DIAL 911

Thefts from Parked Cars Have Become Routine!  Don’t Think “It Won’t Happen to Me”

We have had our 4^th and 5^th recent theft from a parked vehicle in Brookstone/Fieldstone (Thursday 11/27 at 6385 Rockstone Ct. and Wednesday 12/3 at 5126 Robinsrock Way, Fieldstone Lots 27 & 54, respectively). To call this an epidemic would be an understatement. Our community has become a routine target for crooks, at least one of whom is evidently a crackhead, judging by the fact that an apparent crack pipe was left at the scene of a recent theft.

If you leave valuables in your parked car, they will be stolen. If you leave your car unlocked and parked outside your garage, it will be ransacked (whether or not you have left valuables inside). If you leave your garage door open and unattended, your possessions may disappear. If you leave your home unlocked, even when you are home, you may have unwelcome criminal visitors. If you leave expensive possessions in your home within plain sight from your windows, burglars may break in and steal them. If you fail to maintain your coach lights or leave your porch lights on at night, criminals may case out your home unseen and without worries. Below are some tips which may have discouraged or prevented most of the recent crimes in our community. Follow these tips as often as you possibly can:

¨       Park in the garage

¨       If you must park outside, lock your car doors and don’t leave anything in your parked car that you want to keep

(laptop, cell phone, wallet, purse, keys, auto title, garage door opener, iPod, checkbook, sunglasses, cash, coins)

¨       Lock your house, front door and back, whether you are home or not

¨       Keep all exterior light bulbs maintained—florescent bulbs last much longer

¨       Leave your porch lights on at night, front and back

¨       If you don’t have an alarm system, consider investing in one

We must also help prevent crime by being more aware of what is happening in our neighborhood. If you see suspicious activity, call 911 and report it to the police. They are here to serve and they want to protect us, so don’t hesitate to call the police when appropriate. If in doubt, go ahead and dial 911. If there is an unfamiliar vehicle, consider jotting down its license number and description. That might lead to a break in a future criminal case. Let’s all do our part to avoid mistakes that attract criminals to our neighborhood and make the effort to deter crime and look out for one another. Thanks!

Incident One:
There are potential con artists trying to sell door to door in our neighborhood. The other night a guy came to my door trying to sell me cleaning supplies. I informed him that we had a no soliciting sign at the entrance to our neighborhood.  He told me that the HOA said it was ok....THE HOA HAS GIVEN NO SUCH APPROVAL.  He wanted to come into my house to show me how his product worked. I told him no and closed the door.

They came back this past Wednesday night (7/16) while I was in the yard. So I started asking questions. None of which were really answered. The guy in the truck said he did not work for the company and that he was just the driver and would not give me any company info. Then sped off leaving his salesman at my neighbors house.  When he came out of the house from delivering his product he also refused to give me any documentation of his company , I had to copy down the info off of his receipt book. He had no business cards and said that you could only order from them in person. They were out of Dallas TX but the receipt said Plano TX.  They said they travel around to 31 states selling their products.  He said the company is Xtreme Chemical Company or Mike Wright Enterprises. or MWE Sales. This is also a key trick of multiple names to avoid lawsuits.  A two second Goggle search of Xtreme Chemical Company showed lots of complaints that they do not deliver the same product they demo in your home.  The phone number they gave was 972-422-7272 and an address of 1707 Mimosa, Plano, TX, 45074.  There is only a three day return policy listed on their website and good luck getting them to even give you your money back.

While the people have done nothing criminal, please proceed with caution and notify them that THE HOA DOES NOT APPROVE OF SOLICITORS AND IF THEY DO NOT LEAVE THE AUTHORITIES WILL BE NOTIFIED.

Incident Two: Attempted Burglary in Fieldstone

On Wednesday, June 25, around 1:00pm, an attempted burglary was foiled in Fieldstone. This follows a similar suspicious activity in the same area on June 9. Please notify your neighbors and increase your awareness to the pattern of these incidents to prevent future crimes.

