Ojai City Watch 7/14/09
FROM: Sgt. Joe Evans
Good evening watchers. Well the Fourth of July has come and gone. Since that day we have had a rash of crimes involving people getting into unlocked vehicles and stealing property.
The first set of crimes occurred on upper Signal Street in the early morning hours of July 5th through July 10th. There was no suspects seen or heard. In each of these crimes people left valuables in their cars while asleep at night. The cars were not locked and the crooks had an easy time removing the property without being detected.
The second set of crimes occurred on July 14 in the early morning hours in the Barbara Street tract. At about 3 A.M. a local neighbor saw two white males in their late teens or early twenties trying to open car doors in her driveway. The neighbor also saw them attempt to get into another neighbors car. Our good neighbor then yelled at the two males that the police were being called. Well this sent the two crooks running.
Deputies arrived quickly from different locations in the area but were unable to locate the suspects. There is a good chance these suspects may indeed live in that same area.
If you live in these areas, please keep your eyes open for people walking the streets late at night and early in the morning. If you do see people waking around please call the police. If it turns out they are just neighbors enjoying the night, we will explain to them why we are there and thank them for their time. If they are not known to the area, we will require bit more of their time.
Remember if you leave your vehicle unlocked with valuables inside, you are almost assured to lose those valuables you worked so hard to have. Lock your cars and make the crooks work and make more noise in their efforts to get in. Pay attention to your neighborhood at night. Listen for those crooks and call the police when you hear them. Leave nothing in your car so that if they do get in there will be nothing for them to steal.
Watch out for your neighbors. If we all work together we can and will stop these crooks.
I have also attached your weekly crime maps.
Thanks for all you do. Your friend and neighbor, Joe
Quick question for Sgt. Joe Evans.
How long on average does it take for police to arrive at a scene? Reason Im asking is because every time I have called they always seem to take 10-15 minutes which is too long considering we live in a small town and there is plenty of police to cover the areas. Maybe if you would improve your response time we would have a better chance at catching these crooks.
Anonymous
15 Jul 09 at 1:49 pm
The department may not arrive for 10 – 15 minutes but as soon as the call goes in, isn’t every patrol officer alerted of a description and detail of the activity going on? No matter where these crooks end up, every officer is on the lookout through out the valley. It takes me a good 10 – 15 minutes to get from Baldwin Road to Larmier just because it is mostly a 2-lane highway and the speed limit is only 45 MPH or less. I have called the police on suspicious activity in my neighborhood and 2 patrol cars arrived in less than 7 minutes. Before I moved to Ojai from Ventura almost 6 years ago, I had a horrible outlook on law enforcement. I am very impressed with MOST of the Sheriff’s Dept. out here. I was very surprised, give the amount of crime that has been going on here in the past several years. We may not know what is going on and need to support our Sheriff’s Dept. Become more active in the community and you will see an amazing difference! Thanks to the local law enforcement performing above my expectations!
Anonymous
16 Jul 09 at 8:17 am
Here is something Joe, I thought about calling the station to report the incident but being the night of the 4th of July I really just wanted to relax and not be vigilant. What happened was on Park Rd. while many families had gone to Nordoff to see the fireworks display, someone was knocking on doors, I believe but am not certain, to see if anyone was home. They could have been casing since I went to answer the knock after my dog had barked and the suspects were already down the street. Something to watch out for when there is an event and so many of us leave our homes at the same time for the criminally minded it could just mean an easy target.
resident of Park rd.
16 Jul 09 at 9:00 pm
Dear Sgt.Joe Evans,
What is the department doing about Police Brutality and Harassment?
Just changing a ticket code from ridiculous to stupid ?
There is always the option of saying: “Sorry, that was a mistake.”
Not a big deal, everybody is entitled to make a reasonable mistake. I’m afraid, these words do not come over the lips of an police officer.
Police officers should be immune to being commanded by a lying 4th of July parade organisator. A police officer who is >>serving<< the public is usually having a better judgment.
Hunting down citizen on every possible opportunity is in my opinion very poor police performance … other people call this a “Police State” but I believe we are not there yet … yet!
I wish us all a peaceful and safe summer in Ojai.
Nicolaus Sommer
17 Jul 09 at 4:17 pm
Nicolaus Sommer:
What the hell are you talking about?? I want the drugs you are on!
