Summer time is here and where else can you spend a cool afternoon but at your local shopping malls. Here are just a few common sense safety tips that will help you make your summer shopping experience a bit safer.

Safety in Numbers

As always, it is a good idea to shop with friends or family when possible, particularly at night. The “buddy system” is most effect in deterring would be criminals from targeting victims. Safety in numbers is the name of the game.

Parking

When choosing a place to park, one should look for spaces near lighted areas and in plain view of the store and other shoppers. Criminals do not like to be seen by people or surveillance cameras. Have keys in hand and be ready to unlock and enter the vehicle swiftly with a plan to lock doors. If approached prior to getting in your vehicle, change directions and head back to an area where others can be alerted.

Vigilance

Be observant, alert. Upon arrival and prior to exiting your vehicle, take the time to look around. If you see someone loitering, be suspicious and do not hesitate to report the activity to police, store security or other employees. When exiting the store, pause for just a few seconds near the doorway and look around. If there is someone waiting for a potential victim, they are likely waiting in the wings for the opportunity to swoop by and snatch a purse from the unsuspecting customer. If you see someone that just doesn’t fit the scene or makes you uneasy, go back inside and report it to someone. Trust your instincts!

Assistance

When in doubt about the surroundings, ask for a store employee or security to escort you to your car. There is no shame in asking for assistance and stores are generally happy to do it.

Purses & Valuables

What’s in your purse? One should consider reviewing what valuables are kept in the purse. Only those items essential to your shopping trip should make the trip. Far too often the victim has a multitude of credits cards, cash and various forms of I.D. Try trimming back on these items to minimize the potential loss and risk of identity theft. If you must carry a purse, wear it high on the shoulder and when possible, conceal it from view with a jacket or sweater drawn over it. It’s harder to steal what can’t be seen or isn’t there.

Have A Plan

In the event someone does take your purse, don’t fight over it or give chase. Being injured is not worth the replaceable contents of your purse. Should this happen, make lots of noise, scream and yell help, thief. Point in the direction of the suspect, but do not give chase, again the danger outweighs the loss of item. Try to obtain a complete description of the suspect, vehicles and direction of travel and write it down. This will assist law enforcement in catching the bad guys and the recovering loss. Of course, go back into the nearest place of safety and call police immediately via 9-1-1. If dialing from a cell phone, it is best to have the Police Department’s direct number programmed into your phone. This will save time, as most cell phone 9-1-1 calls must be rerouted to the appropriate agency.

Pasadena Police Dispatch Non-Emergency Line (626) 744-4241.

Construction workers work on the exterior of Allen-Brigden Classics on North Allen in Pasadena, June 7, 2010, as the latest affordable housing project nearing completion. Four of the six units are designated for moderate-income families, but what also sets the project apart is that two of the units are being marketed as live/work units for small home-based businesses. Applications are still being accepted.

NOTE: Your Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association Board was instrumental in stopping the plan to build the initial project which was totally out of keeping and out of scale with the neighborhood. We worked with the City and Trademark Development to re-group and construct a smaller scale project befitting a gateway to Brigden Ranch.

Here is a excerpt from a Pasadena Star-News article published June 6, 2010. Read the full article at the link below.

Former gas station site reborn as affordable townhouse complex

PASADENA - A former gas station at 1142 N. Allen Ave. is nearing completion as Pasadena’s newest affordable townhouse complex aimed at first-time buyers.

Developer Joel Bryant of Pasadena-based Trademark Development Co. said the company bought the land from the city at the bargain price of $50,000 - with the understanding that any housing development would be affordable.

Read the full Pasadena Star-News at http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_15246352

Here’s a burglary suspect being sought in Arcadia.

Please click on this link to see photos of this burglar suspect, who was spotted in Arcadia.

If you recognize or see him in our neighborhood, please be sure to note any suspicious activity and the suspect’s location in the neighborhood, then immediately call the Arcadia Police Dept.

The following Community Message has been issued by the Arcadia Police Department.
Tuesday June 8, 2010 3:22 PM PDT

The man shown in these photos is believed to be the suspect in a residential burglary that occurred in the 300 block of West Longden Avenue on June 3, 2010, during early morning hours. The residence was being “aired out” after having been fumigated. The location was ransacked and cash was taken.

The suspect appears to be a male white in his 30’s, this build, brown hair, prescription glasses, wearing a light colored t-shirt, and light colored athletic shorts.

Anyone with information on this individual is asked to call APD Detectives at (626)574-5160, reference case #10-3004.

For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/2451995/.

NOTE: Neighbors must be vigilant in order to protect our neighborhood. Here’s an article we recently ran across.

