HNA E-News: Armed Robbert at Prince & Wheeler Last Night

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Halcyon Neighborhood Association E-Newsletter

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Items appearing in the HNA E-Newsletter are deemed to be of general interest to neighbors but do not necessarily reflect the views of Halcyon Neighborhood Association (HNA), its Steering Committee, or the Editor. The Editor's introductory comments express her personal viewpoint.

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Editor's Introductory Note:

This is a quick emergency alert to let folks know that there was an armed robbery on Prince near Wheeler last night at around 9:30 p.m. (see item 1).

One of the victims of the robbery requested that we step up our night-time safety walks. Please email <halcyon92@gmail.com> if you'd like to be added to the listserve that plans the walks (for all our safety, submit your full name, address, phone number, and email if you wish to be part of the Safety Walk listserve). It would especially be valuable to time some of our upcoming walks around the hours that services and events get out at Chochmat.

Although following basic crime prevention tips are no guarantee of your safety, they do help some, so it's still worth remembering to be alert, and to avoid using distracting electronics such as cellphones or iPods while you're out walking. If you have a cellphone, be sure you have the direct line to Berkeley emergency pre-programmed in (see item 2).  And, of course, call the police immediately if you notice anything or anyone suspicious in our neighborhood. We all need to be the eyes on the street and communicate what we notice to the police.

Here's hoping that the rest of the Hanukkah celebration is a quiet and safe one for our good neighbors at Chochmat HaLev!

-Nancy Carleton, HNA Co-Chair and E-Newsletter Editor

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1. Crime Watch Alert: Armed Robbery at Prince and Wheeler as Two Women Leave Chochmat HaLev

This report was submitted by a neighbor who works at Chochmat HaLev at Prince between Fulton and Wheeler:

"Armed Robbery 12/5, corner Prince and Wheeler, 9:30-9:40 p.m. Another woman and I were leaving Chochmat and going to her car when we were accosted by 3 black men, one of whom had a huge long-barreled gun. They took her purse, and everything in it, and my keys (I had no purse). We gave descriptions, etc. to the police."

Another worker at Chochmat HaLev gave this description of a recent would-be burglar at Chochmat:

"Also, last week, there was a break-in and attempted burglary at Chochmat. The burglar had entered the hall and was trying to break the door into the office. Someone working at Chochmat interrupted him, and the burglar fled. Description: African-American male, approx. 23 or 24 years old with facial hair and 3-inch-long hair. Approx. 5 foot 8, around 160 pounds. This was also reported to the police."

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2. Police Contact Information

Police

Police Emergency Number:  911 (from landline); 981-5911(from cell; preprogram with this number)

Police Nonemergency Number: 981-5900

Link to beat maps and a list of beat officers:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/department/beatinfo/beatlineup.html

In Halcyon neighborhood, west of Fulton is Beat 10, east of Fulton is Beat 9.

Link to crime stats:

Berkeley:  www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police

Link to police bulletins:

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/police/crimestats/policebulletins.html

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