break in

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

good morning everyone...

i just wanted to let everyone know to be careful, my husband's car got broken into last night. they stole and ipod hidden in the center console. The smashed his window to get in. We are on Grove st and parked the car around 10 PM. If anyone saw anything let me know! Be careful, davis square isn't what it used it be...

 

Comments

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Seems to be a wave of this. There was a similar theft in Union Square in the parking lot of my building on Tuesday.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

It isnt just Davis...it happened to me 3x up in Teele Sq.

Personally I think its a sign of the bad economy (break-ins are up everywhere and not limited to cars I have heard from various police sources) and the holidays coming.

[ron_newman]

Just curious -- was it parked on the residential part of Grove Street (north of the gate), or in one of the parking lots between Elm Street and Rite-Aid?

[beatniktea.livejournal.com]

This comment might be sufficiently creepy but...I think I know you, based on this post.

And that really, really, sucks by the way.

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

It was parked at the end of the block after the gate walking away from RiteAid.

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

just fill your car up with garbage, leave the doors unlocked and don't leave valuables in the car, that will save you the smashed window problems!

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

Well what was so strange is that it was hidden in the center console. I can't figure out how they knew it was there. It just really sucks and even though the window is getting fixed right now and is covered by insurance that is a $250 ipod that will never be recovered.

It is just ridiculous that this happens so much and there aren't any witnesses or patrols. My bike was stole right off my porch 2 years ago at 9 AM, in the middle of T foot traffic by the perp smashing my porch bars in. You can't tell me no one saw it. I wish people would speak up for their neighbors more these days.

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

haha really? do you live on Grove too?

[beatniktea.livejournal.com]

nope, I'm Q's roommate. :)

he had told me what happened this morning.

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

haha everyone is on this communitity! yeah i guess word travels fast...

[jodi.livejournal.com]

if it was in the center console, then it can't be considered to be "hidden"
thieves don't need a reason (suspected ipod) to smash and grab. even if they got a handful of toll-change or something...the ipod was a helpful bonus, i'm sure.

Register Your Personal Electronic Devices with WRAP

[somerville311.livejournal.com]

From the City Website:


Register your GPS device, laptop or other electronic device.

Web-based
Registry
Anti-Theft
Program

PROBLEM:
While other crimes are declining in our city, Motor vehicle break-ins are on the rise in Somerville and throughout the Boston Metro area.
ANSWER:
A joint program with the Police, 311 and the city’s website to improve security and help solve these crimes. WRAP is designed to help as a theft deterrent and to raise awareness among Somerville residents about how they can avoid this crime – and fight back

The purpose of WRAP is to create a database of portable electronic devices: makes, models, serial numbers, and their owners’ details. The information collected helps identify stolen property and potentially to identify the perpetrators when stolen property is recovered by Police and pawnshops.

Signing up for WRAP requires a couple simple steps:

1. Register your portable electronic device(s):
GPS, laptop computer, cell phone, iPod, etc.
2. Protect yourself and your property.

Once you have signed up, you will receive a sticker in the mail to place on each device you register. This sticker will warn criminals that your device can be traced by the Somerville Police if lost or stolen.

You have a better chance of recovering your property when it has been stolen or lost by simply registering it with WRAP. But WRAP is also an awareness campaign designed to help residents protect themselves and their property.

The first and most effective step you can take to crack down on this crime is to take appropriate actions to protect your personal property. (In 20% of these thefts, the victim’s car was left unlocked!) By taking a few extra precautions, you can avoid being an easy target.

Here are a few helpful tips:

* Don’t store your portable electronics in the car
* If you must, secure them safely and out of sight.
* Keep windshield clear of suction cup rings that indicate the presence of electronic devices.
* Keep power cords out of sight.


IF YOUR PROPERTY HAS BEEN STOLEN:
File a police report immediately. SPD is investigating these crimes daily and your help in identifying the crime is important.
After filing a police report, register your stolen property in this nation-wide database, www.juststolen.net. Both law enforcement and citizens use this tool to recover stolen property.

You can register with WRAP on-line here:
http://citizen.somervillema.intelligovsoftware.com/newRequest_2.aspx?serviceid=24639

or simply call 311 from any phone in Somerville. (Outside the city, please dial 617-666-3311.)

[imsoclever.livejournal.com]

My neighbors car was broken in last night as well, in front of my house. We're right off of Broadway, steps from ball square...

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

well the center console has a cover. there was no way they could have seen it. it just makes these people all the worse. if you SEE something and are tempted that is one thing, just smashing windows at the chance there is something useful inside is just being a punk.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

Okay, whatever you say. Obviously the center console is the most secure place to keep valuables. Carry on.

[hello-shannon05.livejournal.com]

I am just saying it's not like it was in the open. no need to be an ass. way to rub salt in the wound after i just wanted to post to warn people to take precaution. i'm glad i have neighbors like you...

[thewrongbloke.livejournal.com]

It's possible the window was smashed for other motives and the ipod was their lucky find.

I've seen police departments issue warnings against leaving spare change in your car. Because certain drugs (especially heroin) are so cheap, a few cars with some quarters in the dash is plenty.

The only answer is to never leave anything in a car overnight. If you do, it's practically guaranteed that sooner or later you will be robbed. That goes for parking lots at shopping malls, garages, valets, etc.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Be careful, davis square isn't what it used it be...

This is EXACTLY what Davis Square "used to be" 20+ years ago when I first lived there. Smash-and-grab car break-in crime goes in cycles. When I first moved to Davis, car window glass littered the sidewalks and almost everyone I knew had had their car broken into.

The myth of Davis Square as some safe paradise is just that. Crime happens. The city does its best to control it, but it's something that occurs in urban areas, and it does come in seemingly random waves.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you said that, because I'd always understood that car theft/thefts from cars has always been high in somerville. There are posts like this on the community constantly these days.

[righteousness-1.livejournal.com]

Screw that shit. These scum need to be taken out of circulation.

[righteousness-1.livejournal.com]

Actually, all this crime crap is more depressing than airplane noise. How about backing off on posting all this bad news? It's like a venting chamber.

Come to think of it, maybe airplane noise is the cause of the increase in crime.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

How about not? I'd rather here where the hot spots are the next morning instead of a week and a half later in the paper.

[ron_newman]

You don't think it's important for people to know what's happening to their neighbors?

[mihmo.livejournal.com]

there are some people who just like to be snotty to posters. i'm glad you made the post so don't worry about that person...

You are Q's roommate?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

That IS freaky! I'm L's roommate.

Well, are you saying it may be somebody you know?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Somebody who was in that car before?

You mean when Somerville was Slummerville?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I wasn't here then, but the neighbors tell me it was not pretty. I hope it does not go back to that.

I'm glad people talk to each other

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

and share information. Reality can be depressing at times. It does not mean we have to ignore it.

Re: Register Your Personal Electronic Devices with WRAP

[deepti-arrora.livejournal.com]

how to register portable electronics (http://www.infibeam.com/Portable_Electronics/) device with wrap? thanks for your tips. i will follow it.