Crime Report
...cont'd from page 2
Do you have any credit cards or charge cards in your car right now? Do you have any gasoline charge cards in your car right now? How long would it take to cancel those cards and how inconvenient would it be for you if those cards were stolen?
Do you have any CDs in your car right now? If so, how many? Add up the replacement cost of all those CDs. Is that more than you want to have stolen from you right now?
Does your car stereo have a removable faceplate or other theft deterrent feature? If so, did you leave the faceplate on the stereo or somewhere else inside the car?
Did you leave a laptop computer, pager, or cell phone in the car? Have you done this at least once this week? How inconvenient would it be for you if you had to replace that item? How much money would replacement cost?
So, you say that you have insurance to cover your losses? What is your deductible? Is it $250? Is it $500? Is it more?
The answers you give for these questions should give you an indication as to whether you are doing what you can to protect your property. Now think about your home and place of work. Are you doing whatever you can to protect your valuables in those places also?
On another note, we have one report that shows how important it is to constantly be aware of your own personal safety. On Sunday, January 4, 2004, at 1:15pm, a female neighborhood resident was walking on in the 4700 block of Duval. She heard running behind her. She turned to see that there was a man running toward her on the sidewalk. Strangely, he was holding a set of keys in his mouth. He was dressed in a yellow t-shirt, loose pants, and flip-flops.
Thinking that he was a jogger the woman stepped into the grass to allow him to pass. About that time, he dropped the keys from his mouth and bent over to pick them up. As he did so he grabbed the woman. She immediately began to scream loudly. Fortunately, her screams scared him away. He turned the corner onto 47th and then ran south on Avenue H. He was seen by several different witnesses. From there it is not known where he went.
The woman that this happened to was in exercise clothes, so she did not have a purse with her. It would seem that robbery was not a motive for this attack.
The man was described as standing 5 ft. 8 in. tall with a slight build, and dark, close cut hair. He appeared to be perhaps in his mid-20s. Several independent witnesses said that he appeared to be Arab. He had a mole on his left cheek.
The woman reported this incident to police. If you have any information about this matter, please contact the Austin Police Department immediately.
Remember, your personal safety begins with you. At all times you should be aware of your surroundings. It is troubling that this happened in the middle of the day on such a busy street. Perhaps, however, that is also fortunate.
| -- | Bruce Nadig Crime and Safety Committee motorbruce@hotmail.com |
