Residents are looking out for each other in Essex as thefts of delivered packages have been noted on Front Porch Forum. Watch Local 22 TV to see how neighbors watch out for each other to increase public safety!
“I have to admit I haven’t followed the bear posts very closely, because our neighbors initial post did all that was needed- alerted neighbors to a possible threat… My almost four year old is just becoming independent in the back yard and when I saw the post about the sighting on our road I told my husband right away and we have had to be more alert and more restricting, a difficult balance. We also just got back into chickens and I realize after reading the post I could do more to deter bears…
SO thank you Neighbor, for your warning, your care, and your information. Thanks to FPF for giving us another way to connect with our neighbors and ‘shout’ from the porch.” • Ann & Everett in Elmore
Bears getting too close to your home? Let your neighbors know on Front Porch Forum!
While crime reports on FPF may not result in finding stolen items, neighbors can be counted on to help!
“I wanted to thank our community for the support we received after my son’s bike was stolen last week. We received three offers of new bikes for him (one of which he is happily riding around on) and lots of messages of support. The original bike has yet to be seen, but maybe one day it will turn up.” • Jaime in Montpelier
Original post: “We woke up this morning to find my autistic seven year old’s bike stolen off our porch. If you’ve taken it, PLEASE bring it back. It’s worth almost nothing, but he is very attached to it. As a back up, if anyone has a 20 inch kids bike with training wheels lying around, we’d like a replacement as soon as possible. He’s going to be very upset when he realizes it’s gone.”
Use Front Porch Forum as a neighborhood watch in your town.
Front Porch Forum members show how neighbors look out for each other
“Thank you FPF for helping to identify the suspicious vehicle I posted about. A neighbor further down the road let me know that it was them. By posting something on FPF that didn’t seem right this person was able to let me know there was nothing to be concerned about.“ • Shannon in Ferrisburg
Share safety tips with your neighbors by posting on FPF!
“On April 27, my 13-year-old was attacked just before 6 p.m. by a man with a folding pocketknife on the bike path near the train trestle between North Beach and Leddy Park. The man demanded my son hand over his bike and his wallet. Although my son was fortunate enough to get away with both his bike and his wallet, the man slashed him with the knife on his face and his shoulder. The cuts were superficial, but the whole event was incredibly frightening. Please take care on the bike path!”
• Lori, a Burlington South End neighborhood Front Porch Forum
UPDATE: “I’ve received several requests for a description of the man who assaulted my son on the bike path on Thursday, April 27. My son is still in shock and cannot recall all that happened, but here are the details he remembers about the man: White male, mid- to late twenties, approximately 5′ 7″ tall, average build, was wearing a very nice Nike zip-front black hoodie with the hood up and navy workout pants, and had two rings on his right hand—one on the pointer finger and one on his middle finger. The man first slashed my son while the knife was in his right hand, but then transferred the knife to his left hand before slashing my son the second time.”
Local police in many neighborhood utilize FPF as a way to keep abreast of community concerns.
“The Vermont State Police – Williston Barracks has joined Front Porch Forum. We look forward to communicating with our neighbors. Our goal is to inform everyone with what VSP is doing in and around our communities. We would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on any community concerns as well.”
• Paul at VSP Williston Barracks
“Thank you to the resident or visitor who found my credit card on the sidewalk and returned it to the police station! It was returned before I even knew it was gone. Love this town!”
• Rachel in Stowe
It’s wonderful to see stories of neighbors helping neighbors on Front Porch Forum, instead of hearing about a stolen credit card. Lost or found something of value? Add a post in FPF!
“Posting for a friend: She had a chicken coop stolen off her property in Hinesburg Wednesday afternoon about 3-4:30. Blue Chevy pick up headed towards Bristol with 3 people 2 males and 1 female. If you saw them or have any information please contact Hinesburg Police. I don’t have a photo of the coop but it’s big, stands on 4 legs, has window on side and long one on back to get eggs out. No siding on it yet just plywood on sides. Its about 6 feet by 4 feet.”
• Mallory, Bristol Front Porch Forum
Many folks recommend reporting local crimes on your FPF… helps to raise awareness… a kind of neighborhood watch.
And… who steals someone’s chicken coop?
“In the early morning hours of Monday, March 6, my life flipped upside down with the words ‘get out, get out, it’s a real fire!’ Running outdoors in one’s pajamas, into a windchill of -14, is not an experience I recommend to anyone.
“The heroes of our Burlington Fire Department were there in short order, and the Red Cross was behind them by just a few minutes. Wonderful neighbors opened their doors at once and kept them open all night through hours of the interviews, paperwork, and other mundane details of a waking nightmare. Other people’s gloves and heavy coats and bags for retrieving what we could when it was over appeared seemingly out of nowhere. A night that went badly but could have gone far, far worse was made bearable by not going through it alone. Vermonters are the best people in the world.
“I don’t know yet how long I will be displaced. There is a long period of friends’ guest rooms and daily conversations with insurance companies yet to come. There could have been a long period in a burn unit, and I am writing a Front Porch Forum post, not an obituary, so I am very grateful.
“Thanks for listening.
“P.S.–check your smoke detectors!!”
• Holly, Old North End FPF, Burlington
Postings like those below (this set is from March 1) have become common on Front Porch Forum across Burlington’s South End…
“The two street-side tires were slashed on a pickup truck parked in front of our house on lower Lyman, we think sometime between last night (Wed 3/1) and this morning. We didn’t notice any activity or hear anything unusual. My husband called the police and an officer stopped by to say the usual – that this type of thing has been happening all over the city and they are trying to track down the perpetrator(s). The officer also said that he had already responded to another incident up the street.”
• Laura, The Addition FPF in Burlington’s South End
“Hey folks – I woke up yesterday morning to find 3 of 4 windows smashed (both street-side, one sidewalk side) on my car parked on upper Ferguson. Nothing taken that I am aware of, however, there was a strange addition of white rice in the front seats. The responding officer was also perplexed by the rice, but did indicate, as we know, that this type of vandalism has been occurring all over Burlington for a while now. Yesterday evening I did locate two BBs inside my vehicle. Wanted to post to let folks know that this vandalism is still occurring.”
• Kristi,The Addition FPF in Burlington’s South End
“Be aware – tires slashed on upper Spruce St. night of 3/1-3/2. Car parked on street.”
• Priscilla, South Union FPF in Burlington’s South End
“My tire was also slashed, Priscilla… I’m on South Union, a couple houses from Spruce. Sad to hear someone else went through this!”
• Kevin, South Union FPF in Burlington’s South End
Same thing happened on my street in the Five Sisters neighborhood a few weeks ago. If you have any information about these incidents, please notify the Burlington Police and post on your local FPF so neighbors can be aware.
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more