Southwest Lansing (MI) and my neighborhood

Lansing (MI) Police Department Officer Jason Bock praised Averill Woods neighbors and others on the southside for calling police when they see unknown and suspicious people at neighbors’ homes.

Bock, who is the assigned officer to the Averill Woods neighborhood, said aware southside neighbors played a significant role in the capture of nine sets of young burglars in recent days, including a home on South Deerfield where thieves were caught with various pieces of electronic equipment.

LPD officer Jason Bock gives his monthly report to the Averill Woods Neighborhood Association. He talked about an increase in the number of breaking and enterings.

Highlights of his comments:

• Compared to past months in the Averill Woods neighborhood and the south side, he said, the area has been “getting hammered” with breaking and enterings.
• But, the thieves have been getting caught because of neighbors keeping watch for each other and calling 911 when they see something suspicious.  About when to call, he said, “Call all.  Think the worst.”
• Many of the burglars are teens who look like school kids with backpacks.  Two or three will come to a house with one acting as a lookout, another knocking on the front door while another goes through the back.  Often the stolen property will be hidden in the backpack.
• Recent experience has shown that many break-ins occur between the time when residents leave for work and when they come home.
• The biggest point of entry for burglars has been hidden back doors.
• Officer Bock said that LPD officers have been given permission from their commanders to work overtime to protect our area, find perpetrators and prevent additional break-ins.
• He also said there has been an increase in the number of calls for domestic problems.  Many times, Officer Bock added problems can be avoided when the two conflicting parties give each other space.
• In one other problem area, he said, there’s been an increase in motor vehicle accidents in the neighborhood because of cars slipping on wet leaves.