12-07-2011
Robbery
At 1422 hours, officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Wroxton for a robbery in progress. Dispatch advised that the victim stated she was walking westbound on Wroxton, when a hispanic male (suspect) ran towards her and grabbed her purse. The victim also stated that she observed the suspect enter a gray pickup truck which immediately left the scene. Upon arrival, officers searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the vehicle. Officers then gathered the necessary information to generate a report.
I love to walk in West U and always feel safe, but I guess crime is everywhere!
It is hard to believe that something like this could happen at 2:22 in the afternoon.
Most builders, landscapers, yard and maid services employ undocumented workers. They come and go freely in West University where opportunities to steal are abundant.
It’s not the (un)documented workers one needs to watch out for (though being generally aware at all times is a good practice), but those posing as workers. We’ve all seen trucks idling in our neighborhoods, presumably with workers waiting to start a job in the morning or on break. This is going on every morning next door to me the past couple weeks as my neighbor has some work done in her house. Well, this is one popular way for outsiders to case out a home. They watch your patterns (what time do you leave for work, etc.) and then the rest is much easier for them.
Solution? Have a quick chat with them. Make up any excuse to make eye contact and to say something (nice day, hey so I hear you’re working on that project, etc.). Criminals like this want anonimity and by engaging with them you’ll inject fear into them that they can be identified in the future. If they are legit workers, then everything will be fine.
By the way, I am MUCH more wary of documented workers than undocumented. Undocumented workers put their lives and families in jeopardy every day that they go out to work for a living. They have a LOT to lose and therefore are more likely to keep their heads down and fingers clean. Documented workers of all nationalities and backgrounds have the cloak of legitimacy to cover up their activities. People are less suspicious of them, which provides more opportunities to commit crimes.
Most builder’s in WestU have no employees. All work is bid out to sub-contractors, who indeed hire undocumented workers, even those licensed by the State and/or fulfilling the requirements (liability insurance) to work in WestU.
And, just like the legal/citizen worker who goes to an office of a morning, the great percentage are honest, hardworking people.
AAMOF, a good argument can be made that there is a higher percentage of thieves per capita among the lawyer class in WestU, than in the class building their houses.