Big city living brings with it the acknowledgement that crime may intrude more often than it might in other places. After a recent break-in on Parkside directly affecting our membership, several important points were raised. This is our best opportunity to share them.

Realistically, we know we can do everything right and be targets of criminals. Some of us are lucky enough to do everything “wrong” and escape unscathed. The rest of us need to think about the invitations we offer to criminals. Radio Patrol members who drive evenings, kid about who must be a stockbroker because that’s what the big screen shows the street. That’s right; one of our streets, not Wall Street. Late night patrollers can catch the news, or mistake themselves for “lights out” enforcers because some of our habits are that obvious outside our homes.

When we make our periodic assessments of home security, let’s add a visual check from outside, particularly at night. What is visible to pedestrians, bikers, or drivers, can easily become our “Open Invitation” to burglars. That’s not the kind of friendly we need to be.

In February, Radio Patrol was awarded a Kresge Foundation-funded grant of $5,450 to use in protecting vacant property and less directly, the entire neighborhood. Our application was prepared through the efforts of the three University District organizations. Forty-nine groups in Detroit applied. Pilgrim Village was the only other recipient in our area, and URDP was the only Radio Patrol to receive an award. This grant will make our level of response possible.

LIGHT THE NIGHT!