Who’s Looking Out in Northern Liberties?

By Amanda Gonzalez

The latest break-in for Rob Matthews, occurred the evening of December 6, 2004. This would be the second time in 9 months that his truck had been the target of a break-in. The robber smashed the passenger side window and rummaged through everything. Matthews assumes they were looking for money; luckily he does not keep any in the truck so the robber got away with nothing. But Matthews was left without a car window.

Both times Matthews were parked on American Street south of Poplar, near the old Ortliebs Factory.

“There have been a lot of break-ins along American lately. I see a lot of smashed glass on the ground and cars with smashed windows in the morning,” explained Mattews in an e-mail correspondence. He has been a resident of the Northern Liberties area for four years and feels that opportunistic crimes like this have increased instead of getting better over the passed for years. “I think there is just more stuff to steal, more cars to break into.”

Northern Liberties is the area of Philadelphia extending from Vine Street to Girard Avenue between Delaware Avenue and 6th Street. Many people talk of the Northern Liberties area as up and coming; over the years its population has diversified becoming home to artists, young professionals and families. Northern Liberties has gone through many phases since it’s development - it has been described by Neal Pollack as a farming community, an industrial area, a commercial and wholesale produce center, a marketplace, and an abandoned district.

As developers purchased plots of land for housing and restaurant development the areas population has increased considerably – over 4,000 people live in Northern Liberties.

Along with the development boom was the creation of Northern Liberties Neighbors (NLN), a community organization that has helped the neighborhood keep its integrity as it has developed. This organization also developed a town watch program to help keep residents informed about crime, accidents and other problems in the area.

Joseph Morrin, co chairman of the town watch committee, host’s monthly open houses where residents get together and discuss the incidents that have occurred in the area. Morris gets his information from residents that contact the NLN when an incident occurs and from his contacts with the 26th and 6th police districts that patrol the area. They are then able to keep a crime map that tracks all incidents that occur in Northern Liberties.

“Overall Northern Liberties seems like a safe place to live but just like many other areas of the city there are certain places that are better than others. My car was parked on the corner of St. John Neumann Way and 4th Street. It was 10:30 in the morning on a Sunday, I came back to my car about an hour later and my stereo had been stolen. In broad daylight!” said Anthony Petrucci. “I asked around to see if anyone saw anything but no one did.”
Rosie, secretary of Northern Liberties Neighbors, brought something to my attention that newer residents may not know. “The area of 4th Street around Poplar has been a target. We think 1 or 2 homeless people keep going back to that area. I would get an alarm on your house and be careful coming in and out.”

This news is very startling to someone whose friends just happened to move into that area.

Last year residents of the area were victims of a series of muggings. The Muggers would attack people from behind and hit them over the head with a brick. Residents hung signs warning neighbors to be careful. Eventually the muggers were caught but after 9 people had been assaulted.

Crime Statistic Reports from the 6th District, provided by Joseph Mallin, show that the crimes committed most often where thefts from automobiles and vandalism/criminal mischief. Here is a break down of incidents from the 6th district for the months of January – March and June – July.

1/30 – 3/4/2004 3/5 – 3/11/2004
Theft from Auto 7 Theft From Auto 1
Vandalism/Criminal mischief 9 Vandalism/criminal mischief 4
Stolen Vehicles 5 Stolen Vehicles 2
Robberies 1

6/11-7/8/2004
Theft from Auto 11
Vandalism/Criminal mischief 7
Stolen Vehicles 5
Robberies 4

This fact that these incidents occurred in this community can be shocking to many residents.

Donald Phillips, a 16 year resident, feels, “Police response time has improved dramatically over the last 10 years.” Like many other long time residents’ things have definitely gotten better in the area.

“There are anywhere between 2 – 15 police officers patrolling the whole district which is a 2 ½ mile radius,” explained Officer Fabrizio of the 26th district. About 7 cars patrol this area at any given time. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the patrol numbers for the 6th district, which patrols the other half of Northern Liberties. In any case, both 6th and 26th district have increased police presence in the area. During the spring and summer months there is also a bike patrol that covers the area.

Police presence has helped to keep Northern Liberties moving in the right direction but crimes like break-ins and auto thefts still occur. Many times police officers come after a crime has occurred but who is around while these incidents are happening? Your Neighbors.

Rob Carcione has lived in Northern Liberties a little less than a year and has been the victim of robbery 3 times. “I don’t feel a sense of community. No one knows each other; they just stay in their houses. We should look out for each other and be aware of anything-suspicious going on. Maybe if thieves knew someone was looking out, they’d be less likely to break into someone’s car.”

The incidents described in this article are only a few residents’ stories and there are many more residents that feel the neighborhood is well on its way and getting better. Knowing that these types of crimes still occur can be beneficial to new residents of the area. Similar to what Rob Matthews had said earlier - as more residents move to the area there just is more opportunity for thieves to steal.

The NLN is doing its job and trying to inform residents about crime and development but others need to pitch in too. Help keep Northern Liberties a strong community and get out and meet your neighbors. Older residents can chat with newer members of the community about the area - Keep your neighbors informed of any suspicious activity you may have seen. If residents are not aware of what areas are most effected by crime they will not be able to protect themselves from it.

A strong community is what has helped Northern Liberties rise from its’ previous states. Help it continue to grow by strengthening the community around you.