Q&A: Beverly Houston

Hillcrest East Neighborhood Association crime watch coordinator

True Crime spoke with Hillcrest East Neighborhood Association crime watch coordinator Beverly Houston about the group and crime in the area.

Have there been any major crimes or incidents in the area recently?

Recently a burglar entered and exited through a back bedroom window without setting off the alarm. People need to check into updating their alarms so that glass breakage or motion sets it off — especially in the master bedroom.

At 3 p.m. on July 7, an intruder came from the alley and broke a small glass window on a back door. He tried to open the door from the inside when the resident interrupted him. The suspect was a black male about 5 feet, 6 or 7 inches tall with straightened but somewhat frizzy hair about an inch above the shoulder. He appeared to be about 25-30 years old with a stocky build. He exited into the alley, where someone was waiting in a getaway car.

What is a recent success story?

Recently, our paid police patrol stopped two suspicious fellows walking after midnight with a backpack, gloves, and a checkbook that didn’t belong to them. Careful follow-up in the next couple of weeks led to a drug arrest and increased surveillance of a house in the neighborhood of a friend they often visit.

What are some more regular concerns residents have noticed in recent weeks?

Especially during vacation time and summer weekends when people tend to travel, it is good to keep an eye out for your neighbors’ homes by being alert to strange or suspicious-acting people.

Dallas police officer Randy Turner, who visited with neighbors during the Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association Fourth of July Parade, said he has made many arrests in response to 911 calls. Officers are happy to check suspicious people out leave it to them. So when in doubt, call 911. It doesn’t have to be a surefire emergency or crime in progress. Why is a neighborhood watch so important?

A neighborhood watch is important because only an alert neighbor knows what is normal or not. I emphasize “alert.” Imagine if all the joggers, dog walkers and parents running errands kept a watchful, alert eye out. Perhaps they might stop many crimes in progress by calling 911. Many crimes occur in broad daylight.

How can residents get involved?

Residents can be involved by taking the VIP [Volunteers in Patrol] course offered about once a month at the North Central Police Station. This teaches neighbors how to be more discerning. It also qualifies them to make a monthly patrol of the neighborhood with another VIP if they would like to.

Residents of the four crime watches in our area [Hillcrest East, Kramer, Hill Haven and Park Central] can also contribute toward the daily paid police patrol for only $120 per year, which we figure has already decreased crime in our area by 20 percent in the last two years. Residents can also call their volunteer crime watch captain and ask if there are any administrative tasks they could help with — mailing lists must be updated occasionally. Anything else to add?

This isn’t the ’50s. Lock your doors and set alarms every time you leave the house. Don’t leave attractive items in a car, locked or unlocked. Better yet, park in your garage if you have one. Don’t open your door to strangers, but do let them know you are there! Let them know by responding loudly, “sorry, not interested” through the closed door or front window. I have received many reports of people who ignored solicitors, only to see them five minutes later trying to enter their back patio door.

Development

Unity Church of Dallas sold four acres of its 11acre property at Forest and Creekway Drive to raise capital for church renovations. The property will be developed into 18 custom home sites in a gated community, 6600 Forest Estates. Back in January, the city plan commission approved plans for the community, and a month later, the city council OK’d the re-zoning. The property is under contract with local developer Charles Hicks. His company, Hicks III Investments, has pre-sold all the lots to a custom homebuilder.

Education

The Lamplighter Elementary School Parents Association and school representatives recently delivered more than 4,000 books to students at Sudie Williams Elementary and Walnut Hill Elementary. Lamplighter held a book drive this spring through its partnership with Commit!, an organization that aims to improve Dallas ISD literacy rates.

Gooch Elementary made strides on the 2013-14 STAAR test compared to last year, improving scores by 19 percent in overall reading, 17 percent in math, 15 percent in science and 51 percent in writing. Gooch’s new principal, Martha Bujanda, helped establish a new focus on a “college-going culture” at the elementary level, implementing higher standards for students. PTA President Danae Gutierrez has also helped revitalize the PTA at Gooch, which now boasts 50 members.

Volunteer

Change lives by volunteering one day a week to teach English to non-English speaking adults at Vickery Meadows Learning Center. Morning, afternoon and evening volunteer teachers are needed for the 12-week fall session beginning in September. Mentors, computer lab aides, office help and special events volunteer positions also are available. To learn more or RSVP for orientation, held Aug. 19 or Aug. 21, contact program director Liz Harling at lharling@vmlc. org or 214.265.5057, ext. 102.

People

Preston Hollow neighbor Karee Sampson was named to the board of directors for the Arthritis Foundation’s south central region. Sampson is involved with several non-profit organizations, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Educational First Steps and Community Partners of Dallas.