Stay Alert, Stay Aware

There's been some crime lately, and yes, it's a city and this stuff happens, but it's very disturbing when it happens to friends and neighbors.  We in no way believe in blaming the victims.  But there are some things you can do to make it less likely to happen to you.  Be aware and be alert, and call 911 if you see anything suspicious.

• Don't buzz people in if you don't know who they are.  Every year, UU reports that people are ringing bells and being buzzed into secured buildings during the holiday season.  They then steal packages that have been left in the lobby by UPS and FedEx.  Under no circumstances should you let anyone in unless you know them or are expecting them.
• Be alert on the street.  Sadly, there's not much you can do if this happens to you, except to cooperate.  We have heard several reports of an armed robbery that happened this week.  "I wanted to let your readers know to be on guard of an armed robber in the neighborhood. On Wednesday, around 4 PM, my neighbor, who is disabled and has trouble walking, was robbed at gunpoint in 4700 block of Malden. In the wind and rain, he was walking with an umbrella and a bag of groceries. He was approached from behind by the assailant who pulled a gun and demanded money. The robber took my neighbor's wallet and got away with about $100. The assailant was tall and lean, mid 30's, African American male. Please be on guard and watch out for your neighbors!"
• Keep an eye on the ATM you use.  "Just a heads up - there have been several local reports of ATM/credit card theft (Everyblock has about 4 in the neighborhood). I was one of these - the detectives I talked to said that the targeted ATM was at the corner of Montrose and Damen - they used a skimming device to collect card numbers and a camera to collect PIN numbers."

To the victims -- we're sorry.  We hope you never have to go through anything like this again.