We just received word that Chocolati Cafe on 45th (1716 N. 45th St.) was burglarized last night. The shop’s morning staff found that someone had broken in through the women’s bathroom window, located in the back of the store. Mark from the cafe told me that the safe had been smashed open with a hammer and chisel and the burglar made off with $1,000 in cash.
Thanks for the tip, Domenic.
That sucks, and certainly one should be able to feel – and be! – secure in their home or place of business… but, that said, I am a little surprised that anyone leaves any cash – let alone a grand – in their business overnight. I’ve never worked retail, so maybe there’s some practical reason that’s necessary, but I can’t imagine what it is.
I thought this same thing less than a week ago, it seems, the last time a commercial burglary was reported on Wallyhood.
Can anyone enlighten me?
/r
Margaret, you’re very welcome.
Rob, I never dealt with cash directly in retail, so I can only speculate that businesses plan to deposit their nightly cash earnings (Chocolati closes at 11pm) first thing in the morning when banks are open… rather than having an employee carry it out the door (for safety and security reasons).
Since I mentioned their late business hours, the silver lining is that it’s good to know that nobody was hurt or worse.
I’m starting to feel like I live in the C.D. or Belltown instead of Wallingford.
@DE (can I call you “DE”?) – Thanks, that makes sense!
/r
I am afraid this is just the tip of the way things are going to be going, as people become more desperate for money in this strange economy of war we are living in.
People, Listen, We need a revolution.
Wallingford has been unscathed for a long time. ‘they’re moving in’ the rough necks. So watch out. Lock your doors, and get a security system.
Is this new, or are we now just made more aware by the Internet? The revolution may not be televised, but it might be blogged.
Steal this blog 🙂
Ugh, why do people feel the need to commit bad Sociology to explain events.
The crime rates in the US have fallen steadily over the last several years, and that has continued even as the economy took a turn for the worst. Your “economy of war” theory is interesting, but doesn’t have any basis in fact
We need the police to start patrolling.
Two days ago, after a trip overseas, my friend came to get her car (that was parked on the street in front of my house). It had been vandalized while she was gone. My next door neighbor told me that their car was vandalized, and about 6 months ago, our other neighbor bought a new car. within days, it was also vandalized. All three breakins were within 6 months.
I can’t help but think all of this “apartment building” that is going on is bringing in the riffraff.
we pay property taxes to the city, which is used to pay police salaries. I think it is time we get some of the protection we pay for.
I thought that studies are showing that only violent crime is down, while other crimes (like vandalism, burglary) were rising during the recession.???
I’d be shocked if the perpetrators live in apartments in Wallingford. They are likely coming in from other areas.
I’ve been reading a lot about “The Great Divergence” (rising income inequality) and I imagine that could drive an increase in these types of crimes in the long run. Definitely not an excuse for individual behavior (I want them caught and arrested!) but it does say something about the direction of our society.
Neighbors need to help keep watch over one another!
“I can’t help but think all of this ‘apartment building’ that is going on is bringing in the riffraff.”
Like all those shady grad students and Microsoft commuters?
“I can’t help but think all of this ‘apartment building’ that is going on is bringing in the riffraff.”
And like me. A 3 year resident, neighborhood volunteer, Wallingford/Fremont employee and engaged Wallyhood writer. I pay property taxes through my rent. Haven’t stolen anything from anybody except the editor of this blog (he says very funny and very smart things that I pop into my posts on occasion).
Am I riff raff because I can’t yet afford to buy a home or rent a full house in the neighborhood I choose to live and thrive in? Nope.
In psychology, we were taught that the ones who take the greatest offense are most likely guilty. Hmmm…
I agree with Doug. This isn’t about crime rates rising or falling, it’s about being plugged-in to what’s going on around us.
I can help with an alarm system – i am a member of the Wally-Chamber and work with an auth. Dealer with ADT – security is totally affordable for homes and businesses and statistics show that a monitored location has almost no chance of a break-in…
we now live in a time in which there are no “safe” and no “crime” neighborhoods – it happens everywhere and is mainly opportunistic – it is best to protect ourselves whenever we can, as there is so much in life we may not be able to control…
i can be reached at [email protected]
Carol, I have to disagree about the alarm system. One of my neighbors here in Wallingford had her rear door sledge-hammered in last year and then the burglar(s) went in and burgled. After installing a security system, the same thing happened shortly thereafter. See, when someone breaks in, the security company calls the house to make sure the owner didn’t accidentally set the alarm off. When no one answers, then they call the police. By the time anyone is able to respond, the miscreants are gone. When these guys see an alarm is in evidence, they know they have a certain amount of time to do their dirty deeds before anyone might catch them at it. At best, it’s of most help at night when you’re likely to be home and it gives you an audible warning of an intruder, but a dog would be able to provide that service, as well. Advertising that you’re armed and prepared to protect yourself and your property might be a deterrent, as well.
I am less surprised about the amount of money left overnight (the small-ish business I work for keeps thousands of dollars on hand 24-7), but that the “safe” could be defeated by a hammer. The safe at my work probably weighs several tons, and the door feels like it weighs a few hundred pounds. I doubt a strong man with a 20 pound sledge could dent that thing. We’ve never been burgled.
A safe that could be smashed open with a hammer is a waste of money, obviously.
the safe weighs several tons? maybe it isn’t a safe, but a vault…
Sunday morning I went to get mymail early.. and soemone had left a pack, food, shoes and socks in the Wallingford PO. I did not peek around the corner to encounter whomever… peopel sleeping in PO’s may not have much else.