Residents, police to talk about crime prevention

Residents in Wheeling's Colonial townhouses will discuss real and perceived problems in the subdivision today and learn valuable lessons about cooperation with law enforcement.

A neighborhood meeting, sponsored by the Colonial Association Board and the Wheeling Police Department will be held at 3 p.m. today at the townhouse complex, located on Colonial Drive in an area north of Dundee Road and Route 83.

Ellen Barnes, secretary of the association board, said the 72-unit complex has had problems with graffiti and vandalism to cars.

Last year, 15-year-old Chavario White was found shot to death in the complex.

"We need the community to start taking some pride in where they live," Barnes said. "We felt having this picnic could unify the community."

One of the goals, Barnes said, is to for both owners and renters in the complex to get to know each other.

Another goal is to reverse stereotypes about the people who live there.

"Every time, you say 'Colonial,' people roll their eyes. 'It's a bad neighborhood.' We want to get that notion away from people," she said. "We're not bad. We're working-class people trying to do the right thing."

Wheeling crime prevention officer Scott Laverd said, "The one problem with this subdivision is that it has not really been very cohesive up until this point. There are a lot of people who are afraid to go outside and there is some gangs we have had there."

The perception of crime is probably greater than the reality of it, he said. As a result, fear is keeping residents inside.

"The benefit of this event is that it's going to give them an opportunity to meet their neighbors (and) to ask questions of the police if they have them," Laverd said. "It's a chance for us to let them know what's really going on in the neighborhood, to let them know that if they want to call us for anything, that they can remain anonymous."

The event will include an appearance by a local DJ, a moonwalk and a raffle. Each resident will also receive a gift bag.

"The businesses around here have been so giving and caring. It's wonderful," Barnes said.

Among those donating to the event are the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel, AF Hair Studio, Bob Chinn's Crabhouse, Bill Stasek Chevrolet, Carnicerias Jimenez Wheeling, Chicago Bagel & Bialy, Burger King, McDonald's, Jewel, Dominick's, Chicago Springfield Insurance, Culver's and Red's Towing, Eskape, Eli's Cheesecake and the Knights of Columbus.

Laverd said residents have a responsibility to make their neighborhood better.

"We can't do it all," he said. "We need their help."

Laverd said he will tell residents what to watch for, such as clothing that may indicate a gang affiliation or people looking into parked cars.

The benefit of calling police, he said, is the message it sends. "After a while, these people know that, 'Hey, this neighborhood is hot.' The people call, and 'Let's go somewhere else where they don't care.'"

He said another sign of caring is keeping property neat. Even minor signs of neglect send the message that the owners don't care.

For Barnes, the bottom line is, "You're a community here. You need to take care of one another and watch out for one another."