Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Is your neighborhood safe?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
November 26, 2009 at 1:35 am #593118
luckymom30ParticipantWe have acouple houses on our street that the porch lights are on all the time, packages are delivered and left on the front steps and the poor mailman has no where to place the mail since the mailbox is full. Wouldn’t you think this is a definite sign that no one is home??? Is your neighborhood so safe that you can leave your home for weeks?
November 26, 2009 at 1:54 am #682877
The Velvet BulldogParticipantPossible that the residents were renters and moved without leaving a forwarding address? Or maybe it’s another unfortunate foreclosure situation? Clearly not my neighborhood though–I’ve had packages AND mail swiped.
November 26, 2009 at 1:58 am #682878
luckymom30ParticipantThe house across the street from us is not a rental. Windows are all uncovered, draped open all the time, etc… It is a dead giveaway that someone is not home with the porch light shining all the time and the packages out front.
As for packages swiped, last year I had several Christmas packages delivered to the wrong address even thoug my name and address was clearly on the packages and get this the people kept those packages and handed out the items to the neighborhood children! And we never leave mail with checks inside in our mailbox and always go to the bank to pick up new checks.
November 26, 2009 at 2:22 am #682879
shihtzuParticipantNot to be gruesome, but are they alive in there? I’ve forgotten to stop our mail before and the post office got the hint and kept it for me.
Knock on wood, we’ve never had anything stolen and our mail and packages would probably sit on our porch forever too.
November 26, 2009 at 2:34 am #682880
The Velvet BulldogParticipantIs it worth gathering up the mail and packages and leaving them a note saying you’re keeping it for them? I suppose it’s possible someone went on a trip and just straight up forgot to have the mail stopped. If nothing else, you’re alleviating the mess AND removing a target for possible criminals.
November 26, 2009 at 3:43 am #682881
luckymom30ParticipantYes the neighbors are still alive, all their cars are gone. And yes we have carted in afew of the packages as have acouple other neighbors but we are all very concerned about the safety of the neighborhood since again it is so obvious no one is home. Usually at least one of the cars is parked in front. The mailman can not just leave her mail at the post office without her authorization. It would be better if they had a timer on the lights and had someone come pull the drapes. Their trash can lid was crushed and my husband and other neighbors have carted in the cans.
November 26, 2009 at 5:48 am #682882
JoBParticipantluckymom30..
you and your neighbors are to be commended for stepping in and picking up your neighbor’s packages for them… that alone will make your neighborhood safer.
But i would hold the indignation until you find out what has happened that caused all the occupants of the house to be away without canceling packages or mail. This sounds more like a personal tragedy to me than a planned vacation.
Does anyone in the neighborhood have contact info for these neighbors or for their family? This might be a good time to make a few inquiries…
November 26, 2009 at 6:11 am #682883
luckymom30ParticipantThe home owner is question is a young woman about 34, she lives there with her boyfriend whom we have met and seemed very nice. They had some work done on the house weeks before they basically disappeared, leaving the trash can outside by the side of the road. And no one else really knows her.
The home right next door to us the windows are left wide open, they must think because they have a large hedge out front they are protected.
November 29, 2009 at 10:00 am #682884
HMC RichParticipantWe are elevating our block watch status. The WSB gave the meeting some coverage too! There have been way too many car prowls, break-ins and damage to property in our area.
We started talking to more neighbors and everyone seemed to have had something happen to them and they thought they were just isolated incidents. Not so.
There are some repeat offenders that seem to come back to the area. One was apprehended the other night. We thank the SPD.
November 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm #682885
JoBParticipantthere is no doubt that tough economic times are a good time to watch out for one another. organizing a block watch is a good idea.
January 5, 2010 at 12:30 am #682886
luckymom30ParticipantJust thought I’d add that the young woman who lives acorss from us isn’t very happy that anyone moved her packages from the front porch and picked up her mail. So I guess we will not be doing this for her in the future since she is very unappreciative of our efforts to keep her house and our neighborhood safe from prowlers. I will also add that 1 1/2 weeks ago a white van with only “Carpet’ printed on the one side drove up to her house and 4 men jumped out and walked around her house, opening the back gate and peeking in the large front window. No cars were parked out front and only her forever glowing front porch light was on. We saw this same van across the street again with 4 guys looking in her windows and checking out the backyard, they sat in the van for several minutes and then left.
This young woman is also under the belief that the parking in front of her house is for only her, when it is public parking and anyone can park there, on the west side of 35th it is private parking.
January 5, 2010 at 1:06 am #682887
BarbGMemberso is there any chance that maybe they had to leave the house quickly, like for a family emergency?
And yes, I would probably be unhappy if I came home and found all my packages gone, did you leave a note, or just take the packages?
January 5, 2010 at 1:35 am #682888
CarolPBMemberHi Lucky Mom, Just was curiuos about the comment that the westside of 35th is private parking. I thought all streets are public parking, although I think there are some neighborhoods (Capital Hill?)that residents get some sort of sticker, tag, or something??
