In late October, Frank Conaway?s Ashburton home was broken into ? and his 42-inch plasma television stolen.
Not that big of a deal, he thought.
So, Conaway, Baltimore?s veteran Clerk of the Circuit Court, reported the burglary to police and bought a new TV.
But three months later, his home was burglarized again ? this time someone removed a window pane ? and his newer 42-inch TV stolen.
Conaway got more frustrated, but he once again reported the crime and bought a new TV.
Then March 20, Conaway returned home to find a rock thrown through his sliding-glass door and his new 50-inch plasma TV stolen.
“You don?t think they?re coming back, but they do,” Conaway said Wednesday, sounding disheartened. “There are more heinous crimes. But three times ? it gets a little heavy.”
Conaway brought up the crimes in his upscale neighborhood ? where several high-profile Baltimoreans live, including former Mayor Kurt Schmoke ? at the Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council meeting Wednesday.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld said he has spoken with concerned residents.
“I want us to not just drive around the neighborhood, but get out and walk around the neighborhood,” Bealefeld said. “We also put in place helicopter fly-overs in the neighborhood. My understanding is some of those things started out well, but some have petered-off as well. There is a sense that the burglaries have continued.”
Statistics for Northwest Baltimore show 201 burglaries reported this year through March 31, compared to 204 by the same time last year. Specific statistics for Ashburton were not immediately available.
Conaway said he gave police two suspects? names, but has heard little back. He also has produced 1,000 fliers offering a $300 reward for information leading to arrests.
“Crime is too heavy everywhere,” Conaway said. “I don?t think Ashburton is special or we should get special consideration, but when people have been violated, there should be some feeling that the police department is concerned and is trying to catch the people responsible.”
Meanwhile, Conaway is contemplating how to stop the burglars from striking again.
“It makes me feel like laying and waiting, which is not the proper thing to do, but that?s how it makes it feel.”
