Bryan police need your help to test new alert system

The Bryan Police Department is setting up a text messaging alert system, and is seeking volunteers to help test the beta version.

To volunteer, simply send your name, address and cell phone number to
Officer Joe Ingram at ingramj@bryantx.gov . If you prefer, you may call Officer Ingram's office at 979-209-5549.

Scam artists continue to approach residents with sob story

A message from Officer J.P. Ingram of the Bryan Police Department:

The Bryan Police Department recently sent out a press release about an email warning people about a female going door to door asking for money. Since sending out the press release the people involved started to approach residents again.

This time the scam works this way: A female approaches a residence and says that her daughter has a medical emergency at a Houston hospital. She advises that she needs $40.00 for gas and that she will pay the person back.

This previous incident, and the one mentioned in the email, occurred on November 19, but has recently occurred on November 29th at approximately 0800 hours and on November 30th at 1700 hours.

During the incident that occurred on November 30th the female asking for money got into a white 1995 Chevy Blazer with Texas License Plate 8CK-W06. The vehicle was previously contacted and the driver was identified as Shane Cave Young, W/M, DOB 09/26/1972. It is still believed that Shane Cave Young, W/M, DOB 09/26/1972, Jennie Alice Strobel, W/F, DOB 07/12/1969, and Stacy Rene Dawson, W/F, DOB 03/06/1968 are involved in this scam.

The Bryan Police Department is requesting that residents keep their doors closed to strangers. If you are approached with this scam, please contact the Bryan Police Department at 361-3888 or your local law enforcement agency immediately. Please provide a description of the person, the person's clothing, and a vehicle description. This information will be used to file charges onthose responsible for the scams.

I just wanted to share an incident which has happened here in Bryan. This incident did occur, and the police department was able to identify the person(s) involved. I am taking this time to pass this information on to you all as a Public Service Announcement. Please use caution when answering the door in the middle of the night, if you do not recognize the person knocking on the door call 9-1-1.

-- Officer J. P. Ingram, Bryan Police Department, Neighborhood Enforcement Team 7 Zone

A citizen wrote:

"Last night I was startled awake at 2:20am. A woman was knocking loudly at the door and ringing the doorbell. She was saying, "It's your neighbor I need help." I have no peephole (I will very soon now) so I opened my wooden door but left the screen door closed. I did not recognize the woman and was immediately aware that I should not have opened the door at all. She explained that she lived on the corner and her son's fiancé was in labor in Houston with her first grandchild. She needed to get down there but had no money for gas. I told her I didn't have much cash but that I would see what I could do. I closed the door and went to get $5 so she would leave me alone

"As I walked back to the door she was looking down at the road (I couldn't see what she was looking at) and started cussing. I was very scared at this point but then noticed a Bryan PD car in the street and then saw an officer coming up my walkway. He began talking to her and asked her to step away from my door. To make a long story shorter there was a car parked in front of my house (I couldn't see it from my door) with 2 men inside. The officer wrote her a citation and made them leave the area. He then came and talked to me. He told me that the driver of the car was a known thief and while he has never (to their knowledge) broken in while someone was at home, they very well could have been casing the place as they were able to see inside my house.

"I knew better than to open the door, I am SO thankful for God's protection despite my stupidity. The officers handled everything so well and I am INCERDIBLY grateful that my neighbors called the police and they arrived when they did. I have certainly learned a lesson and hope that others can too. I know we often have a false sense of security living in BCS. Please be careful!!!!""

Hurricane Ike: Tractor is available to move downed trees in neighborhood this weekend

From neighborhood resident Tedi Rockett:

Just wanted to let everyone know that we have our tractor at our house and if anyone has a tree down or a tree in the street give us a call and Tom can see what he can do. Our home phone is 703-5788.

Suspicious truck reported on Garden Acres

Bryan Police Officer Brady Rockett, who lives at 736 Garden Acres, asked us to post the following item:

I came home today at around 1400. I noticed an older white, single cab Ford pickup parked in front of 734 Garden Acres.

The truck was occupied by two middle-aged white males. They were both staring intently at that residence. As I pulled up they both looked at me and left in a big hurry.

I got in behind them and got there plate (TX LP 54D-DP1) I also noticed that they had 3 chainsaws, an aluminum ladder, and a small power washer in their truck. The items were piled on top of several other items that I could not see.