Take Notice of Suspicious Vehicles

The recent attempted terrorist attack in New York reminds us once again that taking notice of suspicious vehicles-and reporting them-can be critical in preventing structural damage, injury and loss of life.

On a balmy, busy Saturday night last month, a crude incendiary device was discovered in a smoking Nissan Pathfinder in Times Square. Police were called to the scene by an alert street vendor who noticed the smoke. Inside the vehicle, authorities found propane, gasoline, fireworks and two clocks with batteries. Police determined that the device was in the process of detonating when it was discovered, but that it had malfunctioned.

No doubt luck-that the device didn’t go off because the man who assembled it wasn’t very skilled-played a role in avoiding a potentially deadly event. But what ultimately foiled the attack was the vigilance of an “ordinary citizen” who noticed something unusual about the vehicle and immediately reported his suspicions to the authorities.

Something is Just Not Right

So, what is it that makes a vehicle suspicious? Clearly, an S.U.V. with smoke coming out of it raised a red flag, but most clues that a vehicle might be suspicious are a bit more subtle.

Suspicious vehicles can come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but the one defining characteristic they all share is that they seem “out of place.” Some other indicators to watch for include a car, van or vehicle that:

• Emits an odd odor of chemicals, fuel, fertilizer or gunpowder
• Doesn’t “fit” its surroundings-e.g., too pricey or too beat up, a panel truck in an area usually occupied by passenger cars
• Has missing license plates-or an older vehicle with new or temporary tags
• Is sagging on its springs which could indicate a load of explosives
• Is parked awkwardly or parked in an unauthorized place
• Moves slowly and repeatedly through an area
• Has tinted windows or otherwise blocked view inside
• Has been left in the same spot for an unusually long period of time
• Is left idling in an unusual spot or unusual way (e.g., door ajar or window open)
• Occupants are seen leaving in a hurried or strange manner

Most suspicious-looking vehicles turn out to be false alarms. In fact, in the days and weeks following the Times Square event, New York City police responded to several suspicious-vehicle calls-all of which turned out to be non-threatening. But it’s safer not to assume there is no risk. If you observe a vehicle with one or more of the above indicators, report it to the authorities immediately.

Five Senses are Enough to Spot Potential Trouble

Some say law enforcement and security personnel have a “sixth sense” when it comes to spotting trouble before it happens. But there is nothing supernatural about it. What sets these professionals apart is training and experience-that and frequent, thorough patrols of their environment that give insight into what is usual, and what is not.

Alert security officers on patrol and at access control points may be the first to detect a suspicious vehicle near or at a client site. But, as the street vendor in Times Square proved, anyone with a keen understanding of his or her surroundings can learn to detect when something-or someone-seems out of place.

All residents of Brigden Ranch and surrounding blocks are invited to attend a Neighborhood Watch Meeting on Monday, April 26, 2010.

Anita Butler from the Neighborhood Services Unit of the Pasadena Police Department, along with one of our Central Service Area 3 officers will attend this meeting. They will update us on the recent crime activity in the Brigden Ranch neighborhood and how we can assist in preventing future occurrences.

This meeting is an opportunity for you to learn more about crime prevention and to help organize Neighborhood Watch Programs in Brigden Ranch. We will also leave time to address any issues or concerns you may have.

The Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held at the home of Laura Lee-Chin & Mathieu Desbrun, 2210 Woodlyn Road (Between Martelo and Craig), Monday, April 26 at 7 p.m. Please let them know if you can attend – (626) 798-0131. Laura is Pasadena Police Central Service Area Advisory Community Member.

In June 2008, the City Council approved the implementation of AT&T Project U-Verse, which upgrades its existing network by providing digital television, high-speed internet and telephone service. This upgrade requires the placement of new above-ground cabinets in the public right-of-way both in commercial and residential areas of the City.

Based on a recent field review, Public Works has identified the following location for placement of a U-Verse cabinet in our neighborhood – 2130 Casa Grande St. The cabinet will be on the east side of N. Craig Ave. about halfway between Casa Grande and Cooley. The approximate size of the cabinet is 48” high x 46.5” wide x 26” deep.

This location was pre-approved by the City as part of the Champion Broadcast (formerly Altrio communications) system build-out in which all cabinets have been completely removed from the public right-of-way. The City requires AT&T to minimize major construction in our neighborhood, however minor trenching may occur.

Should anyone want to respond to this notification, they may do so by contacting Danny Wooten, City Project Manager, Public Works, Engineering (626) 744-7401; or Dan Rix, City Engineer at (626) 744-4267 before May 13, 2010.

Donn Dufford
President
Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association

This did NOT happen in Brigden Ranch, but nearby.  We should be vigilant.

A burglary occurred in the 2200 block of Dudley, south of BR, this week.

