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In 1968 there were 1102.5 burglaries committed in the City of Portsmouth per 100,000 population. This
<br />is a decrease ef 10.2% from 1967 and is 8.8% below the average for cities in Portsmouth's population
<br />
<br /> I'~y this tmsurge in burglaries, particularly residential burglaries? We could accept the reasons stated
<br />in the crime re~ort, "Unattended apartments and homes during daytime hours are easy prey for the burglar, and
<br />the tremendous volume of these offenses and the thinness of police patrols." tt is believed that these
<br />factors do contribute to these burglaries. However, there are other factors that cannot be ignored in assess-
<br />ing burglaries committed in Portsmouth -- carelessness on the ~art of the property owners, the attitude so
<br />often expressed, "Who cares, it is insured," lack of parental care or even condoning acts of burglary by thei~
<br />children. As an example of this attitude on the Dart of parents during the first eleven months of 1968, the
<br />police arrested-175 juveniles, clearing 1SI cases of burglaries. Items stolen ranged from jewelry to tele-
<br />visions. Many of these items had to come to the attention of the thieves' parents. In fact, ~he police have
<br />found stolen hubcaps on the cars of the parents of the boy who had stolen them. These were hubcaps that cost
<br />in excess of al00 knd the parents stated that they thought the son had bought them. It is estima%ed that a
<br />minimum of 75% of the burglaries in Portsmouth are committed by juveniles.
<br />
<br /> Another factor contributing to these burglaries are the citizens who are buying the stolen goods from
<br />burglary, sus. pects. Just last week there appeared an article in the newspaper where the burglary squad
<br />detectives w~rked around the clock to brea~- a case involving homes in Sterling Point, ~est Norfo~ and Port
<br />Norfolk. In this article it was reported that a portion~,~6f the merchandise was recovered by detectives from
<br />the homes of several citizens who had bought this merchandise from a burglary., suspect.
<br />
<br /> Some increase in suppression and detection could be accomplished by increasing the police patrols. How-
<br />ever, to be really effective, this could soon reach a point of diminishing returns, both in dollars and ef-
<br />fective coverage of any sizable area. During the period from January 1 t~rough November S~, 1968, police
<br />vehicles were driven 1,174,000 miles. All vehicles other than the patrol cars are constantly being shifted
<br />to cover those areas where there is a flare-up of burglaries a~d other crimes.
<br />
<br /> Regarding the particular areas of Prentis Park and Brighton, the following information is furnished.
<br />
<br /> From December 1, 1968, to January 14, 1969, there were 46 burglary repprts received from these areas. On
<br />January' 15, 1969, the patrol was substantially increased in this problem area. ~ne records tkroug~ Febrna~
<br />20, 1969, show that there have been 16 burglary reports received from these areas. T~is shows a decrease of
<br />65%. This method Droves to be a satisfactory deterrent but cannot 5e used f~r long periods of time due to the
<br />pressing problems in other areas of t,~e city."
<br />
<br /> Motion of ~r~ Turner to receive the report as information was adopted, without dissenting vote.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mr. Holley that the City Manager investigate the percentage of convictions in the burglary
<br />cases referred to in the report.
<br />
<br />- UNFINISHED BUSINESS -
<br />
<br />69-41 - The following ordinance, approved on first reading at last meeting, was taken up and read:
<br />
<br />"kN ORDIN~NCE CREATING THE CRANEY ISLAND STUDY CON{,4ISSION, PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMEN~ OF
<br />~ND PRESCRIBING THE TE~S OF OFFICE OF Tt{E MEMBERS OF SAID C0~4ISSION, PROVIDING FOR TH~
<br />FILLING OF VACANCIES ON SAID COI~ISSION, FOR THE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS, FOR THE ORGANIZATION
<br />OF SAID CO~iISSION, ~ND PRESCRIBING THE DUTIES OF SAID CO~B,~ISSION."
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. Eastes~ the ordinance was adopted, and hy the following vote:
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Barnes, Eastes, Holley, JMmson, King, Turner
<br /> Nays: None
<br />
<br />69-42 - The following ordinance, approved on first reading at last meeting, was taken up and read:
<br />
<br />"AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE $81,000.00 FROM THE G~'~ERAL CAPITAL tMPROVEM~NT FUND FOR REPAIRS
<br />TO THE C~RCHLAND BRIDGE."
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. King, the ordinance was adopted, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Barnes, Eastes, Holley, Johnson, King, Turner
<br /> Nays: None
<br />
<br />69-45 - The following ordinance, approved on first reading at last meeting, ~i%s taken up and read:
<br />
<br />"AN ORDINANCE TO A~END//iE CODE OF TIiE CITY OF PORTSMOUTIi, VIRGINIA, 1961, BY ADDING TO
<br />CHAPTER Si It{EREOF, A NEW kRTICLE NL~BERED VI, CONSISTING OF FIVE SECTIONS, DESIGNATING A
<br />CERTAIN STREET AS A MALL STREET, PROVIDING FOR MALL ~ND MALL T~NSIT STREETS kND
<br />REGULATION THEREOF, ~qD PROVIDING PF2~ALTtES FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF."
<br />
<br />On motion of Mr. Johnson, the ordinance was adopted, and by the following vote:
<br />
<br /> Ayes: Barnes, Eastes, Holley, Johnson, King, Turner
<br /> Nays: None
<br />
<br />
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