Town Watch Reports, 2005
by Betty O'Regan, Town Watch Coordinator for the villages of Ardencroft, Ardentown, and Arden.
October, 2005
Police
have visited Arden several
times this month. At one point, we had experienced
9 break-ins in 8 days with 5 of those occurring
at the Gild Hall. In addition, the Candlelight
Theatre continues to exerience problems.
- Drug paraphernalia was found on the stage in the beer garden, bus stop window broken on Oct. 1
- Beginning the week of Oct 2 the Gild Hall experienced a series of break-ins including vandalism. If you are out walking (at any time, day or night) please include a complete circuit around the Gild Hall and pool area and report any suspicious activity to the NCC police 573-2800
- Car and truck broken into, tools stolen, tool box recovered
- Golf cart and clubs stolen, cart recovered on Oct. 11
- A prowler with a flashlight was seen on Oct 17 at 7:10 a.m. at the intersection of Woodland and Millers Rds. Website for sex offenders residing or working in this area www.state,de.us/cgi-bin/sexoff
- The homeless man, who had been living under the Harvey Rd. underpass and was arrested last month, was seen again in the area (walking toward Claymont).
September, 2005
- There has been a lot of unpleasant activity in the Ardens over the summer. Fortunately, things seem to be calming down at this point. In early Sept, two vagrants were arrested, one in the woods by the Montessori School and one under the Harvey Rd. bridge by the RR tracks. Hopefully, when released, they will move away from this area. The most recent vandalism, occurring to a series of mailboxes on Cherry Lane, was witnessed by a dog-walker who recorded and reported a license tag number to the police. Loitering teens are being identified and sometimes disbanded. Missing property (bikes, a computer, mailboxes) are being found and returned to their owners. The police are being notified when trouble occurs. Please be aware that the police will only take a report from the victim and/or witness, not the town watch coordinator. The town watch coordinator only keeps the records. To volunteer call: Betty O’Regan 529-1260.
- Late-night and early-morning patrols continue, although it is becoming difficult again to recruit volunteers for even the ordinary times. Consider walking all or part of a patrol while the weather is still nice. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN DEDUCT YOUR TOWN WATCH PATROL MILEAGE FROM YOUR TAXES? Measure your next route yourself or take one of our volunteer’s figure: 16 miles.
August, 2005
- This summer there has been an unusually high frquency of problems occurring in the Ardens. In addition, some are of a serious nature (involving property damage) and are beyond public nuisance issues.
- Examples of some of the incidences that habe been reported over the summer include: frequent break-ins at Gild Hall and Candlelight Dinner Theatre, beer and liquor stolen, graffiti on fences, public buildings and greens, destruction (including arson)of mailboxes, signs and town bulletin boards, barricades in roadways, many tools, lawn equipment, and bikes stolen, lights and windows smashed, tires slashed, disorderly conduct, drinking in Memorial Garden, Indian Circle, and on Pond Lamn Bridge and last, but not least , vagrants living in the woods by the RR tracks under the Harvey Rd. overpass and on the path in the woods in Ardencroft!
- The town watch patrols have been increased and many of these watches have been during the early morning hours, since these crimes often occur between 1:30 and 4:30 a.m.. However, more volunteers are needed, especially those who are able to do late night shifts.
- In addition to the previous general report, there are a few other areas where caution is suggested.
- A teen couple encountered a voyeur near Indian Circle who observed them from close proximity before being discovered. He is described as being about 50 years old with gray hair and a heavy build. You may want to check the website for sex offenders in this area. www.state,de.us/cgi-bin/sexoff.
- In mid-july it was reported that bedclothes and men’s clothing were hanging from the trees and voices were coming from under the Harvey Road Bridge between I-95 and the Montessori School. Apparently there have been groups of vagrants living bythe railroad tracks off and on since May. Most alarming is that one of the men had pulled a pistol on neighbor walking his dogs on the tracks. The police have been involved on several occasions and have made at least one arrest. One man had slit his writst in a recent suicide attempt and was remove by ambulance, but has sice returned to the site, In addition, the police have contacted CSX railroad and informed them of the situation. Steve Cohen will try to get them involved with continuing to clean up this problem.At a different location, another homeless man had set up a campsite complete with a bike prescription drugs, and paraphernalia for using heroin, this person was seen sleeping in a lounge chair in the woods of Ardencroft near the Montessori School. He is described as having dark skin and closely cropped dark hair. The police were escorted to his campsite.
June, 2005
- street signs uprooted in Ardentown
- shed in Ardentown broken into and power tools stolen
- bike stolen from porch in Ardencroft
- 2 garages entered and items stolen in Ardencroft
- snowblower and lawnmower stolen from yard in Arden
- mailboxes vandalized in Arden and Ardentown
- indications of drinking on Pond Lane bridge, Gild Hall parking lot, and Indian Circle
- large gatherings of teens on greens, Candlelight, Gild Hall parking lot (some are not recognized as Arden kids). Police are being called in some cases.
Jan, Feb. 2005
Unfortunately, there
has been alot of activity, some of it involving
serious destruction of propery, during
what are usually quiet months.
I would like to increase the number of patrols
for March. Please call if you are willing or
able to help or say "yes" when I
call you! Betty 529-1269
- 3 tires slashed (same car) on Swiss Lane during the first week of the year.
- Orchard Rd. street sign down
- 5 mailboxes damaged on Orchard Rd. before 8:00pm Sunday night 2/20
- graffiti on stop sign at Walnut and Millers Rd.
- 5 mailboxes on Pond Lane damaged 2:00 a.m. Mon. 2/21 (no school that day)
- graffiti on exterior of BWVC and shed 2/19
- fence trampled 2/21
Betty O'Regan
Town Watch Coordinator
529-1269
.