Neighborhood Watch Alert

Thurs, May 26th, 2011

The following information is being distributed by several area schools and neighborhoods. Registered sex offender Kenneth Barnes was seen again in Roland Park yesterday at 3:30pm. He was spotted near the intersection of Deepdene Avenue and Roland Avenue driving his red VW Cabriolet (license plate number of MD MEG887) and pausing to chat with children walking nearby. His parole requires him to stay away from places where children congregate. If you observe him in violation of his parole, please call 911.

Bike Thief – Bellona-Gittings Area

Following a recent incident the responding Baltimore City Police reported that there has been a rash of bike thefts in the area. They are reminding residents to lock their houses, sheds, and garages to protect their recreational and lawn equipment. They warn that opportunists take advantage of the easy pickings when they find unsecured bikes and lawn equipment left on sidewalks and front lawns. In addition, deceptive tactics are sometimes employed by those looking for an equipment upgrade. The following incident was reported to the Board.

Recently on a Saturday evening several kids were riding their bikes on a street near their home in our community. As they were playing a group of seven or eight older kids ranging in age from 10 to 16 years old rode bikes down the same street. The two groups started talking and after a while one of the strangers asked if he could try out a trick on the new bike belonging to one of the resident kids. Thinking the stranger just wanted to show the group a trick there in the immediate area. The resident kid got off the bike to let the stranger try the trick. Once on the new bike, the stranger and all his buddies took off leaving an old smaller bike behind. The resident kids, shocked by the deception, ran home and told their father what had happened. The father jumped in his car and took off looking for the group. He caught up with them near Bryn Mawr. When the kid on the bike refused to give it up, the father tackled the kid and sat on him until the police arrived. The other boys in the group all disappeared, but the police hoped to get some information regarding some of the recent bike thefts from the apprehended teen who is from a neighborhood several miles away.

The father of the resident kids reports that the kids learned a lesson in caution, and are (for now, at least) locking up their bikes.