Historical February–March 2011 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Dan advises: In the majority of cases where someone is apprehended, it is due to a diligent neighbor calling in a suspicious person, car, activity, with a COMPLETE description of that person and or auto involved. Lets learn how to be the little old lady peeking out from behind her blinds. Pay attention to the noises you are not used to hearing. Look out your back windows, this is usually where they break-in.
If you hear suspicious noises check it out. You never know, it could be Mr. Thief, or your friendly neighborhood squirrel. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Be aware: know your neighbors and their cars. Is your dog/ neighbors dog barking uncharacteristically? Did you hear glass break? Is some one unknown to you, hanging out in the alley? Is an unfamiliar car circling the block? Get involved, get informed and become proactive in keeping our neighborhood and neighbors safe and secure. For more information, follow the Security Committee blog on the SDCC web site, http://stlouis. missouri.org/skinkerdebaliviere, and become that little old lady! Dotti advises: Of the residents who participated in the Neighborhood Survey, 82% listed crime as one of the top three problems in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood.
A few residential crime prevention tips have been compiled in effort to create a safer environment.
There are simple and inexpensive ways of altering the appearance of your yard and home exterior that help to deter crime, while still maintaining a sense of privacy: Trim away the bottom branches and leaves on shrubs and hedges, leaving at least 12 inches of clear space between the ground and the lowest branches.
A trespasser’s feet and legs can easily be seen if he attempts to hide behind foliage. Don’t allow shrubs and foliage to block the view of any basement or first floor windows or doors. Trim them to remain below the height of the windows. Thieves take advantage of concealed areas. Install night security lighting on the exterior of the home to turn on when motion is detected. (Make sure to position the sensor to activate only when someone has entered the property – sensing every movement on the sidewalk or the passing of vehicles in the street defeats the purpose of security lighting. Like the fable, The Boy That Cried Wolf, residents and neighbors alike will start ignoring constant, misused activations.) Per St. Louis City Ordinance 68791, Section 304.3, your home’s address numbers must be easily visible from the street and alley!
The address numbers should be eye-catching and posted in prominent locations.
To receive prompt emergency service, responders must be able to easily find the correct address. Introduce yourself to neighbors. At the very least, trade names and contact telephone numbers. Burglars are often caught because a neighbor recognized something suspicious and called 9-1-1. Notify police about suspicious activities while they are still occurring. Preventing crime in your neighborhood and within the City of St. Louis requires the partnership of its citizens, businesses, schools, neighborhood associations, various city departments, St. Louis City Government, and the St. Louis Police department. Together, we can make a difference.
To reach Dottie Pennington or any of the Neighborhood Stabilization Team of the City of St. Louis, call 657-1392.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2011.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Byline Dotti, body Dottie spelling retained; neighborhood headline Debalivere source spelling retained.
Original source: SD_Times2011_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