January 5, 2010 at 1:37 am #682889
beachdrivegirlParticipantcarol- me too. I was confused b.ci didn’t know ws had permit parking, i had it in fremont years ago….
January 5, 2010 at 1:57 am #682890
WSBKeymasterThere is an RPZ in Fauntleroy. That’s the only city RPZ in West Seattle. 35th does not run through it:
January 5, 2010 at 2:56 am #682891
luckymom30ParticipantTo answer your question we did leave a note on the front door and closed the screen door before leaving the porch. Acouple other neighbors also picked up some packages left on the porch or the front yard as the ever-glowing front porch light was a dead giveway that no one was home it burns day and night.
And to answer the parking question we live South of Roxbury where there is not parking allowed, no parking signs are posted along the strip South of Roxbury. Our parking is private also because we have a double driveway whereas the homes on the Eastside of 35th South of Roxbury not all have driveways or garages.
January 5, 2010 at 3:17 pm #682892
anonymeParticipantI’ve never seen any indication of private parking on 35th south of Roxbury. A great many cars are parked illegally along this strip, up on sidewalks and planting strips.
It sounds like you did this woman a kindness, especially as you did leave a note. Next time just report it to SPD and let them determine if she’s dead or alive — or just dumb.
FYI, a small group of us will be meeting with city officials tonight re: our petition for improvements to the right of way on 35th south of Roxbury, including sidewalks on the west side of the street.
January 5, 2010 at 3:40 pm #682893
velo_nutParticipantI have connected with all of my neighbors, especially the SPD officer moving in next door. We are all classified as “nosy neighbors” and check in on each other all the time.
You can never be too safe… or too neighborly!
January 5, 2010 at 4:09 pm #682894
CMPParticipantJust curious what’s wrong with leaving your porch light on all the time? I just moved into a house and leave mine on constantly since it’s dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home. I don’t think it’s a giveaway that no one is home.
January 5, 2010 at 5:09 pm #682895
SueParticipantCMP, I do the same thing this time of year with the lights.
January 5, 2010 at 6:11 pm #682896
kParticipantwe do the same with our front porch light. i think leaving it completely dark is the giveaway. our neighbor is out of town and the house is completely dark and all drapes etc are closed. it’s like a red flag that they aren’t home. not wise.
January 5, 2010 at 6:23 pm #682897
luckymom30ParticipantAlong 35th there are no parking signs posted. We live on the Eastside of 35th where we have sidewalks and only a parking strip, we are lucky to have a double driveway (all our neighbors on the Eastisde of 35th up to 104th have drieways and sidewalks) We are all opposed to sidewalks on the Westside. I was contacted by a neighbor who lives on the Westside of 35th who has been contacting on a regular basis the City of Settle DOT and particularly Stan Locke the area representative. According to Stan Locke the area of 35th South of Roxbury will not have sidewalks installed and resemble North of Roxbury as this neighbor has suggested several times. The city has no funds to install sidewalks along this strip. Stan Locke also said that this neighbor and his friend have called the City so many times he told me this guy needs to get a hobby! We have lived in this area for well over 20 years, the neighbor just 3 years and he has tried many times to change the neighborhood and have sidewalks installed. Apparently he didn’t look at the street and how it was laidout before purchasing his home. Stan Locke did ask me for my opinion on how we should proceed and I told him the biggest problem of living on 35th is speeders so before long the DOT installed a crossswalk light to alert drivers of school children and to reduce their speed. We have a no parking sign right in our parking strip. I am very aware that people park on the parking strip along 35th South of Roxbury but in our area there are signs posted and people get a ticket for parking on the strip. That is why we tell everyone to park across the street to avoid getting a ticket, it is public parking on the Westside.
As for the young woman leaving her porch light on at all times, it has so far attracted the 4 guys in the van twice and we have noticed her mailbox open with mail hanging out of it and a package left on her porch was thrown open on her yard. The windows are completely uncovered. So we have all tried to be good neighbors to this young woman and she turned out to be very unappreciative of our efforts. I assume you pick up your mail and any packages on a regular basis regardless if you leave your porch light on or not.
January 5, 2010 at 6:31 pm #682898
kParticipantluckymom30-i am still astonished at her reaction. does she not read about all the break ins we have had? you did your best. time to move on and let her do what she will. you can only do some much for someone. you did the right thing.
January 5, 2010 at 6:57 pm #682899
luckymom30ParticipantThank you k! We all thought we were helping her out and also keeping the neighborhood abit safer. Yes our area has seen afew break-ins lately.
January 5, 2010 at 11:39 pm #682900
miwsParticipantluckymom30, please don’t let this neighbor’s reaction discourage you from continuing to be observant and concerned about others in your neighborhood. I would guess that her reaction would be the exception, rather than the rule.
From what you posted here, it doesn’t appear that you were being intrusive in any way, just being concerned about your neighborhood, and it’s other residents.
Mike
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.