Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 8:50 PM
Subject: Marlboro Estate Neighborhood Crime Alert
Dear Neighbors,
I wanted to make you aware an attempted break-in that occurred at our home on Saturday September 1, 2007 at 4:00 pm. Attached is information on the incident that occurred at our home and other information that you might find informative.
______________________________________________________________________
Neighborhood Break-in Attempted
On Saturday September 1, 2007 at approximately 4:00 pm a young man attempted to break into our home at 4022 Ellicott Street in Alexandria, VA. Fortunately we were home, managed to interrupt his plans and get him to leave our property.
The attempted break-in took place yesterday afternoon. The man entered the back of our property, through our gate, and was seen as he walked across our deck. He first looked into our kitchen windows and then tried to open one of our back doors. Fortunately Deborah and I were home, saw him and confronted him. When asked what he was doing he mumbled something about “looking for Ron”. He calmly and quickly left our property through the back gate and walked into Ft. Ward Park moving in the direction of the foot bridge that leads to the children’s play area and the picnic grounds.
The man was an African-American male approximately 19 to 22 years old. He was 5’6” to 5’8” tall, solidly built and weighed about 185-195 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt, pants and do-rag (a piece of cloth) on his head.
We called the Alexandria Police Department and they responded within 15 minutes. The two police officers took a report, case # 07-143130, and searched the park for the man. At this time we do not believe they have found him.
Officer Oliver Dunn of the police department indicated that these types of daylight break-ins are the most common. He said that criminals like to break into homes during the day, especially during weekdays when many people are working.
__________________________________________________________
I learned on Sunday from talking with neighbors that there may have been another attempted break-in nearby over the weekend.
Sunday while I was placing two padlocks on our rear gate I noticed that there were two young men smoking marijuana near the overgrown memorial garden near the corner of the park next to our property and the Oakland Baptist Church cemetary. The unkept condition of that part of Ft. Ward Park seems to attract bad behavior and contributes to inappropriate activities. Drug use and sexual activities are not unusual occurances in this area.
In response to these events I contacted the Alexandria Police Department and the Mayor and City Council. I asked the Mayor and the City Council to: 1) Continue to make fighting this type of crime a priority in our city and neighborhood; 2) Increase police or park ranger patrols in the Ft. Ward Park area; and 3) improve the maintenance of Ft. Ward Park in the area adjacent to the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery and the memorial for a city worker.
As of today I have heard from Mayor Eullie who indicates "Fighting crime in our City is a top priority of mine, and we are committed to a policy of zero tolerance."
I have also heard from Councilman Justin Wilson who said he would contact theCity Parks and Recreation Department and see if they will do a better job of maintaining the portion of Fort Ward Park adjacent to our properties and provide periodic patrols so that the park doesn't contribute to the events of this past weekend.
I also heard from Councilman Ludwig Gaines who indicated that if any of us would like to have the Alexandria Police conduct a home assessment - pointing out how best to deter such criminals and prevent break-ins - he would gladly set it up.
I’m sorry to share this news with you but my wife and I were stunned when this happened to us and worried about other families that border, or are nearby to, Ft. Ward Park.
If you would like to talk about how we might organize ourselves to work more effectively with the City Council and the Police and Parks Departments please contact me at 703-845-8947 or by e-mail at: glenn_eugster@comcast.net
Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
Subject: Marlboro Estate Neighborhood Crime Alert
Dear Neighbors,
I wanted to make you aware an attempted break-in that occurred at our home on Saturday September 1, 2007 at 4:00 pm. Attached is information on the incident that occurred at our home and other information that you might find informative.
______________________________________________________________________
Neighborhood Break-in Attempted
On Saturday September 1, 2007 at approximately 4:00 pm a young man attempted to break into our home at 4022 Ellicott Street in Alexandria, VA. Fortunately we were home, managed to interrupt his plans and get him to leave our property.
The attempted break-in took place yesterday afternoon. The man entered the back of our property, through our gate, and was seen as he walked across our deck. He first looked into our kitchen windows and then tried to open one of our back doors. Fortunately Deborah and I were home, saw him and confronted him. When asked what he was doing he mumbled something about “looking for Ron”. He calmly and quickly left our property through the back gate and walked into Ft. Ward Park moving in the direction of the foot bridge that leads to the children’s play area and the picnic grounds.
The man was an African-American male approximately 19 to 22 years old. He was 5’6” to 5’8” tall, solidly built and weighed about 185-195 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt, pants and do-rag (a piece of cloth) on his head.
We called the Alexandria Police Department and they responded within 15 minutes. The two police officers took a report, case # 07-143130, and searched the park for the man. At this time we do not believe they have found him.
Officer Oliver Dunn of the police department indicated that these types of daylight break-ins are the most common. He said that criminals like to break into homes during the day, especially during weekdays when many people are working.
__________________________________________________________
I learned on Sunday from talking with neighbors that there may have been another attempted break-in nearby over the weekend.
Sunday while I was placing two padlocks on our rear gate I noticed that there were two young men smoking marijuana near the overgrown memorial garden near the corner of the park next to our property and the Oakland Baptist Church cemetary. The unkept condition of that part of Ft. Ward Park seems to attract bad behavior and contributes to inappropriate activities. Drug use and sexual activities are not unusual occurances in this area.
In response to these events I contacted the Alexandria Police Department and the Mayor and City Council. I asked the Mayor and the City Council to: 1) Continue to make fighting this type of crime a priority in our city and neighborhood; 2) Increase police or park ranger patrols in the Ft. Ward Park area; and 3) improve the maintenance of Ft. Ward Park in the area adjacent to the Oakland Baptist Church cemetery and the memorial for a city worker.
As of today I have heard from Mayor Eullie who indicates "Fighting crime in our City is a top priority of mine, and we are committed to a policy of zero tolerance."
I have also heard from Councilman Justin Wilson who said he would contact theCity Parks and Recreation Department and see if they will do a better job of maintaining the portion of Fort Ward Park adjacent to our properties and provide periodic patrols so that the park doesn't contribute to the events of this past weekend.
I also heard from Councilman Ludwig Gaines who indicated that if any of us would like to have the Alexandria Police conduct a home assessment - pointing out how best to deter such criminals and prevent break-ins - he would gladly set it up.
I’m sorry to share this news with you but my wife and I were stunned when this happened to us and worried about other families that border, or are nearby to, Ft. Ward Park.
If you would like to talk about how we might organize ourselves to work more effectively with the City Council and the Police and Parks Departments please contact me at 703-845-8947 or by e-mail at: glenn_eugster@comcast.net
Glenn Eugster
4022 Ellicott Street
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