Poway seen as “easy mark” for outside criminals

Does Poway have a crime problem? According to local law enforcement officials, that depends on whom you ask.

Crime statistics, which measure how likely a Poway resident is to be victimized, have “The City in the Country” pegged as the safest city in the county, those attending a Oct. 27 public “Sheriff’s Coffee with the Community” were told.

The low crime numbers continue a long trend and have contributed to a general feeling that Poway is relatively crime free, crime prevention specialist Darlene Duncan said. While that is true, Poway also is gaining an unwanted reputation among criminals as being “an easy mark,” she said.

Capt. Jeff Maxin told the dozen people attending the meeting at Fire Station No. 3 that when several suspects were arrested in September for allegedly taking items from nine vehicles parked in North Poway, they learned that the South Bay-based criminals had specifically picked Poway because they’d heard that residents are lax about taking basic crime protection steps.

All nine vehicles had been left unlocked that night, Maxin said.

“Criminals think Poway is an easy mark, that residents don’t lock up,” Duncan added. “Is that the reputation you want?”

Issues raised by residents attending the meeting included traffic congestion during the month-long “Candy Cane Lane,” holiday light displays in The Palisades neighborhood. One resident said that cars, vans and even tourist buses clogged the residential streets each night to the point where emergency vehicle access might be a problem.

Maxin said he’d look into the situation and suggested that temporary “No Parking” signs and/or traffic control help by members of the Senior Volunteer Patrol could be options.

Other concerns aired included bicycle riders using sidewalks rather than the bike paths along Poway Road, seniors being scammed and elder abuse.