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Car windows smashed on 27th Street
01/18/2015 7:57 PM by John M
From Mallory:
Someone is roaming around smashing car windows near 27th and O. Our car and a neighbors has been hit so far. Police have been alerted.
PHOTO by Colleen Boland
THAT’S why I saw a cop car (lights on) going down the block. I knew something had to be up–RCPD is never on our block.
I voted on SeeClickFix to fix the light at that intersection, the post noted that they had had quite a bit of windshields bashed in.
This seems to be a pattern in our immediate area. My car window was smashed a few months ago. I live on 26th between O and P.
People, its time to change your car insurance deductibles to $100.
Did anyone hear anything? Anyone have video?
SeeClickFix: Non-functioning Street Lights
http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/1446110-non-functioning-street-lights
This also happened to me during the summer of last year and I’m on the 1100 block of N. 23rd. Nothing was stolen. I just came outside to find a busted windshield.
I am working on a story about this for tonight on Channel 8. Would be interested in talking to someone whose car has been hit. Thanks! 873-4053
I wonder if these smashed windshields are to combat gentrification? The 700/800 blocks and NW of CH are still quite battlegrounds in terms of gentrification, safety and walkability.
But I guess not because virtually everyone in Libby Hill and Broad would have bashed windshields…
How about a story on how City of Richmond frequently ignores the SeeClickFix issues?
Example, “You do not see this pile of debris”:
/2015/01/07/you-do-not-see-this-pile-of-debris_39583/
@17 There has been plenty of vandalism elsewhere, too. We had a lot of cars keyed and scratched and otherwise beaten on, couple of summers ago, all around 26th and Broad and Grace.
Due to a Fit bit Challenge this weekend; I spent a great deal of time walking though our neighborhood, particularly our 800 block between 25th and up to 30th street between M and P Street. I was astonished at the amount of foot traffic I encountered on these walks. I feel this is a vibrant area and the foot traffic is not necessarily nefarious or cause for any alarm.
We live in an urban environment and choose to do so. I truly wish I had noticed something I felt worth reporting to the police and I can assure you I would have without any hesitation.
I am deeply disappointed in my neighbors for their lack of alertness, curiosity or vigilance to the surrounding elements we choose to live in. We all believe hind sight is 20/20 but having been the victim of crime a number of times within the past few years; I have very little sympathy for those who suspect or are suspicious but do nothing to clarify their suspicions.
Personally, within the past two years on our block, I have been held up at gunpoint by a teenager who most likely hasn’t had his first shave, had my house burglarized and lived in while I was on vacation (yes, I have an alarm system and that’s another story), had a motor vehicle stolen and totaled and also witnessed on my block alone, at least four shed burglaries, all the first floor screen windows destroyed on another house in an attempt at entry I assume, and this recent vandalism of a minimum of three automobile windshield.
A number of my immediate neighbors have admitted that upon hindsight, they may have realized there was something out of the ordinary happening at my house while it was being burglarized, but failed to investigate or notify the police. What is you’re problem people?
Be conscious of your surroundings. Question the strange sounds going on outside your own home. Don’t be afraid to call 911. Turn on your lights. You are not stereotyping by being curious by a group of people walking though our neighborhood. Be vigilant, or you will lose me as a neighbor, and I assure you, you want me as a neighbor and not the vandals walking though and destroying our property.
Delores McQuinn and Cynthia Newbille, I am a voting citizen, so please assuage my concerns or lose my support. I am very tired, beat down and not certain I want to live in your district any longer.
Id also like to point out that, while I deeply sympathize with your recent problem, I live on your block and as far as I can tell ive have never met you. I only know 2 neighbors on our block by name. My point being – maybe we need a little more solidarity and a little less isolation? Most of us are new here, but not that new. We should have a block party or *something* so we can know who the hell our neighbors are. How can you have someones back if you don’t even know them?
Hopefully as it starts to warm up more of us will be outside get to know our neighbors. I’m out walking on a regular basis. I take the bus several times a week. I’ve got my eyes open all the time and have no problem alerting police. I hope we can look out for one another as it should be.
Mallory – About three maybe four years ago my wife and I organized an 800 block 27th St block party along with many of our neighbors and the RPD. These things take a lot of effort but are well worth the time spent. I’m sorry we did not attempt to continue the tradition. Perhaps we can both work on organizing another block party. You don’t need to watch my back. My point was to convince people that they need to at least watch their own back. Turn on all your outside lights. Investigate noise please. Call the police if you don’t know what going on.
Mallory,
Why do you have to know someone to have their back? im not sure I understand your solidarity and isolation comments either? Can you clarify?
@Tim
I am a little confused by your post; it’s a little all over the place.
So you walked the 800 block this weekend, in which you saw a lot of foot traffic, but no crimes.
It appears you have been the victim of lots of crime and you are a little upset at your neighbors, but as you stated “people that live here chose to”.
Why in your second post did you tell Mallory that “You don’t need to watch my back”? I thought that was the whole thing you were complaining about in your initial post??
So should people have hindsight (the understanding of an event only after it has happened?)
OR
Should people only watch their “own back” and their own property?
I am absolutely confused by your stance and thoughts on this whole crime issue in the hill.
So what can McQuinn and Newbille do about your problem? Make your neighbors get to know each other and “look out” for each other?
From the emailed agenda for the next MPACT meeting: “Councilwoman Newbille will discuss Public Safety…” /2015/01/15/next-capsmpact-meeting-set-for-january-28_39770/
Block parties aren’t that hard and a great way to socialize and meet neighbors and gain a vested interest in everyone’s properties on the block. In the 500 block we do Happy hour pretty much every Friday when it is nice out and invite walking neighbors to attend as well. Everyone brings their drinks and a food item usually and its in front of a different persons home every week. It has been a great experience for the 500 block of 27th as we all now know each other and each others vehicles, so that when someone we don’t know is lurking around a home/vehicle we call them or the police immediately. I am not saying it is foolproof, but it has decreased crime on our block somewhat in my opinion. My husband or I get calls a lot too of people “cutting” through our yard by neighbors who also then go and check it out. We keep our porch lights on constantly as well, and always call the police if we think there is a problem.
From a reader on the 2700 block of Broad Street: