This semi-annual all-neighborhood meeting was hosted at the East Baptist Church on Monroe Road. There were approximately 46 in attendance.

David Clark introduced two new neighborhood liason officers, replacing Dave Cristy. They are Officer Brent Helms and Officer Jim Brown.

Officers Helms and Brown advised us that one of the fastest-rising crimes in our area is theft from parked vehicles. The Independence Division is getting 30 to 60 reports of such crime per week. We need to remove ANYTHING of value (even small change) from our cars, or hide it out of sight.

Crimes happen when DESIRE and ABILITY (to commit the crime) converge with OPPORTUNITY. We can deter crime by taking away the opportunity. We were advised to look at our cars and homes as a criminal would look at them. Can we see objects of value that we would want to take? Can we break in out of sight, or under cover of darkness? Can we break in quietly?

At home, cover windows and glass in doors. Install and use outdoor lights. Break down cartons for newly-purchased items so they will fit in the trash cans and will not advertise our new acquisitions.

A home inventory is highly recommended, including serial numbers. Items which have no manufacturer serial number should be etched with an "owner-applied number"; your driver license number is a good choice.

Be alert, be nosy. If someone unfamiliar to you is in the neighborhood, ask who they are and why they are here. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, call 911 and let the police ask those questions. Write down tag numbers of unfamiliar vehicles.

Officers Brown and Helms reported that our neighborhood is doing well with respect to crime statistics. We've had 35 calls for police service in the last year; 16 calls in the last 6 months; and only 2 calls in the last month.

The newest crime trend is theft from vehicles while the driver is pumping gas. When you stop for gas, put the windows up and lock your doors.

A CMPD Safety Guide was distributed. This information and more is available at the CMPD website.

The vacant property behind our neighborhood, on Monroe Road next to Arby's, is to be developed. Current plans call for a mix of retail and apartments. There will be no direct connection with our neighborhood. Be watching for announcement of a meeting between the developer and the neighborhood. Such a meeting will be announced on this website, and will be emailed to as many neighborhood email addresses as we have. We will also publish additional details of the development plans as they are confirmed.

At the last block captains meeting, it was decided to proceed with construction of a new entrance sign on Sunnywood, on the west side of the intersection only. We will be looking for volunteers to help build it; watch this site for an opportunity to sign up.

There will be a neighborhood cleanup on April 19 at 8:00 am. Please meet at the intersection of Covedale and Longbrook to get started.

Questions or comments about these notes should be directed to Rod