by Bruce Nadig
This month's crime report will have a couple
of themes. First: if crimes and other suspicious activity are not reported
to the Austin Police Department, then APD and the city can't do anything
to better the situation. The second theme: if you don't want it stolen,
don't make it easy to steal. There are several crime issues this month
that revolve around these themes. Addressing these two ideas can do a lot
to improve your quality of life.
As many of you may be aware, there have been numerous reports of a suspicious man driving through Hyde Park in the mornings. He is described as a 22 year-old African-American male, 5'10", 154 pounds, with a muscular build. He has been seen driving both a white Ford Explorer (license plate: B41-NCZ), and a white or gray 1976 Buick Skylark (license plate: K59-VKK). This man has been seen following women who are out in the morning, usually between 6:30am and 8:00am, walking or jogging through the neighborhood. On several occasions he has turned his car around to follow women. He has been known to roll down his window and ask for directions. When the women approach his car he exposes himself.
Officer Andrew Dixon of the Austin Police Department said that only about half of the known incidents have been reported to the police. Reporting such activity is very important.
APD statisticians use the reported information to predict when and where this type of activity may take place. The more information they have to work with the better.
Although APD already has quite a bit of information on this suspect, the more information they have the better. If you see this man or any other similarly suspicious activity, APD recommends you do the following:
- Do not approach the suspect,
- Change the direction you are walking/jogging to determine if you are being followed,
- Make eye contact with the suspect (this puts you in a position of power),
- Go to a business or home of a friend or neighbor and call 911 immediately. When you are out exercising you should be aware of your surroundings and avoid wearing headphones. Tell someone where you are going and when you will return. If you feel that you are in danger, APD recommends that you yell, "Fire!" This will draw the most attention to you and will be your best way to summon help.
The week of September 2, 2002, a cat was shot with a BB gun in the area of Avenue A and 40th Street. Initially the cat's owner did not report this to the police. It wasn't until after the cat died and she contacted me that she called the police. APD has a newly established animal cruelty unit to address crimes such as this. But, once again, the police can't do anything about the situation unless it has been reported to them. If you have any information on this incident, please call APD at 311 and make a report.