Anonymous
18 Jul 09 at 7:52 am
Anonymous:
I’m not on drugs … sorry, therefor I can’t give you a recommendation.
Sgt.Joe Evans commanded 2 Motorcycle Officers via radio to hunt me down and cornered me like I would be a criminal, and committed actually physical and verbal abuse. (… they must have been in very bad mood, because they had to work on July 4th … I’m guessing at this point)
My “crime” was my peaceful, responsible and happy participation in the 4th of July Parade, riding my Segway (without permission). I was actually not aware of, that a person needs a permission to ride along the parade, like many bicycle riders did.
The parade organizatior hates me dearly, because I was participating last year (with permission) campaigning for Obama. (the political views of the parade organizatior are widely known …)
This year was payback time and Sgt.Joe Evans was obviously more than happy to be the executive of some “hate crime”. He was not willing to identify the wrongdoing that was based on some obviously false statements by the parade organisator.
Nicolaus Sommer
18 Jul 09 at 1:00 pm
Either Sgt. Joe Evans is gonna deny the claims made my nicolaus or not even respond. Well where are you officer we want answers.
Anonymous
18 Jul 09 at 2:05 pm
Its a one way blog only, tell on your neighbor or any one else and the sgt. will read it, ask him a question directly he wont respond.
He just wants citizen’s to do what he can’t.
For instance if he observers a few people standing around no obvious illegal activity his hands are tied, however if you or I call and say people are talking loud or just make something up ie I smell pot, the police can then come out and violate those individual’s civil rights because of a report of alleged illegal activity.
All you need to turn this “city watch” program into a nightmare is one angry neighbor who wants you to move out away from them, and your life will become a living hell.
??? ??????
18 Jul 09 at 6:07 pm
Dear ??? ??????,
“All you need to turn this “city watch” program into a nightmare is one angry neighbor who wants you to move out away from them, and your life will become a living hell.”
Are you take this as a given that can’t be changed, or do you express a bad (unlawful) habit that should be changed.
BTW.: In civilized countries incl. the US is a law in place that is preventing the situation you describe. If somebody is reporting alleged illegal activity and it turns out being obviously wrong – this person will be prosecuted, for misleading the police and making false accusations. To commit false accusations is a serious crime – in extreme situations where people getting financially, physically or emotionally serious hurt, it’s a felony.
There is like always a grey zone … if your neighbor wants you to move out an away from them, your life can become a living hell if you give your neighbor real reasons to complain about – but again, it has to be a real reason, otherwise your neighbor can get in serious trouble.
Usually talking helps.
Nicolaus Sommer
18 Jul 09 at 8:18 pm
Nicholus Sommer is a present day JC. When will justice be served?!
bunni love
19 Jul 09 at 10:48 am
I remember Nicky as overly plump little boy. Running up and down the aisles at Bayless Market screaming. Oy vey…
barefoot contessa
20 Jul 09 at 8:04 am
bunni love:
JC stand for so many things … what do YOU mean when using JC?
barefoot contessa: you are fishing badly in the dark … keep writing.
BTW: What is so hard to spell a name right, even if it’s printed straight in front of you … Nicolaus
Nicolaus Sommer
20 Jul 09 at 2:00 pm
what do you think it stands for? you toad…
bunni love
20 Jul 09 at 6:37 pm
Bunni “love”:
If you have nothing more to say than calling other people names, then better s.t.f.u.
Nicolaus
Nicolaus Sommer
22 Jul 09 at 9:14 am
I accuse Nico Sommer of lewd conduct.
Anonymous
28 Jul 09 at 1:08 am
Nick we do have laws to stop false reports, we also have laws against people stabbing and shooting each other but it still happens.
My neighbors are cool I personally don’t have that problem, it was only an example.
We also have laws that prevent the US from being sold to a foreign government, but the bankers just steamroll over them.
??? ???? ????
6 Aug 09 at 12:25 pm
Somehow, when I read about Nicky as a plump little boy running around Bayless, “Bunni Love” and “darn it your spelling my name wrong, can’t you get it right for this blog , people will think I’m not Nicolaus Sommer boo hoooo!!”,, I would say this trail has gone way south OVN. Didn’t you just mention off topic posts will be removed and feel free to remove this one after all we are on the City Watch and what does all this other crap have to do with that?
Man'zzeer
6 Aug 09 at 8:10 pm
so much for the OVN’s promise not to post off-topic comments
boo
7 Aug 09 at 8:23 am