THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9501310088
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
In August, Doug Weymouth's tools were stolen out of his work van.
In September, Kathy Jublou's car was taken.
In October, Barbara Glass' car phone was ripped off.
These are just three names among scores of victims in a yearlong crime wave that has plagued the Larchmont and Edgewater neighborhoods. According to police figures, incidents of reported crime rose from 240 in 1993 to 372 for 1994, an increase of 55 percent.
In past weeks, residents have moved to counter the onslaught. The communities recently formed the Larchmont/Edgewater Block Security Program.
``My family's been hit four times since September,'' said Kathy Jublou, program coordinator. ``We had to do something.''
The group began to take shape after a late November meeting of the Larchmont-Edgewater Civic League that focused on the crime problem. Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Police Chief Melvin C. High addressed the meeting. Jublou volunteered to lead the program and began to organize and recruit personnel. On Jan. 19, the group held its first official meeting. Jublou introduced 12 area coordinators and recruited block captains for every 10 homes.
``The first objective is to get everyone out of that `it's none of my business mind-set' and into neighbors watching out for one another,'' Jublou said.
The effort is assisted by the police crime prevention unit, which provides citizens a block security handbook to help get started.
``A large part of what we're doing is setting up an information telephone tree,'' unit officer Ed Rockefeller said.
The program has distributed 5,000 emergency and non-emergency police hotline lists to be placed on residents' telephones. Coordinators are compiling block directories and maps with names, addresses and telephone numbers. The group also is encouraging residents to have their valuables engraved. Once 70 percent of a community has done that, the city will erect security block signs in the neighborhood.
The group's actions are augmented by expanded on-the-street police activities, including dispatching more patrol cars to the area and stakeouts.
``We've increased various types of patrol,'' said Lt. J.W. Brownlie, commander of the section of the city that contains Larchmont and Edgewater. ``We've added more cars, plus officers on bikes and foot.''
A stakeout in January nabbed two suspects for auto break-ins and grand larceny. Police have asked citizens to do ``window watches,'' where residents keep an eye out late at night and during the early morning hours. One man was arrested after a resident reported a suspicious individual looking in her neighbor's windows. He later was charged with an unrelated crime of robbing three Norfolk businesses.
``Neighborhood participation and communication is vital,'' Brownlie said.
Most crimes have been larcenies in auto break-ins. Car phones are among the hottest items. Bicycles remain a popular on-premise target. Of the three arrests, one suspect was a Norfolk man, one was from Chesapeake and the other from Virginia Beach.
There also have been some burglaries. Two weeks before Christmas, the television and VCR of an Edgewater resident was stolen while he was in bed.
``They had to know we were home - all the cars were here,'' he said. ``That's a scary feeling.''
Brownlie noted that burglaries are particularly dangerous since there is a much greater chance of residents confronting the intruder, often resulting in physical injury or worse.
Police attribute part of the crime wave to the neighborhoods not having a block security program. Residents agree.
``They've come from areas that have security programs to here,'' Glass said. ``We're sitting ducks with our big, old houses and windows.''
``The feeling I get is that because surrounding neighborhoods have very active security programs, the criminals are going where the hits are easy,'' Jublou said.
In addition to establishing a program, many residents have installed home and auto protection. Others have gotten dogs and bought the Club, an anti-auto-theft device.
``I put a security system in my garage,'' Weymouth said. ``Three of my neighbors have put in home systems over the last few months.''
The program area now is centered around Jamestown Crescent and Hampton Boulevard. Jublou hopes to encompass both of the entire neighborhoods in the future. Though in its early stages, the effort is getting a supportive response, and residents are optimistic that it will help to discourage criminals.
``I've had no trouble getting people to sign on as coordinators and captains,'' Jublou said. ``I think this will put a damper on crime once the criminals see it's being done.'' MEMO: For information on the block security program, call 441-1771. by CNB