ANOTHER MUGGING

Guys, I hope to get back to the normal watch report format with the next report. I wanted to get this info out to you on an assault that occurred on Friday. 1) 2:50pm, Friday, 17 Oct 08-Our watch folks reported an assault (see below). If you have any information, please call the police 911 or 410-222-8610. Please let me know too. We want to let the bad guys know this will not be tolerated in our communities. "Today at about 2:50 pm (a young man) was assaulted by three black youths, he was attacked at Fairbanks Drive and Boulder Court." "Two guys were wearing black hoodies and one guy was wearing a red hoodie." "(The police were called) however (the attackers) had cleared the area before the police got here." "Thankfully (the young man) only sustained minor injury; however it could have been much worse. (The young man) did not recognize them as being residents in the area, ......." "If they are not from the area, they maybe hiding out in the lake area, so people should be careful." 2) 8:00am, Thurs, 16 Oct 08-One of our watch folks reported seeing 5 police cars in the Gesna Drive/Fairbanks Drive area. I don't have any information on this event, but I will let you know as soon as I do. 3) Surveillance Cameras in Russett Community-You may recall that back when we were fighting the panhandlers in the Arundel Mills Mall area, I met Tim Reyburn and some other folks from the Russett Community. They were also fighting panhandlers in their area. We are lucky to have folks like Tim who spend so much of their free time (did I say free time?!) working hard to make our communities better and safer places to live. Since our battles in Annapolis with the successful elimination of panhandling in Anne Arundel County, Tim and I have shared information. Tim is the overall President of Russett Association, which has a bunch of smaller associations under it, for the entire Russett Community. Tim is basically the mayor of a town of some 13,000 people! Russett has gotten fed up with the normal crimes all communities face (vandalism, graffiti, car break ins, etc.) by setting up surveillance cameras. They have done some pretty neat stuff using infrared and regular surveillance cameras, and are going to install more cameras. I really believe this is a great tool to give our hard working residents in all our communities a "level playing field" against crime. I know some folks have a problem with camera surveillance. Many of our grandparents and great grandparents fled countries in Europe and elsewhere to come to America to be free of tyranny and religious persecution. I understand that point. However, when crime gets to the point where our residents have to put up with assaults and crimes against property, then it is time to take whatever "legal means" we have at our disposal to fight crime. Baltimore has been very successful setting up surveillance cameras in problem areas of Baltimore City. They even make it clear they are there with a bright blue light. These cameras in Baltimore have greatly reduced violent crime. I love it when a stupid criminal still commits a crime in camera range. That's getting your money's worth! Technology has really been important in our crime fight. Everyone has cell phones to report crimes as they see them. Neighborhood watches and community newsletters are thriving with e-mail communications which are much faster and more convenient than the old conventional ways. Besides that, e-mail is very interactive. I know when a particular watch report has made a point by the number of e-mail responses I get back from you. It gives you a voice, particularly since Captain Flemings and all are elected officials in our area receive these watch reports. The next step is to refine the use of surveillance cameras to protect hard working Americans and their families.