I let them get ahead of me a little ways and I cut back through the neighborhood. I later saw them driving through the area at Carter Creek and Broadmoor. The truck was acting very suspicious driving slowly looking at houses. I called it in to dispatch and a call was put in.

If you see this vehicle in the neighborhood, please report it to the Bryan Police Department at 979-361-3888.

A great example of the Neighborhood Watch at work

On Aug. 26, Bryan Officer J.P. Ingram asked us to post photos of a suspicious vehicle taken by residents on Vine Street. The truck's occupant was looking at houses with what appeared to be binoculars.

We posted the photos immediately.

Within 24 hours, we received a message from the truck's owner, a local real estate appraiser who it turns out was just taking photos of houses to use in an analysis of comparable sales. The owner learned about the post from a friend, contacted us, and apologized for generating concern. Once we knew the story behind the suspicious activity, we took down the post.

This is a perfect example of how the Neighborhood Watch program should work every day.

• If you see any suspicious in the neighborhood, report it to Officer Ingram or to the Bryan Police Department at 979-361-3888
• If the police agree that the activity is suspicious, they will ask us to post it here. (it helps if you can provide a photo, but a good description is also useful.)
  
• If we later learn there is a harmless explanation for the suspicious activity, we can always take down the post down.

It all begins with vigilant neighbors like the ones on Vine Street who take the time to report anything that is out of place to Bryan police. No one should be concerned with becoming the Boy Who Cried 'Wolf'. Make the report and let the police decide whether a suspicious activity should generate concern.

Bryan police officer is living in the Garden Acres neighborhood

Hi neighbors!

My son, Brady Rockett, is living with us for one year at 736 Garden Acres. Some of you may have seen his police car in front of our home. Please read his response to the email below.

Thanks, Tedi Rockett

________________________________

Hello to my new neighbors..

My name is Brady Rockett and I am currently living on Garden Acres and I am also a Bryan Police Officer. My email address is rockett302@hotmail.com . If any of you have any questions feel free to email me. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

I wanted to respond to the egging incident. Please be sure if your car is egged wash it off immediately. Dried egg will destroy a paint job. It is also helpful to snap a few pictures of it before hosing it down. I would also advise you to make a report.

As for juveniles wandering the street in the wee hours of the morning, Bryan does have a curfew between the hours of midnight and 5am. If you notice juveniles out and about between these hours please notify the PD immediately. I would advise against contacting these individuals on your own.

Always be observant in your neighborhood. If you notice any suspicious activity in the area try to make note of it, i.e. the time, type of activity, and if you called the Police. Keep good records and documentation. Documentation is the key to solving most problems.

Remember no matter how insignificant something might seem it could make all the difference in a future investigation. The same would apply if the problems always seem to coming from a specific residence.

As I said before feel free to email me if you have question. If it is an emergency always dial 911,
and be sure to always keep Officer J.P. Ingram in the loop. Officer Ingram is an outstanding Officer and works hard for the citizens of Bryan. I will send all questions I receive to him as well.

I look forward to working the residents of Garden Acres to make this the safest neighborhood in the city.

Block captains to distribute refrigerator magnets with Neighborhood Watch flyers

From Gary Wolff, GANA president:

"Don Gardner is close to organizing the block captains for the GANA sections.

"John Colvin, Brad Hollas and the Newman Sign Group have designed and produced refrigerator magnets with police contact information. Don Gardner and the block captains will be distributing with an informational handout put together by Rusty Cawley.

"Thanks go to Brad, Don, John, Rusty for their efforts and the Newman Sign Group for producing the magnets at no cost."

Resident reports youths wandering neighborhood in early morning, plus egging of car

Received this note from a homeowner in the 700 block of Garden Acres:

"This morning at 2:30 a.m., the dogs alerted us and we found 3 young white boys (12 - 15) year olds walking on neighbors lawns (north side of Garden Acres). After a confrontation with some young adults (party going on at 715 Garden Acres) they turned north on to Edgewood St.

"This morning we discovered an egg had been thrown at our car. Not sure if we were singled out (unknown reason as to why), but would alert neighbors to look at their vehicles. Egg will ruin a paint job.

"Also, parents of the young teenagers need to be aware of the dangers of young kids wandering the streets at 2:30 a.m."

