Bikes, garages, & sexual predators?

It's important to remember that this was a relative, not a stranger danger situation. You won't catch a sexual predator with a general traffic sweep. You can argue that the cops have better things to do than monitor vehicle stickers, but this is unrelated to the issue of rape and gender related crimes IMO. You dilute the impact of the point you are trying to make by attempting to connect the two. 

Um, very? That's what the few reported data on incest and sex crimes of minors say, anyway. Regardless, was the crime committed at the park or was the suspect merely apprehended there? If it is the former you have an argument that closer monitoring is needed, but only if. I can't find the blotter online. 

The opposite conclusion being that sexual predators mostly find victims they don't know? Or that sexual predators start with relatives before branching out? 

Number6 wrote: The opposite conclusion being that sexual predators mostly find victims they don't know? Or that sexual predators start with relatives before branching out?  Advocates for Youth is an outstanding organization doing something unpopular.

Not exactly the "take away" I intended, but what the heck. You said it wasn't a stranger danger situation, yet to the NEIGHBORS, and their kids it's a familiar face. So while the statistics point to someone they "know", which would include relatives, it's also a broad umbrella.

I trust your judgement concerning Advocates for Youth and I certainly don't envy their task. The link you provided was written in 1995 citing sources from the 80s. Much has changed since then. We are, arguably, a more transient society that's under many more stresses than the 1990s.
Whether that's perception or reality is somewhat beside the point when it comes to feeling safe. People are looking for reassurance. That should not require an individual, private one-on-one phone call to authorities, it should be widely broadcast. It should be visible to them as they move around town.

From a chamber of commerce POV, I can understand wanting to downplay any single incident as random and isolated, but from a living in a community POV, information is vital to make informed choices and decisions. If we're not being told about a potential threat living nearby, what else aren't we being told?

I'd like to consider the FP Review a reflection of the reality in town and sensitive to the residents they rely on for their readership; as opposed to a filter and kleig light model. Increasingly, there seems to be confusion regarding our community priorities on a "need to know" basis.

IMO, we're caught in the middle of a plethora of petty squabbles that seem to stem from control issues. It's all factions and wedges and sides and angles that are detrimental to small town charm.

Number6 wrote: As far as the bike theft editorial goes, perhaps I'm their target audience as I never would consider leaving a bike unattended - front yard especially. Nor do I keep my doors unlocked or windows wide open. That's just not realistic in high density areas where you cannot know everyone. That's not saying anyone deserves to have something stolen - at all. But I am saying I wouldn't be very surprised.

I am in the same boat as you on this one #6.

I remember having my 3 speed bike stolen way back in the 60's in 'safe' Riverside. At the same time they also took my friend's brand new Schwinn 5 speed. We left them unlocked, albeit for only a minute, and woosh, they were gone.

Learned early on from that experience to NEVER leave a bike unlocked no matter where I am.

I also don't leave my doors or windows unlocked and also lock my back gate.

And no, no one deserves to have their stuff stolen. But there are plenty of bad/desperate people out there. And as long as we have people in town that don't have and figure they should have stuff, they will take ours if it's available.

Number6 wrote: Watcher: correct. It was lazy of me to not check the date of compilation of the info. And this is officially a thread-jacking which I take full responsibility for. I doubt very much that things have shifted since the 80s going by our society's treatment of gender and sex crimes. More stats, admittedly from a group that has a dog in this fight: - just linked to point out how awesome this family is that actually reported this crime. Kudos! 2/3 of offenders know the victims. I agree that regular police presence probably prevents crimes. I'm arguing that crimes like incest won't be prevented by more police, which you are suggesting above. The crime was not committed at the park, he was arrested there. It's not like a known pick up spot. Right? AllI'mSayin'Is you have a cleaner argument if you remove it IMO. As far as the bike theft editorial goes, perhaps I'm their target audience as I never would consider leaving a bike unattended - front yard especially. Nor do I keep my doors unlocked or windows wide open. That's just not realistic in high density areas where you cannot know everyone. That's not saying anyone deserves to have something stolen - at all. But I am saying I wouldn't be very surprised.

Reporting, classification, disposition have all changed since the 80s.
When it comes to numbers, I tend to assume they are guesstimates at best unless the methodology is bullet-proof.

Two-thirds of offenders KNOW the victim. That certainly covers a large swath. Not to get all Joe Pesci on ya, but... they know HOW? Know like in the biblical sense? Saw their picture on the internet? Shopped at the same grocery store? Ate at the same McDonalds? Rode the same bus?
Met at a mixer? A baseball game? andonandon.

You're too young (wink) to remember our "Take a Child Fishing" program or the Billionaire Boys Club... maybe the HS has some info?
So I applaud efforts to bring attention to people's plights and remove the stigmas associated with victims, especially minors.

Yes, this topic is officially jacked. Your habits and fears aside, we all like to think we, our loved ones and our belongings are safe and secure. That's not naive, it's a choice to not live in constant fear, because there's surely enough boogeymen out there without looking for new ones.

For various reasons, the south side has seen a marked increase in foot traffic. At the same time there's been a marked decrease in the quality of same. Those living in the path deal with more litter, less civility and both of those work to increase "fear". Real or perceived. The level of porch and stoop sitting has dropped even further with increased channels of "Must See TV". Nearly every nightmare on the nightly news is conveyed with the implication that THIS could happen to YOU! The present economy (or lack thereof) has changed our streets. Geez, it's a wonder everybody isn't hunkering in a bunker.

I understand that the police can't be everywhere and random is random. But again, where (and when) are the priorities?

watcher wrote: That's not naive, it's a choice to not live in constant fear, because there's surely enough boogeymen out there without looking for new ones. ... At the same time there's been a marked decrease in the quality of same. Those living in the path deal with more litter, less civility and both of those work to increase "fear". Real or perceived. The level of porch and stoop sitting has dropped even further with increased channels of "Must See TV". Nearly every nightmare on the nightly news is conveyed with the implication that THIS could happen to YOU! The present economy (or lack thereof) has changed our streets. Geez, it's a wonder everybody isn't hunkering in a bunker. I understand that the police can't be everywhere and random is random. But again, where (and when) are the priorities?

I'm with you, kid, but not quite sure the economy has changed our streets. What do you believe police priorities should be?

watcher wrote: Where does making sure 9 year-olds can ride their new bikes around their neighborhood rank?

Where should it rank? We've had bikes stolen through out the yrs, have even had a stroller taken, stuff missing from the garage. Sad to say, it happens, need to take some responsibility for not taking enough precautions. Don't believe the police could have prevented the thefts, just not reasonable.

watcher wrote: I'm not interested in going in the usual, well-worn circles.

Then why respond? What could the police have done to prevent that particular theft? If you'd read my post, instead of looking for a fight, I didn't post the streets haven't changed just not sure the economy is the reason why. There are a multitude of reasons why things have changed, will not participate in chasing my own tail.

Edited by logic - 20/April/2012 at 8:41am

Bikes have been stolen in broad daylight at least as long as since I was a kid back in the early 60's. Had my almost new 3 speed taken in Riverside. My friend's new 5 speed Schwinn was also taken.

We didn't lock them; even though we only left them for a couple of minutes.

Unattended bikes will be taken. Wherever you are!

And doesn't all information have to come from Calderone, the great and powerful Oz?

Wow, looks like one of our neighbors to the west is having a worse bout of robberies than we do! These are person to person and targeting youngsters. Not good.

Brookfield robberies