Walking down a street, you see someone systematically stealing packages from porches and stoops.
You pull out your phone. You call 911 and report the crime in progress. Because that’s what you’ve been told: report crimes in progress to 911.
The dispatcher thanks you and says you should call the non-violent crime emergency number.
Meanwhile, the guy is filling his duffel bag like some kind of reverse St. Nick.
Twenty minutes later, the crime’s still going on. You call back. Same response.
Ben Jacobs had that experience one afternoon this month while out for a walk with his 1‑year-old in a stroller.
The first incident he reported occurred occurred at Edwards near State Street, the second in Goatville, on Nash Street.
He described the experience in detail Monday night during the monthly Zoom-assisted meeting of the East Rock Community Management Team. Chaired by David Budries, the meeting attracted nearly three dozen residents and three area alders, Abby Roth, Anna Festa, and Steve Winter.
“I witnessed two active package thefts within 20 minutes,” reported Jacobs, a special ed teacher at Hillhouse High School. “And both times I called 911, both times I was dismissed and was pushed over to non-emergency. The first time I was brushed off, and it happened again within 20 minutes. It was a point of very high frustration for me.”
Jacobs called Alder Roth after the incident for clarification. Roth said the 911 supervisor returned her call and confirmed that Jacobs had been correct, and the dispatcher had not handled the matter correctly.
The situation could have unfolded in any residential neighborhood in the city as package thefts, usually most pronounced around holiday time, are persisting during the pandemic.
At Monday night’s meeting, top East Rock cop Lt. Manmeet Colon said police are taking these thefts seriously. She said at least several arrests have been made of package thieves, she said. Neighbors by all means should continue to call in package thefts in progress, all crimes in progress, to 911, Colon said. If dispatchers repeat what happened with Jacobs, she said, she will take it up the chain of command. (Colon oversees policing District 7, which includes both East Rock and Newhallville, as well as Cedar Hill. East Rock and Newhallville have separate management teams.)
Here are some highlights of the back-and forth that ensued:
Jacobs: It was extremely frustrating, someone actively going on porches taking it, going to the next porch taking it. Then going down the street seeing a guy with an enormous duffel bag taking it. 911 was less than helpful. The way they represented it, I would have to choose between a police officer going to a shooting and my issue. I got a call four hours later, but the futility was tremendous, and I felt a need to mention it to the larger community.
Another attendee: I’ve reported these things too … package theft … city services are stressed. Package thefts, good luck.
Colon: When you call it in, we have made arrests. This is not something that doesn’t matter. We’ve made several arrests from the last couple of months.
Jacobs: I appreciate that you’ve caught people, but this was actively happening in front of me, noon on a Friday, flagrantly, it’s ridiculous. This wasn’t even my street. They’re targeting specific areas. I don’t know how patrols cars are distributed in District 7. Can they circle around Nash Street periodically?
Winter: These issues are connected to resources the city has. I know there is a discussion in the chat about the university contributing more, and I think they should. We’ll also be sure to let you know about Sen. Looney’s effort to increase funding for PILOT, but we really do need more support from our partners, Yale and the state, to get to the root of this.
Jacobs I understand there are larger systemic issues, but …
Colon: I’ll look into it with Alder Roth, but we should proactively take some measures. There are people who have lock boxes or have made arrangements [for others to receive packages]. Yes, these crimes happen so often, but if we are on one side of the hill [of Newhallville and East Rock], it’s often hard to get to the other. It is frustrating especially if you have to witness it for such a long time, and then you call and no results. I’ll look into it and if protocol was not followed, I’ll pass it up my chain of command.
Jacobs: Just to be crystal clear, an active crime, you call 911?
Colon: Yes, and if they pass you on, call back.
Jacobs: When the incident is just rolling down the street, what address do you give?
Colon: Give the latest, such as, ‘They are southbound on such and such a street.’
Jacobs: How many units are there in District 7 per shift?
Colon: We have four units, for a very large geographical area. However in the last month we had so much violence … the units may be rerouted to different districts.
Jacobs: Do all four cars respond to a single incident? For example, if there’s a shooting in Newhallville, all four cars respond?
Colon: Yes, and we may have to call in other units, for a shooting. You need to secure the crime scene. The same would happen for a traffic accident with injuries, you have traffic points, so you may need to deploy officers from different areas.
Jacobs: I didn’t know that. I’ll look forward to hearing from you and being updated.