Two examples of how local residents and police departments can work together to stop neighborhood crime

Officer J.P. Ingram, our neighborhood's point of contact with the Bryan Police Department, reports the following:

After College Station Police Department recently arrested Brodniey Ray for burglary of a habitation, we arrested his brother Marlon Ray and a juvenile for the same crime.

On Thursday, we arrested two subjects for burglary of a habitation off of Eagle Pass. Brian Hammons and Thomas Wilkerson were both arrested when a "Watch Dog" citizen called the police department to report that a male subject knocked on the front door, as another subject waited in the vehicle. When no one answered the front door, both subjects proceeded to the back of the residences to gain access. Both subjects were apprehended without incident, and the victim's property was recovered.

This was a great example of you the citizen, assisting your police department in making Bryan the safest place to live.

Suspicious person reported in 700 block of Edgewood

From Officer J.P. Ingram, Bryan Police Department, Neighborhood Enforcement Team 7 Zone:

"An SPO person was reported in the 700 block of Edgewood. The reporting person stated that a white male in his 50's with tattoos was in your neighborhood association.

"The unnamed subject was walking away from a residence, when a mindful "watch dog" citizen called in. The citizen approached the male subject, and asked if he lived in the area. The
person asked the citizen if he was a "COP", the citizen stated no. It sounds as if the person then made up some type of story as to who he was visiting, then left the scene. Although, we where not able to locate the white male subject, I am grateful that the citizen called 911 to report it.

"Remember, as a TEAM we will make a positive impact. Call in all suspicious activity."

• Call Bryan Police at 361-3888.
• Or dial 911 for emergencies.

Keep watch for these vehicles, which may be used for burglaries in our neighborhood

Bryan Police Officer J.P. Ingram of Neighborhood Enforcement Team 7 Zone reports that daytime burglars are hitting the 7 Zone (which includes the Garden Acres subdivision) with alarming frequency in recent months.

The burglars appear to focus on side streets rather than major thoroughfares, and strike between the hours of 8 am. and 5 p.m. They may avoid lunch hours to avoid homeowners who come home to eat. They also avoid weekends.

Their last two strikes were on Midwest near Briarcrest/29th and on Garden Acres near Texas/Broadmoor. Based on the patterns of the burglaries, the theives' focus appears to be moving to the northwest, Officer Ingram says.

He requests that all residents of the subdivision report any suspicious behavior to Bryan police at 979-361-3888.

In particular, keep an eye out for these vehicles, which police suspect are being used in burglaries in our neighborhood:

• A blue, four-door Buick LeSabre (first three digits of the licence place: 537).
• A dark, four-door Cadillac (685).
• A silver, four-door Chevy Impala (695).
• A brown, four-door Chevy Caprice (276).
• A white, four-door Chevy Blazer (5WS).
• A maroon, four-door Chevy Lumina (822).
• A blue, four-door Chevy Lumina (Y63).
• A silver, four-door Mazda Protege (P12).

Help us put an end to the current wave of burglaries in the Garden Acres Neighborhood

Organizational Meeting: Neighborhood Crime Watch
• Thursday, May 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Tanglewood Park (main pavilion)

Residents of the Garden Acres subdivision have reported six break-ins over the last few months. Thieves are targeting flat-screen TVs, guns and gold. They are casing the neighborhood on weekdays. When they find a house with no one at home, they kick in a door and run rampant.

In response, the Garden Acres Neighborhood Association is organizing a Neighborhood Crime Watch for the subdivision. All residents of the subdivision are invited to attend the organizational meeting.

Officer J.P. Ingram and Officer Robyn Neveu of the Bryan Police Department will answer any questions and recruit block captains for the Garden Acres Neighborhood Crime Watch Program.

We will seek volunteers to encourage neighborhood residents to:
• Keep an eye out for strangers and strange vehicles in the neighborhood.
• Report suspicious activity to police.
• Watch neighbors’ homes when they are out of town.
• Lock up gold, guns and other valuables.
• Keep records of serial numbers on television and other electronic equipment.
• Engrave valuables with identification numbers.
• Contribute money to purchase and post “Neighborhood Crime Watch” signs throughout the subdivision. (Signs are $35 each. Send checks to Garden Acres Neighborhood Association, 723 Inwood Dr, Bryan, 77802)

Our goal is simple: To make our neighborhood uncomfortable and unprofitable for our city’s criminals.

Join us. Attend the meeting on May 15.