A crime spree of sorts in PB has residents wondering why and brainstorming as to what they can do about it.
Hardly a day has gone by recently when there hasn’t been, among the daily reports of lost dogs or stray cats on Nextdoor.com, a recounting of some criminal activity in the area.
Such was the case with David Daum from River Sail Bay.
“I’m new to the area and amazed at all the crime here,” said Daum. “In just one week, there has been reported numerous home invasions, car thefts, assaults and robberies.
“To top it off, my next-door neighbor got his car stolen and was notified that gangs of youths troll the neighborhood during late-night hours, breaking into cars and homes,” Daum said. “This is like a scene out of ‘Clockwork Orange.’ It is obvious to me that most of these criminals never get caught, otherwise they wouldn’t keep doing it.”
While noting citizens “can only do so much on their own,” Daum asked, “Are there any suggestions or ideas to slow this insanity down and lead to a little safer neighborhood we have all chosen to live in?”
Art Morris of PB North Shore Highlands offered a suggestion.
“The best way to fight back is to talk to your neighbors,” he wrote on Nextdoor.com. “Let them know we are being targeted.”
Morris noted it’s surprising how many people “just live their lives and have no idea about what’s really going on — until they are victimized.
“Try to get everyone you can to watch your back and let them know you will watch theirs,” said Morris, adding, “Don’t be shy about calling the cops.”
Marcela Teran from PB Southwest suggested her neighbors attend the 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 Pacific Beach Town Council meeting at Crown Point Elementary School, to tell new District 2 Councilwoman Lorie Zapf, who will be there, about growing beach crime problems.
Cynthia Rey of North Shore Highlands urged citizens concerned about crime to consider joining RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol), whose members patrol La Jolla, PB and Mission Beach.
“We need all the help we can get to protect our community,” said Rey. “It’s very rewarding and?interesting.”
There are the usual, and the unusual, crime circumstances, like the one pointed out by Nicholas Califf of Crown Point North, who reported his security cameras recently “caught a young male smearing blood on our vehicle, parked in a well-lit driveway. Blood was found on the back of the vehicle, the hood and in the shed in the backyard.”
The “Why here?” question was addressed — and perhaps answered — by longtime PB resident Paula Ferraco. She believes the most recent crime element in PB may have been displaced from elsewhere.
“Other neighborhoods are ‘tightening down’ on undesirables, etc. and moving them out of other areas, forcing them into PB, where there are lots of places to hide/camp out: untrimmed bushes in the Rose Creek area; parking for campers.”
Ferraco noted access and egress into and out of PB is “completely unrestricted.”
“Coronado has a bridge,” Ferraco said. “In PB, criminals can commit their crimes and easily exit.”
Ferraco suggested that tough economic times produce more desperate people who, as always, are seeking easy “marks” while pursuing crimes of opportunity. Such crimes involve things like breaking into vehicles with valuable items exposed, or breaking into homes, which are left unattended or unlocked.
“Alleys are routinely ‘prowled’ and blue recycling bins raided for cans and bottles (recycling),” Ferraco noted adding, “There is no enforcement for these petty crimes, no punishment.”
Ferraco said she subscribes to the “broken window” theory of crime.
“If you leave a broken window unrepaired, then the next crime is (vandalism, arson, you fill in the blank),” she said. “Take care of the little crimes and the bigger ones will be avoided.”
Det. John Smith of the San Diego Police Robbery Unit offered this tip on how residents can protect themselves from door-to-door solicitors, some of whom may be criminals casing the neighborhood.
“In San Diego, these solicitors are required to have a business tax certificate and a solicitor’s identification card,” Smith said, pointing out soliciting is not allowed between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m.
“It is also not permitted where ‘No Soliciting’ signs are present,” noted Smith adding, “If a company is legitimate, they will gladly show you their paperwork. If you get the candy, magazine, solar, or alarm sales folks coming around, the worry is they may be casing a property with mal-intent.”
Anyone suspecting someone of soliciting illegally, or casing a property or acting suspiciously, is urged to call the non-emergency police line, (619) 531-2000.