Someone entered the garage around 7-9 a.m.  They took things, then entered the house.  They took jewelry and a laptop.

What makes this dangerous is that the burglar(s) was/were there while a child was at home asleep after the owner had gone to work.

Our belief is that the burglar was someone with knowledge of the family’s pattern in the morning.  The mother had left for work and their usual time, and the child normally wouldn’t have been home, but had a late school start that day.

The other point, that should be a lesson to all of us, is that the homeowner always leaves their house unlocked.  The burglar(s) may have known this.

Many of us have lived in Brigden Ranch for decades.  It has always been, and continues to be, a safe neighborhood.  But we should all take precautions to ensure the safety of our homes, our belongings, and our family.

Please check our website from time to time to learn more about what’s happening in Brigden Ranch.  And please ask your neighbors to send us their email address so we can keep them posted.

This last point is particularly important because several of the addresses on our list are being returned as undeliverable.  We know some of these folks are still around, but maybe they’ve changed their email address.

Have a great weekend.

Donn Dufford
President
Brigden Ranch

As many of you have noticed, the 1150 N. Allen (the old Gas Station) Project is well under way. The developer hopes to have the second story framed and a wood roof (not the final completed roof) on by March 31, with the completion date set for July 31.

The developer has cooperated with BRNA from day one, been responsive to our requests, and we believe is constructing a project all of Brigden Ranch can be pleased with.

You may be aware that the original developer planned a three-story big box project that did not fit in with our neighborhood. It would have been built all the way to the street, restricting views of traffic, and with no “style” or thought given to our neighborhood architecture. Five years ago, your Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association Board began applying pressure on the City to stop the initial project. After many meetings, the City recalled the zoning permits and agreed to buy back the property from the first developer for about $1 million. To our knowledge, this had never been done before in Pasadena. They also agreed to our requests for including “moderate income” condominiums priced to attract local Pasadena workers.

Eventually, the current developer was approved by the City. The developer has worked with the City and BRNA to design a condominium project we believe is more in fitting with your neighborhood. The architect describes the design as Santa Barbara inspired Spanish style.

The condominium project is a two-story mixed-use building. It will contain two mixed use (live-work) spaces. These consist of a commercial unit downstairs tied to a residential living space on the second floor. The idea is to allow for someone to live in a condominium and have an office downstairs. This space is ideal for home offices, architects, and other low-use workspaces.

These live-work spaces are prohibited from being retail (stores, bakeries, dry cleaners, etc.) or restaurants.

The price for the live-work spaces are expected to be in the low- to mid-$500,000s.

Additionally, there are four residential living spaces on the second floor. Through discussions with BRNA, the City and the developer, these will be targeted at moderate income, first-time homebuyers. Moderate income is defined as a family earning about $56,000 to $70,000. This type of buyer might be a recent college graduate just starting out. They might be an entry-level worker, perhaps a police officer, city worker, teacher, architect, city college worker, or such.

One of the residential living spaces is a one-bedroom priced at $232,000. Two are two-bedrooms priced at $262,000. One is three-bedrooms priced at $292,000.

Prospective buyers will be closely screened to make sure they meet all requirements and understand all the restrictions of the project. They first must be approved by the bank, and then by the City, which has very strict requirements for this type of project. The restrictions will prevent any investors from buying into the project.

You may have seen that the building sits back from Brigden and Allen. Off-street parking will be inside the structures, and should be adequate for each unit. We are discussing the need to maintain the red curb markings on Brigden and Allen to avoid traffic problems due to cars turning onto and off Brigden. The street light on the south side of Brigden has been relocated 10 feet to meet City requirements.

A small garden is being considered.

The developer has worked hard to keep the outside of the site cleaned up. About 90% of the deliveries (like wood) have been made, so neighbors shouldn’t be inconvenienced.

If you have a question, feel free to email me at donnduff@aol.com and I’ll get you an answer.

Donn Dufford
Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association

In an effort to be more “transparent,” the Pasadena Police Department has introduced a new web page. This site, www.crimemapping.com is an attempt to allow citizens to find out what is happening in Pasadena from a crime standpoint.

Unfortunately, as with much of the information found on the Web, the raw data provided needs some explanation to be correctly understood. At first glance, all of the pin points on the map might make it appear as if Pasadena is suffering from a huge number of crimes. This isn’t the case.

This tool allows you to hone in on areas around your home, work place or school. However, it doesn’t easily allow for pinpointing crimes that have actually occurred within Brigden Ranch proper (a much smaller area). The tool also doesn’t spell out exactly what a particular crime actually was, whether the criminal was arrested, whether the District Attorney acted upon the case or whether it was dropped, and other important information needed to draw logical conclusions about the safety of Brigden Ranch, and Pasadena.

