anyone else disturbed by the "south side arsonist"?

[salin]

It hits really close to where I live. And while I am familiar with my neighbors - because I work exceptionally long hours (get home late - and leave early in the AM) there are still many people who ask the folks who live across the street if anyone lives in my house. I bought and moved in to the house in the summer of 2004.

I have lived and worked in communities with much higher crime and murder rates (DC, Detroit, and East Palo Alto CA) - and have learned to live with extreme caution and an eye for safety. Yet this arsonist - hitting within a mile from my home - has me disturbed. Anyone else effected by this spree? (15 arsons of homes and garages, I believe, within the last 30 days.)

[hippiechick]

1. ... didn't IMFD/IMPD say they think it's a gang initiation thingie?

:shrug: Not that it makes it any less frightening ...


:hug:

[salin]

2. I heard that - but it sounds like they are still primarily speculating.

And I have searched the star and local tv programs - but can't find a map of where the fires have actually occurred. That - is frustrating. :-(

Hoping all are safe - and that the arsonist(s) are caught and the fires stopped.

[Voltaire]

3. I am just south of Garfield Park

and between the arson and the vandalism in this neighborhood, its very nerve-wracking. My wife's new car and the neighbors car across the alleyway were vandalized a couple Saturday's ago. Now we are going to pay the city to put a light in this part of the alley. The head of the neighborhood association said that Bart has promised stepped up patrols, so we'll see. STILL, they arson's continue. Not as close to us as to Salin, but close enough to be plenty nervous. Just got some more smoke and fire detectors, I need to get them out of the box at least.

[salin]

4. I haven't experienced recent vandalism,

though last fall - after the first snow fall, someone kicked in the door to my (de-attached) garage. I have an abaondoned house next door, and two empty houses lots that are across an alley from my back yard (and garage). It makes me feel vulnerable - though nothing has happened (so far) in my neighborhood. Perhaps that is because there is a police station two blocks away, and a fire station two blocks away in another direction. Yet that doesn't give me peace of mind.

While I like some things about Peterson compared to the years of republican rule of the city, I am not sure that there is a real recognition of the need for serious redeployment of resources are needed to deal with this (and other street crimes) is needed.

Voltaire - here is to hoping that our homes stay safe as do those of folks in our community - and that a quick stop is brought to these fires. The time between the fires seems to have slowed down since the tragic fire last week that led to deaths (that was deteremined not to be related to the arsonist) - and there has only been one fire since the deadly fire.

To quote an old favorite tv show "Let's be safe out there..."

[Jokerman]

5. Foreclosures and vacant homes are hurting the entire city.

We've got a house right next door to us that's been vacant for two years. It's supposedly in foreclosure but we can't find any info on the status.

A couple of weeks ago the back door was kicked in. The cops and code enforcement came out to clear the house and secure the door but it's still a nuisance.

I'm becoming a nut for security lighting and motion detectors just to make sure our house looks occupied anytime day or night.