Somebody knocked loudly on a Fieldstone homeowner’s door (Lot #2). The homeowner did not go to the door and make her presence known. Shortly thereafter, two light-skinned African American men in their late teens were heard and then seen attempting to force entry into the back door. The homeowner startled them, they fled in a maroon red 4-door Saturn. Police were immediately called (911).

The difference between this incident and the one on June 9 is that the first homeowner did make her presence known when her doorbell rang.  She went to see who it was, didn't know them, and told them "no thanks" through the side window without opening the door. That was sufficient to deter the suspects in that earlier incident, who were dressed in all black, carrying gloves, and rapidly disappeared in a dark green car when they found somebody at home. On this past Wednesday, the burglars thought the home was empty, so they proceeded to attempt to break in.

As we have mentioned before, neighbors are encouraged to dial 911 immediately anytime a crime or possible crime is in progress. If you have a need for the police in a non-emergency situation, the IMPD non-emergency number is 327-3811.

When summer arrives, crime rates typically rise. People are surprised to learn that the most common time of day for residential burglaries is late morning through early afternoon. During these times, burglars are least likely to encounter inhabitants in a house. It is important to make your presence known if there is a visitor at your front door. This will typically deter burglars, who prefer to commit their crimes without interference. Do not open your door to strangers, but do send them away by speaking through the window of the locked door. With schools out, it is vital to teach this to those children who are old enough to be home alone!

If you see a crime in progress, or feel there are sufficient grounds to notify the police of suspicious behavior in progress (especially involving an unfamiliar maroon red Saturn or dark green sedan), call 911.

Incident Three: Burglary in Brookstone

On Friday, July 18, around 1:30pm, another attempted burglary was foiled in Brookstone. This follows similar incidents in Fieldstone on June 9 and June 25. With three attempted burglaries within less than a month (plus the vandalism incident below), we are facing the most serious rash of crime that our community has ever seen. Please notify your neighbors and increase your awareness to the pattern of these incidents to prevent future crimes.

The owner of 6236 Creeks Crossing Drive (Lot #104) drove home after the lunch hour and found an unfamiliar vehicle parked in the driveway. One man was inside the car, a burgundy colored sedan, possibly a Chrysler 300. A tall white man in his late 20’s with a shaved head then came from the front porch area, probably alerted by a cell phone call from his partner in the car. The man asked the homeowner (still in her vehicle) “whether Lori lived here.” The homeowner said “no” and the two men drove away. Upon entering the house, the homeowner found evidence of attempted forced entry: a damaged deadbolt and broken wood frame around the window beside the door. Entry had not yet been gained. Police were immediately called (911).

There are many similarities among the three incidents:

-                    occurred on weekdays between 10am – 2pm

-                    involved two perpetrators with a car

-                    were generally described as young men (late teens through early thirties)

-                    targeted homes nearer to the entrances to our community for quick getaway

-                    burglars fled after they were interrupted by homeowners

Some aspects of the incidents differed:

-          the latest two incidents involved maroon or burgundy colored sedans, but one involved a dark green sedan

-          the descriptions of the burglars have varied from “neither white nor African American” to “light skinned African American” to “white” in the latest incident

Neighbors are encouraged to dial 911 immediately anytime a crime or possible crime is in progress. If you need the police in a non-emergency situation, the IMPD nonemergency number is 327-3811.

It is important to make your presence known if there is a visitor at your front door. This will typically deter burglars, who prefer to commit their crimes without interference. Do not open your door to strangers, but do send them away by speaking through the window of the locked door. Be sure to teach this to those children who are old enough to be home alone.

Vandalism in Fieldstone!

Also on Friday, July 18, at 11pm somebody threw a brick through the back window of the home at Fieldstone Lot #80. The homeowners were home and called 911. The police arrived and found two other stray bricks in the area. They surmise that this may be a case of vandalism by kids.

Indianapolis is suffering a crime wave, both property crimes and violent crimes. We will be in contact with IMPD to request increased patrols in our neighborhood. If you see a crime in progress, or feel there are sufficient grounds to notify the police of suspicious behavior in progress (especially involving an unfamiliar maroon or dark green sedan), call 911.