‘Tis the season for sharing, for shopping, for caroling, for hoping, and with Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim, our wish for all our neighbors is “God Bless Us, Everyone!”

Still, we caution vigilance.

In the rush and revelry of the season, along with the 39th P.D., East Falls Town Watch reminds neighbors that a few folks of ill-will lurk about determined to take advantage of the unsuspecting. We cite the late great American poet Carl Sandburg in urging you to “Be careful. Be careless. Be Careful,” as you go about business and pleasure this holiday season.

Specifically, be aware of your surroundings at all times. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 to report unusual vehicles, persons, activities. Remove all valuables from vehicles. Keep all windows and doors securely locked.

Vigilance is ever the watchword in keeping ourselves and our neighborhood safe. “Be aware of your surroundings - as you travel or shop” is the exhortation from our police. We concur, and with our officers, urge you to remove all valuables, even not-so-valuable (coins, laundry, etc), even vestiges of valuables (tell-tale ring of GPS suction cup) or else - you may become a victim of a car break-in.

Of course, step one is to “lock your car” at all times. However, if you do suffer a vehicle break-in—one that takes place within the boundaries of East Falls or Southwest Germantown - don’t touch anything. Call 9-1-1. An officer, specially trained to take prints, will record the data for lab investigators. “Reading” the scene of car break-ins is currently a pilot project for Service Area #1. If successful in providing leads, patterns, arrests—the expectation is the project will expand to the rest of the 39th Police District.

Aug 19, 8pm: Burglary. 33xx Calumet St. Unknown person/s forced the rear door open and removed a (2) gold rings, a diamond rings, class ring, several gold colored necklaces.

Aug 21, 12am: Recovered Auto. Indian Queen Lane & Haywood St. A 2011 Toyota Solara.Aug 23, 4pm: Burglary. 33xx Queen Lane. Unknown person/s removed a wooden jewelry box containing various pieces of jewelry, a diamond ring, gold watch, gold  & silver bracelet and an ankle bracelet.

Aug 25, 3am: Theft from Auto. 29xx Schoolhouse Lane. Unknown person/s broke the front p/s window of a Chevy Equinox and ransacked the auto.

Aug 26 8:30pm: Theft from Auto. Unknown person/s smashed the rear p/s window of a 2000 Hyundai Tiburon and removed a Garmin GPS, wallet containing, $25 JCP gift card,  $50 Wegman’s gift card, work & school ID’s.

Aug 27, 1am: Burglary and Auto Theft. 33xx Allegheny Ave. Unknown person/s removed a PS3 w/ accessories, MacBook Pro, 40” Samsung LCD TV, Xbox 380 w/ accessories, a yellow 2000 Ford Escape with keys.

Following a disturbing spike in local crime as reported last month, most categories of reported crime showed a modest rate of decline, mid-August through mid-September, reported Lt. Ed Bier of the 39th P.D.’s Police Service Area #1 (PSA #1) at his September meeting with residents of East Falls and Southwest Germantown. “The best thing is to protect yourself by locking windows and doors at all times, using interior, exterior and motion-sensitive lighting, and reporting any and all suspicious activity to 9-1-1.”

Lt. Bier also reminded neighbors that if you come home and find your home has been burglarized, or if you go out to your car  and see that it has been broken into - Don’t disturb the crime scene; rather, call 9-1-1 immediately - to maximize the chances for police to lift prints and pick up other evidence that could lead to an arrest. In fact, lifting prints of car break-ins is a pilot project occurring only in PSA $1 to determine its rate of success in leading to arrests.