16th Police District Newsletter

	16th District News & Views Published by the 16th District Community Policing Office
MARCH/APRIL 2011	Volume 13, Issue 1
In This Issue: ·  Commander’s Corner ·  Upcoming Events ·  News You Can Use ·  Success Stories ·  Beat Meeting Schedule Community Policing Staff Sergeant Patrick Haran Officer Rose Miller Officer Jennene Whalen Contact Us: Phone (312) 742-4521 Fax (312) 747-4421 Email CAPS016District@ chicagopolice.org THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A NEW WEBSITE THAT SERVES AS A LIBRARY OF CRIME STATISTICS CITYWIDE, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE 16TH DISTRICT. TO VISIT CRIME AT A GLANCE GO TO: WWW.CHICAGOPOLICE.ORG IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN SELECT CRIME AT A GLANCE AND THEN SELECT THE 16TH DISTRICT.	16th District – Jefferson Park 5151 North Milwaukee, Chicago, IL 60630 (312) 742-4521 Commander’s Corner: David R. McNaughton, Commander, 16th District      As we open 2011 we find that crime in the 16th District has not changed much as in years past.   We remain an area that has maintained a low level of public violence, and it is our first goal as police officers to ensure the public’s safety.   Crimes that remain problematic are those that target senior citizens.  There are currently two types of con games that are active in the 16th District.  Please pass this information on to family members and friends, and keep an eye on your neighbors.      We have written in the past about con artists who come to a senior’s residence and pose as city or utility workers and gain entry to test the water pressure.  These con men are very convincing, and are able to gain entry.  While one offender is escorted by the senior to the kitchen or basement to check the water, their accomplices enter the unlocked door and rummage through the rooms of the house searching for cash and valuables.  This con game continues to happen from time to time throughout the district.      There is another con game that is now occurring in which grandparents receive a frantic phone call from a person who purports to be a friend of their grandchild who is being held by a law enforcement agency overseas, and requires money for bail.  The con man usually knows some facts about the family like the name and occupation of the grandson.  The con man is able to gather the victim’s trust and confidence, and the grandparent wires the con man large sums of money.   It is believed that this organized crew of con men are hacking emails and monitoring social network web sites to gather personal information.      Both of these despicable crimes are difficult to solve and prosecute.  The best method of combating this crime is by warning our family members, and asking them to take some common sense precautions.  First, if someone comes to the door claiming to be city or utility worker advise your family members not to open the door, have them call 911 and let the police check it out.  Second, please advise your senior family members never to withdraw or wire money without first checking with a trusted friend or family member.      Hopefully by passing the word around on these scams we can prevent future victims. Another Job Well Done by Chicago’s Finest!                  The 16th District would like to salute some of their own for a job well done.                    16th District Officers Jakubowski and Martin were assigned in a covert capacity to a Honda motor vehicle theft mission.  The Officers observed a subject driving a Honda vehicle without a catalytic converter.  The Officers conducted an investigation, and although the vehicle was not stolen, the driver was a convicted felon and criminal street gang member driving on a revoked driver’s license and wanted on an outstanding warrant.                    Later that afternoon, these same Officers became aware of a stolen Honda motor vehicle parked at Osceola and Forest Preserve Drive .  The Officers conducted a surveillance and several hours later a subject entered the stolen vehicle.  The subject was subsequently placed under arrest.                     Officers Ganz, Giovannielli and Weller learned that a subject was working on cars in his garage at odd hours.  The location was in the center of the area that vehicles were being stolen. The Officers conducted an investigation and observed rusted metal scrap cut from catalytic converters in the alley behind the residence.  The discovery of these materials was vital and ultimately led to the capture of a subject who was attempting to pull a stolen Honda into his garage.  This arrest led to the recovery of eight Honda vehicles and an additional seventy-five motor vehicle thefts were cleared the Detective Division.                    The patience displayed by these Officers was exceptional. Their ability to work in an undercover capacity, which was a critical component to this investigation, resulted in the arrest of offenders who were plaguing the 16th District with crime.           Thanks for a job well done!!

The 16^th Police District has a Graffiti Database

If you see anyone performing graffiti please

CALL 911

If you observe any graffiti:

1.     Call 311 to remove graffiti or go online to www.cityofchicago.org, click on 311 online services and click graffiti removal under top requested and follow the prompts.

2.     TAKE A PICTURE

3.     NOTE THE ADDRESS, DATE AND TIME.

4.     E-MAIL ABOVE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS TO

graffiti016@chicgopolice.org or drop off information and photos to the 16^th District Police Station, 5151 N. Milwaukee.

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CON GAME SCAM(S)

We need your help to protect your friends and neighbors!

Recently senior citizens have been the victims of thefts and attempted thefts by individuals posing as tradesmen, city employees or utility workers.  These individuals are very convincing and often work in groups of two or more.  Common among all these incidents is that one person diverts the victim’s attention while others enter the home and steal valuables.  After identifying themselves as a city worker or gas company employee, they state they have to enter the house to conduct a test on the water or gas.  They may escort the elderly victim to the kitchen or bathroom leaving the front door open for accomplices to gain entry and commit the theft.  Often victims won’t realize that a theft has occurred until they discover items missing or their bedrooms ransacked. 

Preventions Tips:

Ø  Alert your elderly neighbors and relatives of these scams.

Ø  Do not keep large amounts of cash in your residence.

Ø  Remind everyone to keep their doors locked.

Ø  Be suspicious when approached by someone who states they work for a utility, the city, or a construction crew.

Ø  Do not open the door.  Announce to these individuals that you are calling 911.  The police will check out their credentials.

Ø  Never accompany the stranger to the rear yard or the side of the house.

Ø  Neighbors should keep an eye out for each other.  If you see workers arriving at an elderly neighbors residence call 911.

Ø  Try to obtain identifying information on suspicious persons and their vehicle.  Many times these offenders travel in work vans, pick-up trucks and SUVs as well as passenger cars.

GET INVOLVED ON YOUR BEAT – ATTEND YOUR BEAT MEETINGS

Join friends and neighbors who are working together

to make our communities safer and stronger.

The UPCOMING BEAT MEETINGS will be held promptly at 7:00 p.m.

                       

BEAT	DATE	LOCATION
1611	3rd Thursday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternate is 1612.	St. Thecla (Queen of Peace) 6333 N. Newcastle
1612	1st Tuesday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1611.	Olympia Park 6566 N. Avondale
1613	2nd Tuesday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternate is 1614.	Oriole Park 5430 N. Olcott
1614	4th Tuesday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1613.	Pavilion Apartments 5441 N. East River Rd
1621	3rd Monday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternate is 1622.	First Congregational Church of Forest Glen  5400 N. Lawler
1622	2nd Wednesday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1621.	Dunham Park 4638 N. Melvina
1623	3rd Wednesday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternate is 1624.	16th District Police Station 5151 N. Milwaukee
1624	4th Wednesday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1623.	Portage Park Senior Center 4100 N Long
1631	1st Thursday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternate is 1632.	Hiawatha Park 8029 W. Forest Preserve
1632	2nd Thursday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1631.	Schorsch Village Hall 6940 W. Belmont
1633	3rd Tuesday of the Month on all odd months.  Alternated is 1634.	Merrimac Park 6343 W. Irving Park Rd
1634	4th Thursday of the Month on all even months.  Alternate is 1633.	St. Bartholomew Church 3601 N. Lavergne