In one of his last appearances in front of a community group, police Capt. Thomas Healey last week urged neighbors in Northwood to act like the proverbial squeaky wheel.
Healey, commander of the 15th Police District, will soon retire to take a job with Glaxo SmithKline.
At the Sept. 18 meeting of the Northwood Civic Association, Healey listened to neighbors make various complaints about police response.
The police commander noted that the 911 system is often full of calls, and that crimes are prioritized by severity.
In the 15th district, for instance, there are higher-crime areas than Northwood.
"The peaceful, quiet neighborhoods get lost in the mix," Healey said.
Healey will be replaced by Capt. Mark Dorsey, the executive officer in the 15th. The two have been friends since their childhood days in Olney.
Dorsey attended last week's meeting, along with community relations officer Gary Skerski and four plainclothes narcotics officers from the 15th district.
In all, Healey said crime is up in the 15th district by 3 percent from last year. He attributed the rise in large measure to thefts from automobiles.
Healey said crooks know that motorists often leave cell phones and laptop computers in their cars.
"If you leave it there, it's an invitation to get it stolen," he said.
As for car thefts, Healey suggested a simple solution. Motorists, he said, should purchase -- and, most importantly, use -- The Club.
Healey said the 15th district is trying to cut down on underage drinking and drug use by enforcing the 10:30 p.m. curfew from Sundays through Thursdays and by picking up truants from Frankford High School.
Northwood Civic president Grace Muller called for more patrol cars in Northwood, noting that neighborhood youths and their pals from across the Boulevard in Summerdale have begun to use acid to graffiti property.
"Kids feel free to roam and vandalize," Muller said.
Among the targets were McDonald's, Century 21 and the district office of state Sen. Tina Tartaglione. There were no eyewitnesses to the crimes.
The acid is tough to remove, and the windows often have to replaced.
Mike Galdi, a Realtor whose office is at Bridge Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, said replacing windows is costly.
"The next remedy is putting gates up," said Galdi, adding that gates would be unsightly along Roosevelt Boulevard.
Legislation is expected to be introduced in Council that would ban the sale of acid -- which is used legally by artists -- to minors.
Another neighborhood trouble spot is Greenwood Cemetery. Neighbors complained that kids are able to gather inside the cemetery after knocking down the gate on the 4600 block of Castor Ave.
Joe Zaleski, an aide to City Councilman Rick Mariano (D-7th dist.) and chairman of the Greenwood Advisory Committee, promised to discuss the matter with cemetery owners Ron and Carol Hancock.
Neighbors on the 5300 block of Sylvester St. brought pictures of a house where the residents hang laundry on their front porch. The neighbors also complained of pit bulls running loose on the block.
Jim McCaffery, an aide to City Councilman Jim Kenney, suggested that neighbors contact the District Attorney's Nuisance Task Force.
In response to questions about abandoned cars, Healey told residents to call the 15th district at 215-686-3150 to have them investigated.
Callers should have the car's make, model and condition and the address where it is parked.
In other news from the Sept. 18 meeting:
A sign outside the church reminds Americans to "Stand strong."
"We're in for the ride of our life, in my opinion," Andell said.
The civic association voted not to oppose a variance request by Investment Auto, located at 1101 Orthodox St. (at Large Street).
The variance is needed to create a 45-car employee parking lot for a neighboring business, Mutual Pharmaceutical.
In addition, Investment Auto will evict a landscaping company from the property for a variety of Department of Licenses and Inspections violations.
The measure was introduced by Councilman Frank DiCicco to prevent groups from blocking the erection of billboards. At present, when billboards are approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, an appeal to Common Pleas Court is routine.
DiCicco wants to allow only those taxpayers who are directly affected by a ZBA decision to be able to appeal.
Muller, the Northwood civic president, fears that high-powered attorneys would be able to use the proposed law to bring unwanted commercial development to the neighborhood.
The trees will be cut down at a faster pace, Zaleski said, if Mayor John Street's anti-blight initiative ever passes.
Residents who want to plant a tree in front of their house can call Zaleski at 215-686-3448.