Crime Time

Arlington police step up presence around retail centers

With the holiday season in full swing, Arlington police have stepped up patrols at the city's prime retail spots in attempt to prevent criminals from ruining the shopping experience and ease the flow of traffic.

Skywatch towers have also been placed in shopping areas such as The Parks at Arlington mall and the Arlington Highlands. Police are also using bait cars to try to catch car thieves in the act.

As they did on Black Friday, police will be coordinating traffic around retail areas on the busiest shopping days. In the parking lots of the busiest shopping centers, bike and foot patrols will also be deployed to deter crime.

Read more here.

- Patrick M. Walker

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/29/2665320/arlington-police-step-up-presence.html#ixzz16iYexMeI

Arlington PD begins campaign against car burglaries

The Arlington Police Department are launching a campaign this month to curb car burglaries in the city and have released a video interview with a career car burglar to inform people about what he looks for in a vehicle to hit, staff writer Elizabeth Zavala reports.

What does he look for?

"High-class cars and valuable cars," said the man, whom police did not identify. "Lexus, Mercedes, BMWs; I ain't gonna break into something that I can afford."

The city recorded 6,300 vehicle burglaries in 2009 and police are hoping to the campaign will reduce the number of burglaries this summer, Zavala reports. Make sure you watch the video in this report.

-- Lance Murray

Woman nabs burglary suspect by using 'atomic wedgie'

A Salt Lake City woman heard a car alarm outside her office and saw a man rifling through a friend's car.

After telling the friend to call police, Yvonne Morris, set out to confront the man, identified as Frederic Baze, 21. She told Baze he was busted, but he took off with Morris in hot pursuit.

What happened when she caught up to him?

The diminutive Morris eventually latched onto Baze's behind and gave him an atomic wedgie. Ouch! End of chase.

Morris said chasing the man probably wasn't the best idea. He's facing burglary and possession of stolen property charges.

-- Lance Murray

Who has the bishop's crown?

The Greek Orthodox Church wants its crown back. Some one broke into a car parked outside Picolo Mondo restaurant in north Arlington on Friday evening and took a bag that contained a golden crown that belonged to Metropolitan Isaiah, bishop of the Northwest Region of the Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of America. It was the first gift given to him as a bishop more than two decades ago. Church officials are to announce reward for info about the theft during a 3 p.m. news conference today at Arlington police headquarters. Two priests are scheduled to be there. If you know who has the crown, call Arlington police at 817-459-6486 or call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477. You could collect $1,000.Check www.star-telegram.com for more details.

- Kristin Sullivan

GPS smash-and-grabs increasing

What's the hot five-finger-discount item this year? GPS devices.

Staff Writer Melissa Vargas reports that area police are seeing a sharp increase in car burglaries involving Global Positioning System devices like the one pictured at right.

They are urging residents to hide the detachable kind.

Melissa's report also describes how thieves earlier this week stole seven devices at Grapevine Mills mall after smashing car windows. Sgt. Kim Smith told her that most of the devices were portable; only one was installed in the dashboard.

"We tell everyone to stash and store it," Smith said. "Even if that means taking an extra two minutes to put it in the trunk."

-- Bill Miller