arrested. He lives with his aunt whose only worry about him is his bus ride down 52nd St every night. They approached him and stuck a gun in his back. When he tries to walk away he is shot in the back. Here you have a kid who grew up in a rough neighborhood but never used it as an excuse. He works everyday for minimum wage and these two punks, who are too lazy to work on their own, almost kill him. For what? His bus token?

The 2 kids that were arrested are as hardened and remorseless as any criminal I have seen. One of the kids even smiled when I took him in to be fingerprinted. It's a badge of honor now to shoot at the police. I just wish I could have hung around to see their faces when the bail commissioner read off the 5 counts of attempted murder to them. Bet they weren't smiling then.

A word to those who take 33rd St home from Drexel, Penn, UCity,etc. There is a on-going gun battle with 2 factions in the area of 34th & Wallace and 35th and Haverford Ave. There was a homicide at 35 and Haverford a day ago and a retailiation shooting on 3300 Wallace about 12 hours later. 3300 Wallace has a few housing projects on the block and we have been in one particular one twice to get shooting victims out in the past 3 months. It just so happened that in broad daylight yesterday, their window was shot out.

I am posting this because an innocent bystanders vehicle was shot up pretty bad and it was at 2pm. I know alot of people take 33rd St to get to 34th St and 76. My wife does too. I just want to make you aware of what is going on in that neighborhood and to use caution when driving through.

****. how is the kid doing? i wish i could help somehow