Another drawback to this new tool is that it doesn’t start plotting crimes until November 2, 2009, and does not compare statistics with past history. Also, the time period seems too specific (it appears to be only four months back from the current date.)

That given, here are some statistics you may find useful. They include Brigden Ranch proper, along with a half-mile radius from the center of Brigden Ranch.

Let’s start by defining Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association as Casa Grande Street on the south, Galbreth Road on the north, North Allen Avenue on the west and North Martelo Road on the east.

According to the Pasadena Police Department, only 11 crimes were reported during the four months between Nov 2, 2009 and March 10, 2010 within Brigden Ranch.

Those crimes were: Two reports of graffiti on Allen, both the same day, so apparently by the same individual(s). Petty theft in the 2100 block of Queensberry. Public intoxication in the 1900 block of Queensberry (two at the same location), and one in the 2100 block of Brigden. Two residential burglaries (one in the 2300 block of Queensberry, and one in the 2300 block of Woodlyn). Two vehicle burglaries (one in the 1900 block of Queensberry and one in the 2100 block of Casa Grande).

If you believe there were other crimes, they may not have been reported to the PPD, and/or a formal report may not have been taken and a case number assigned.

Note there were no crimes on a person, or violent crimes.

In other words, your Brigden Ranch neighborhood is pretty darn safe. (BUT it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set up Neighborhood Watches and know your neighbors and their schedules. To date, only two sets of homeowners within Brigden Ranch, and one immediately outside have

By comparison, there were 33 crimes within a half-mile radius of the 2200 block of Brigden (approximately Allen on the west, Buena Vista on the east (east of Altadena Drive), Orange Grove on the south, and just south of New York on the north). This includes Brigden Ranch as well as areas adjacent.

There were 122 crimes within a one-mile radius (approximately Hill on the west, Eaton Canyon Golf Course on the east, the 210 Freeway on the south, and Meadowbrook Road and Glen Canyon Road on the north). Within 2 miles, there were 167 crimes between Dec. 1, 2009 and March 10, 2010 (approximately Rosemead on the east, Los Robles on the west, California on the south and the foothills to the north).

Two other web sites are available to the public. The general PPD site:

http://cityofpasadena.net/Police/ where you can click on the “e-policing tool bar” to reach the above site. And, another where you can subscribe to emails from the PPD and other areas policing agencies.

http://www.nixle.com We haven’t found this service to be of much use, other than to find out when area police departments are running sobriety checkpoints (but not where).

A dear friend of Brigden Ranch, Pasadena neighborhoods, and mine, has passed away. Henry Sherrod, BRNA director and officer, lost his six-month battle with lung cancer January 13.

Henry had lived on Galbreth Road in Brigden Ranch for 17 years. As a director of the Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association, he was instrumental in working with the City to build an appealing mixed-use structure at Brigden and Allen. Henry was active in convincing the City to change the old gas station project at 1950 N. Allen from a large project that didn’t fit Brigden Ranch into a smaller, more realistic project to help provide housing for people with moderate incomes.

Through his work on behalf of BRNA, Henry became the long-time president of the Pasadena Neighborhood Coalition, an organization of neighborhood associations dedicated to improving the quality of life in all of Pasadena’s neighborhoods.

Born in Palo Alto in 1947, Henry moved to Redlands, California the same year. After graduation from Redlands High School, he completed his bachelor’s degree in economics at Claremont McKenna College (then Claremont Men’s College). He received his master’s degree in business administration from Mount St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California, and his law degree from the University of San Francisco.

Henry served in the Vietnam conflict as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army before beginning a successful career as an accomplished attorney and trial litigator in Northern and later Southern California.

He and his domestic partner, John Marquette, met in Oakland in 1983, and moved to Southern California in 1986. He worked for the Auto Club of Southern California for 13 years, retiring in 2005. Not one to sit still, Henry then worked for private legal firms as a trial attorney. Shortly after retirement, he was selected to be a member of the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Temporary Judge Program, and was active in the program until mid-2009.

Henry and John moved from Highland Park in Los Angeles to the Brigden Ranch neighborhood on Halloween Day, 1992. He and John installed one of the first solar energy systems at their home in 2005.

Henry is survived by his domestic partner John Marquette; his sister Ann Sherrod Russell of Los Angeles; two brothers, David of Portland, Oregon and Charles of Arizona; and two nephews, Kenneth Sackett of San Diego and Kelly Sackett of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A memorial and celebration of life Henry will be held Sunday, February 21, at 3:00 p.m. at the Altadena Town and Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the donor’s choice of charities assisting the children of Haiti.

Donn Dufford
President
Brigden Ranch Neighborhood Association