February Crime Report
By LT. JIM COLE
Week of February 23
Although we have another great week with no home burglaries and no UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles), we can’t let this give us a false sense of security. The burglars are out there. However, I do believe if we all work together we can keep our thefts down and our city the safest city around.
Below is a summary of miscellaneous incidents:
A hit and run accident occurred on U.S. 280. An individual stopped for a traffic light and her vehicle was struck from the rear. There was no damage and the driver of the rear vehicle left the scene before the police arrived.
We took a report when a wife called the police about an argument with her husband. No police action was necessary.
We had a case of criminal mischief on West Montcrest Drive. A mailbox was destroyed when someone hit it with a large stone.
We had a domestic violence incident when a wife called the police after she and her husband got into a physical altercation. The husband has a medical condition, and the wife stated that this condition contributes to his heightened emotions. There were no injuries and considering the situation no arrest was made.
An 8-year-old child was bitten by a Labrador Retriever after he chased a ball into a neighbor’s yard.
A case that started out as a harassing communication case progressed into a stalking case. The suspect sent obscene and alarming text messages to the victim. He has been arrested and has a $150,000 bond.
A report was made when a man hacked into the email account and iPhone of a woman acquaintance.
We received a criminal mischief call at one of our country clubs. A glass door was shattered, and the offense appears to have been committed by children.
A watch was stolen from a jewelry store when the suspect ordered a watch using a stolen credit card number.
Week of February 16
Another great week with no home burglaries and no UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles).
In the past eight weeks we have experienced two home burglaries as compared to 16 during the same period last year.
In 2009 from January 1 to February 16 we experienced 10 home burglaries. I was unable to go back two weeks before that to get the 8 week total.
In the past eight weeks we have experienced 7 UBEVs as compared to 28 during the same period last year.
In 2009 I was only able to go back for the three-week period from January 24 to February 16, but we had 19 UBEVs during that three-week period.
It is obvious that we are experiencing only a fraction of the crime we have experienced in past year.
Below is a summary of miscellaneous incidents:
A hit and run accident occurred on U.S. 280. An individual stopped for the traffic light and was struck from the rear. Both drivers exited their vehicles and agreed to pull to the side of the highway, but the at fault driver decided to flee the scene. We have a tag number and we are confident that we will apprehend the offender.
An ex wife (the couple has been divorced for several years) continues to make harassing text messages to her ex husband and his wife. A warrant could be issued.
There was theft of jewelry from a residence on Kingshill Road. This theft occurred during the past five months.
We had a case of criminal mischief on Cahaba Road. The driver of a vehicle recklessly ran off the road and damaged the victim’s yard and shrubbery. The victim was unable to get a tag number.
A student at the high school was arrested for having two pain pills in his possession. Any illegal possession of these pills in Alabama is a felony.
Week of February 9
A great week with no home burglaries and no UBEVs (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles).
In the past eight weeks we have experienced two home burglaries as compared to 12 during the same period last year.
In the past eight weeks we have experienced 6 UBEVs as compared to 19 during the same period last year.
I know that other cities haven’t been as fortunate lately. I believe the thieves are going to places where there are fewer alarms and the citizens are less vigilant.
Below is a summary of miscellaneous incidents:
We had an identity theft case where the thieves were trying to charge items to the victim. They were attempting to use her identity in Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Zale’s in California .
Our patrol division was called after a father took his daughter’s cell phone from her after she refused to obey him. The ex wife called the police after the father forcibly took the 12-year-old child’s cell phone. This was not a police matter and no police action was necessary.
A woman met a man on facebook, and made a date to meet him for lunch. After dining together, the man realized that the woman was not interested. He drove away and began making obscene and profane text messages to her. A report was taken and a warrant could be issued for harassing communications.
An unidentified male has been calling a woman on her cell phone telling her that he loves her. His number is blocked, so she has been unable to determine who he is. We took a report and will subpoena his phone service to determine his identity.
A woman discovered that she had been the victim of identity theft when an unknown thief opened an account in her name in Chicago. The thief charged over $1500 worth of merchandise in her name.
Another case of identity theft was reported when a thief used a man’s social security number to file a false income tax return.
We had a couple of domestic calls that involved husbands and wives in arguments. In both cases there was no violence and no police action was necessary.