Neighborhood Teens Suspected of Vandalizing Sorrento at Dublin Ranch
A wave of vandalism recently hit the Firenze neighborhood of Sorrento at Dublin Ranch. The latest case involved the malicious smearing of animal feces all over the victim’s front door, porch, and door mat. It is the third reported case at Sorrento this year. Many residents suspect that these crimes were committed by three teenagers who have periodically been spotted loitering in the Firenze neighborhood and near the new construction areas. In fact, one resident thinks her home became a target, after she confronted these three teenagers while they allegedly vandalized another home in the Firenze community. The Firenze residents believe these teenagers live in the neighborhood, because one of the victimized households recognized the young suspects in a local school’s yearbook.
Dublin Police Services had elected not to file reports and notify the neighborhood watch block captains at Sorrento, all of whom had stepped up to serve as a direct response to the second theft at the Sorrento Clubhouse in December 2009, about these recent acts of vandalism. Thanks to the incredible persistence of one victim, who is determined not to have what happened at Sorrento befall another family, Dublin Police Services has just filed a report for the animal fecal smear incident. In addition, Dublin Police Services intends to set up a follow-up meeting between at least one officer on the Crime Prevention Team and the Sorrento neighborhood watch block captains.
While Dublin Police Services has finally taken the appropriate steps in the most recent vandalism case at Sorrento, the concern expressed by some Sorrento residents regarding police response to the reports filed by crime victims has apparently been echoed by other residents throughout Dublin. One resident questioned why the special information bulletin mailed to residents on Ruthven Lane, McKay Lane, Sornoway Lane, Melvich Lane, and Craigtown Lane was not sent to the residents at the California Highlands neighborhood or their homeowners association, given the proximity of the California Highlands neighborhood to the area targeted by the mailing. A resident from the Villas at Dublin Ranch Villages claimed to have called Dublin Police Services multiple times over several nights about the excessive noise level from Grafton Station and seems frustrated by the lack of any noticeable improvement even after those repeated calls of complaint. Another resident reported on Facebook that she was essentially scolded by the officer who responded to her complaint of a noisy neighbor. According to this resident, the officer said “in Dublin, the neighbors get to make as much noises” as they wish until 10PM.
Collective vigilance and the timely sharing of information can be powerful weapons against crime. Dublin is very lucky to have many neighborhood watch groups who are committed to working in partnership with our police services throughout the city. These residents understand that the officers cannot possibly be everywhere at the same time, so they have pledged to do their part in reporting suspicious persons and activities and to share crime prevention bulletins in their respective communities.
Dublin has some of the best police officers through Alameda County patrolling our streets. Most officers have already spent years working in other cities or at the Santa Rita County Jail before serving in Dublin. Although residents have expressed disappointment and concern over the handling of many recent cases by Dublin Police Services, most remain hopeful that Dublin Police Services will eventually meet neighborhood watch groups half way and distribute information in a timely manner and keep everyone safe. In the meantime, the Around Dublin Blog recommends that readers carbon copy Mayor Tim Sbranti at tim.sbranti@ci.dublin.ca.us on all communications with Dublin Police Services regarding ongoing cases that impact community safety.
1:01 AM on June 8th, 2010
Post a picture of the offending teenager. I, for one, would like to know what he looks like.
11:48 AM on June 8th, 2010
The young suspects are innocent until proven guilty, but their pictures should probably be circulated amongst the Sorrento home owners.
1:46 PM on June 8th, 2010
Those juvenile should be put in jail. They are just evil creatures that need to be penalized as an good example of justice.
8:13 AM on June 8th, 2010
-Monthly community meetings with the police department should be held where citizens can voice their concerns.
-There has to be some noise ordinance in place that covers what constitutes loud noise and that the noise cannot exceed a certain amount of decibels. If the noise is unreasonable, the officer should at the very minimum make contact with the offender and ask them to keep it down (I realize that with Grafton Station, it’s more challenging).
-If citizens are unhappy with the service of Dublin PD, get the officer’s name and badge number and file a complaint with the department and the Mayor. Hold these officers accountable.
-Vandalism reports should be taken by the police department. If an officer refuses to take a report, ask their supervisor to respond to the scene because you have the right to have a report filed since a crime was committed. If they still refuse to take a report, ask for a printout of the case history of the call. It’s good to have a paper trail in case this escalates to something else.
4:08 PM on June 8th, 2010
Dublin has some of the best police officers through Alameda County patrolling our streets? Says who? Their stats on tickets delivered?
Not filing reports for vandalism and then putting the burden on the neighborhood watch group is not too impressive. What’s next, they will tell residents where’s there no neighborhood watch group that they can’t help them?
5:30 PM on June 8th, 2010
The police officers mentioned above are not professional. They do not deserve the trust of the Dublin community. They need to be warned and disciplined.
7:14 PM on June 8th, 2010
dublin cops?…a bunch of barney’s and goober’s.
when they are writing you a ticket they are thinking…”You sucker, you are paying for my outragious salary and benefits and now you are gonna pay more sucker”.
cops are crooks and cannot be trusted. SLASH THEIR SALARIES!
8:33 PM on June 8th, 2010
Why don’t they just let the neighborhood watch group to check out their guns and vests to patrol the neighborhood?
6:44 AM on June 9th, 2010
Let? They don’t have to \let\ anybody do anything. It is your right to protect yourself using a weapon.
6:34 PM on June 9th, 2010
i think they should post a picture of the suspected teenagers. Just cause these idiots are making a ruckus out of the neighborhood its going to cause paranoid residents to complain to cops about the little things such as noise, when they need to be focusing on more important matters like crime.
8:45 PM on June 9th, 2010
We should feed those stupid idiots with animal feces.
7:04 AM on June 16th, 2010
I live in Sorrento and I too have had unpleasant experiences with Dublin police when I have called them. It’s police like them that give cops a bad name.
10:34 PM on July 24th, 2011
Dublin cops are a mixed bag. One of the gals they have on their force is a real hag. But worst of all, Dublin’s dispatchers are the rudest and most unprofessional I have ever dealt with. Patronizing and more often than not-utterly useless. They have been condescending and belligerent. I would write their commander and the mayor and suggest that Dublin dump the Alameda County Sheriff and put in their own PD.