Gianna Rosati and 8th District Officer Trisha Rosati get a moment to talk. Photo/George Mai

Residents of the 2nd, 7th and 8th Police Districts came together at two separate events Tuesday night for one cause: National Night Out. Communities around the country locked their doors, turned the outside lights on and gathered at neighborhood events to meet with each other, their police officers and community and political leaders.

Below are slideshows from the events in the Northeast. continue reading »

Northeast Detectives is asking for help to identify a suspect police believe is connected with two 2nd District Metro PSC robberies.

The description of the suspect in both late July robberies is similar: a black male roughly 45 to 55 or 50 to 60 years old, about 5’11″ and 230 pounds. He was seen wearing a tan baseball hat and burgundy polo shirt during the first robbery’ and a short-sleeved blue shirt, blue pants, blue Army-style hat and glasses during the second crime. continue reading »

Click here for the audio slideshow that accompanies this article.

Burglaries have recently been a hot topic for residents in the Northeast. But what exactly constitutes a burglary? Many confuse the term with theft or robbery.

Burglaries fall under an entirely different category. The term is defined as the act of entering a building with the intent to commit a crime without a weapon.

Last year, there were 2,432 burglaries that took place in the Northeast. The 2nd, 7th, 8th and 15th Police Districts have been making appearances at local civic group meetings to address residents’ concerns.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey was present at the Lawncrest Community Association’s meeting last week, where burglaries was just one of many topics he discussed with residents.

“We’re [the City of Philadelphia] up in burglaries.” he said “A lot of it is residential. There’s some commercial burglaries, so some areas are seeing an upward trend in that. Burglary across the country is not an easy crime to solve. Usually there are no witnesses. Usually there is very little, if any forensic evidence that you can gather at the scene.”

The Philadelphia Police Department’s new interactive Crime Mapping application was created as part of its Incident Transmittal System and gives the public free access to criminal data that is recorded in their neighborhoods. continue reading »

Mark Mroz

When Town Watch isn’t cutting it, Mark Mroz recommends Block Watch. The 2nd District Community Relations Officer promoted the idea at last night’s Lawncrest Community Association, with support from a handful of residents who said recent crimes around their house had been perpetrated by neighbors. continue reading »

Fox Chase Town Watch reports police are investigating gun shots Sunday night at Ferndale Street and Borbeck Avenue.

“It appears the root cause may have been a fight between Rockledge teens and Fox Chase teens which occurred earlier at the St. Patrick’s day parade downtown.  Later that evening ( approximately 6pm) several Rockledge teens drove by the lower fields and fired several shots. While I know no one was hit I am not sure if there was an intended target.” continue reading »

Friday -- The Philadelphia Fire Department has determined the cause of the deadly explosion in Tacony back in January. As PGW crews tried to fix a high pressure gas leak Jan. 18, a furnace inside a chiropractic office ignited the blaze. The explosion killed 19-year-old PGW employee Mark Keeley. continue reading »

(L to R) 7th District Community Relations Officer Rich Simon and 2nd District Community Relations Officer Mark Mroz talk about Block Watch with Fox Chase residents.

Mark Mroz told Fox Chase residents what he tells members of all the community association meetings he goes to: having an alarm on your home may not prevent a burglary, but it will keep the thief from staying in your house.

The 2nd District Community Relations Officer and Rich Simon, 7th District Community Relations Officer, talked with Fox Chase residents last night about crime reporting and prevention. It came as a response to a rash of burglaries on the 7300-block of Hasbrook Avenue. continue reading »

Burholme Town Watch President and Police Radio Advisory Board member Paul Andris explains 911 operations

Note: Due to technical difficulties, two videos cannot be uploaded.

There’s a difference between 311 and 911, and the police want to make sure everyone is aware of it. Aside from the notoriously slow response time of 311, it’s not for emergencies. For that, there’s 911. Police Advisory Board member and Burholme Town Watch President Paul Andris explained at last night’s Burholme Civic Association meeting how 911 works so efficiently.

“In  Philadelphia, there are 3.3 million calls per year to 911,” Andris said. “There are 330,000 crank calls.”

Andris showed an educational video –the same he shows to students at schools he presents to — about how to best use 911, and how the operators are able to trace your call so easily. continue reading »

The process was simple: reporters from the Daily News went to each of the 21 police districts in the city and asked to file and anonymous complaint — as is the department’s policy.

Not all the districts were compliant, and some were downright aggressive in requesting ID, but the four districts in the Northeast turned in positive reports. continue reading »

Weatherization specialist B.J. McDuffie explains how to seal your windows.

B.J. McDuffie recommends weatherizing your home when Daylight Savings Time ends. But the weatherization specialist brought her list of tips, demonstration tools and free weather-proofing kits to last night’s Lawncrest Community Association meeting since there’s plenty of winter left.

continue reading »