WITH THE HOLIDAYS APPROACHING QUICKLY, CAPTAIN FRANCIS J. BACHMAYER  AND OFFICERS OF THE 15^TH DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE WISHES FOR A SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAY.

TAKE A MINUTE TO REVIEW SOME “HOLIDAY CRIME PREVENTION TIPS”

• WHEN COOKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS, NEVER LEAVE COOKING UNATTENDED
• ALWAYS TURN POT HANDLES INWARD TO PREVENT SPILL INJURIES
• KEEP OVENS CLEAN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
• MOST IMPORTANTLY DO NOT USE THE OVEN TO HEAT THE HOUSE

HOME SAFETY

• KEEP THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME WELL-LIT WITH DOORS AND WINDOWS LOCKED
• CHECK WATER LEVEL ON YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE  DAILY TO PREVENT DRYING OUT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE HAZARD
• CAREFULLY INSPECT LIGHTS AND CORDS BEFORE USING THEM
• DO NOT DISPLAY GIFTS BENEATH THE TREE THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM WINDOWS OR DOORS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
• DO NOT ADVERTISE GIFTS RECEIVED BY THE BOXES YOU PUT OUT IN YOUR WEEKLY COLLECTION.  DESTROY BOXES AND PLACE THEM IN NON-CLEAR GARBAGE BAGS
• BE AWARE THAT CRIMINALS SOMETIMES POSE AS COURIERS DELIVERING GIFTS
• CRIMINALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY SOLICITING DONATIONS DOOR TO DOOR FOR CHARITABLE CAUSES, ALTHOUGH NO CHARITY IS INVOLVED.  ASK FOR IDENTIFICATION AND FIND OUT HOW DONATED FUNDS WILL BE USED, ALL THE WHILE KEEPING SCREEN DOORS LOCKED,  ANY QUESTIONS CALL 911

SHOPPING SAFETY

• TRY TO SHOP DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. IF NOT TRY TO HAVE SOMEONE SHOP WITH YOU AT NIGHTTIME
• STAY ALERT TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS……WATCH FOR STRANGERS APPROACHING YOU FOR ANY REASON AT THIS TIME OF YEAR “CON-ARTISTS” MAY TRY VARIOUS METHODS OF DISTRACTING YOU WITH THE INTENTION OF TAKING MONEY OR BELONGINGS
• AVOID CARRYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH
• DO NOT LEAVE PACKAGES OR VALUABLES ON YOUR CAR SEATS. LOCK THEM IN THE TRUNK
• CHECK YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE GETTING INTO IT FOR SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE HIDING NEAR OR IN IT
• NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR UNOCCUPIED WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING OR WITH CHILDREN INSIDE

AS ALWAYS IF YOU SEE ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY CALL 911

Lt. Casselli and Officer Andrews lead the PSA meeting this week at Aria Health in the cafeteria.  There were several areas of interest this month.

• Elran’s Place located at Oakland and Pratt Streets was the subject of much discussion last month.  Since that time there was another shooting outside the bar.  The owner, Eliezer Torres has been meeting with Officer Andrews on ways to improve the situation at the bar.  Only three residents of the area attended the meeting but they made their views know on the problems the bar has been causing.  Mr. Torres pledged that the residents will see a big improvement in the situation starting this weekend.  In regard to the recent shooting, his cooperation with the police lead to the arrest of the suspect.
• There are reports from several people of drug sales out of a house in Frankford.  The police have had previous reports on this location and are investigating.

The PSA meetings are only effective when residents attend them.  As Casselli frequently points out, the police cannot solve these problems on their own.  You have to come out to these meetings to have any chance of making it work.

As we have previously reported, Elran’s Place at Oakland and Pratt has become the focus of its neighbors ire because of the history of rowdy

Elran's Place

behavior, violence and shootings.  It happened again last night as reported on Philly.com.

An argument is believed to be the motive in the shooting death of a 36-year-old man on the 5200 block of Oakland Street in the Frankford section, police said.

Officers responding to a 11:15 p.m. call for gunshots found the man shot multiple times in a car outside the Elrans Place bar, police said.

Medics pronounced him dead at the scene at 12:08 a.m.

How long will it be until one of these bullets come through the window of one of the neighbors while the are trying to sleep at night.  By the way things are going, not long at all.

Lt. Casselli of the 15th District PSA 1

I attended the PSA1 meeting on Wednesday night.  I was a little surprised that there were so many people there.  In the past on a few occasions there were just a small number of folks.  Wednesday there were 20 give or take.

Lt. Casselli and Officer Gorman were present.  So as usual Casselli went around the room asking what each person had on their mind, the answer was the bar.  Well not everyone but about 10 people were there with that issue.

So what bar are we talking about.  It’s the old Irish Kitchen now resurrected as Elran’s Place at Pratt and Oakland.  New name but the same old problems seem to be continuing.

You may remember the murder at the Irish Kitchen back in June of 2009.  Then in May of this year there was another shooting.

The residents say that it is more of a night club than a bar with crowds taking their drinks out onto the sidewalks and partying keeping people up all night.  The naturally leave their trash all over.  This harkens back the the T&T bar on Margaret Street that had all of this going on until a young man was killed and the community had reached the end of its tolerance.

Casselli is a practical guy.  As I type this I am sure he has been or is going over to Elran’s tonight to discuss the issue with whoever is on duty.  But he is forthright in saying that it is more realistic to have the owner change how this place is run rather than having it shut down.  So its going to be one or the other but the neighbors have had it.

At some point, the neighbors on the block may ask for community support in a march or some kind of peaceful action to focus attention of this problem.  When they do, come out and support them.  The next time it could be your block that needs help.  We’ll keep you informed.

The Captain and police officers of the 15th district would like to advise the readers of the Frankford Gazette that burglaries are up in the 15th district. We would like to take an opportunity to advise you of some simple “burglary prevention tips” to help you not become a victim.

• Lock your doors and windows.  In most cases, burglars are getting into a home through open doors or windows.
• Make your house look occupied, even if its not.
• Get to know your neighbors and if you see any suspicious activity/persons call 911 and give a detailed description.
• If you are the victim of a burglary do not clean up, call 911 and be prepared to give police a detailed list of the items that were taken.

Any questions or concerns, contact the 15th district at 215-686-3150/51 or email police.co_15@phila.gov