MEMPHIS, TN - After weeks of neighborhood meetings, increased police patrols and a blitz of media coverage, the escalating burglary problem in East Memphis has started to ease.
In the 38111 Zip Code, 72 burglaries were reported to Memphis Police in the month of October. 71 were reported in November. But in December, the number dropped to 53.
In the 38117 Zip Code, 57 homeowners were burglarized in October. Bandits hit 48 homes in that area in November. But in December, the number dropped to 22.
And in the 38120 Zip Code, after a high of 20 break-ins in October and 15 in November, only 1 burglary was reported to police in December.
But even as East Memphians breath a sigh of relief, Bluff City bandits are moving their thievery to another part of town: the 38104, Midtown.
"They came in through the back door," says Midtowner Jonathan May, "they busted through the back window and broke in and stole some major appliances."
May is describing the break-in at his neighbor's house last week. He wasn't that worried about it, he says, until he found out there have been dozens of burglaries in the Cooper-Young section of Midtown in the last 30 days.
"This is not one of the best areas of town," says May, "but it's one of the most culturally important areas of town. I feel the police should strive to protect the citizens here."
"The police are on the case," says Peggy Williamson, the head of the newly-formed Midtown Security Community. "And they have assured us they have extra patrols."
MSC is a neighborhood watch group that works closely with local businesses and Memphis Police to fight crime. And after just a few months, its' members already have a successful track record.
"One of the things we're most proud of," says Williamson, "is that through our collaboration with the police at Union Station, we've had three armed robbery arrests directly attributable to the Midtown Security Community group."
You can access the group's website here:
www.midtownsecurity.blogspot.com/ .
MSC sends out regular e-mail alerts and posts warnings and advice from Memphis Police. Williamson says more than 200 people have already signed up to receive the notices and she hopes more people register.
"I think in terms of the spike in 38104 burglaries," says Williamson, "I think we've got to get busy and get the word out and make people much more aware of what's happening."
Raising awareness helped East Memphis battle its' burglary problem. Midtowner Jonathan May says he's ready now to join Cooper-Young's latest war on crime.
"I'm going to check out the blogspot you mentioned," he says, "because I'd like to stay informed about what's going on in the area. And because this is the first I've heard of the burglary problem."
The Midtown Security Community group will hold a meeting on January 22, 2009, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the American Red Cross building at 1400 Central Avenue. Members are actively raising money to re-establish the Union Station's bicycle patrol. So far, they've collected $6,000 in contributions.
And while burglars are getting busy in Midtown, the 38104 did not make the list of Top 5 Hot Zips for Home Burglaries in the month of December. Here's the list:
- 1. 38127 (Frayser): 117 break-ins
- 2. 38118 (Parkway Village): 99
- 3. 38116 (South Memphis): 91
- 5. 38115 (Hickory Hill): 79
And here's the total number of home burglaries recorded in the City of Memphis over the past three years:
All of the information and statistics included are from the MPD's Incident Database.
