Here’s something to watch out for. Neighbor Ayse, who lives on 45th Street between Spruce and Locust, is reporting some theft in her area:
“There was some minor theft that happened here over the past twoish days, and I just wanted to give people a heads up that there might be someone checking for unlocked doors and pilfering packages. I had a FedEx package stolen that was in the foyer between the front door and the apartment door (the front door was unlocked, but closed). My roommate also had a package delivered that was ripped open, but the contents were still there. The downstairs tenants had a cell phone and digital camera stolen from inside the apartment – small, potentially not immediately noticed. We reported the stolen package and stolen tech items to the police, but it’s unlikely they’ll find them since they’re disposable/ so small. But we wanted to let the police know in case it keeps happening. And we realize that it’s not the greatest idea leaving our front door open, but that aside, we wanted to give people a heads up to lock their doors and pay attention to packages.”
September 23rd, 2011 at 10:47 am
My boy friend and i have noticed an older guy with dreads kind of wandering around that area ( 45 osage / larchwood). he seemed out of place and a tad suspicious. now with this info i will call police if i see him him again.
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:46 am
There have also been two recent daylight break-ins in the immediate neighborhood: one on the 4500 blk of Locust and one on the 4500 blk of Spruce. Could be the same guy that’s stealing packages.
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:23 pm
our housemate had his bike stolen off the porch in the middle of the day. he walked away from it for two seconds to check on his laundry and came out of the basement and it was gone. 44th and Baltimore near 45th. This occured two days ago during the afternoon.
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I just want to remind people that it’s important to report this stuff to the police. No matter how small or unsolvable the crime seems, the more you can establish a pattern, the more response we’ll get from police. There were a series of porch thefts recently where somebody was caught because enough people brought them to police attention. Daylight porch thefts and break-ins are probably not committed by the sneakiest of culprits. Establish a pattern, police step up patrols, thief gets careless, gets noticed, gets caught.
September 23rd, 2011 at 2:38 pm
it’s also important to remember that we’re not in kansas! sheesh. lock your stuff up, people.
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I don’t think it is a good idea to call the police on someone you think “looks out of place and a tad suspicious”, that was merely walking in the “area”. What kind of neighbourhood condones such baseless accusations and, frankly, prejudicial attitudes?!
September 25th, 2011 at 12:24 am
at 49th and springfield one of our bikes got the back wheel stolen, right off of the porch. we were all surprised, but a bike in the middle of the afternoon is gutsy!
September 25th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Another robbery at 45 and larchwood. Bike stolen from first floor as well bookbag contents dumped on front porch.
September 26th, 2011 at 11:40 am
I appreciate this blog so much (especially the crime watch section). Folks can also go to spotcrime.com, put in your address and get a grid of different classes of crime within a few miles of your house or business. You can even sign up for email notification when new incidents get tagged. Sometimes I loathe getting the alerts because there is so much going on in UCity/West Philly crime-wise of late that I become a bit paranoid, but it’s much smarter to stay informed and to stay alert.
September 26th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Another bike theft — not me, our friends – kid’s bike was left on porch at 44th/Larchwood for JUST A FEW MINUTES while family in and around the house. Stolen in the middle of the afternoon on a Friday.
September 27th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
I’m filing a police report for the possible break-in attempt evidenced by the tampering of the exterior, ground level access to the basement on the ground at 44th and Locust that happened 9/27 before 5:30pm.
September 28th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Arrested for a haircut. Really? Would you please call the cops for anyone wearing skinny pants too? They’ve got to be illegal somewhere….