The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • T6

NEWS Clarke to seek city funds for a Hampden foot patrol "I totally agree with you," Burrus said, citing a sharp rise in burglaries and larceny from auto. "I just don't have the resources to dedicate somebody. I can't do it." But Whiting and other merchants wouldn't take no for an answer. "It's a neighborhood that's unaccustomed to the crime it's been getting," said association president Benn Ray, co-owner of Atomic Books. "We've been patient but we're sick ofit" And merchants argued that a foot patrol officer would actually help police, because such an officer would have a finger on the pulse of crime and the "role players" involved.

"A walking foot patrol would know these people," Steve Baker, owner of the art studio Wholly Terra, told Burrus. "He'll have data for you." But Burrus said, "It's impossible forme to give you something I don't have," though she added that she could reassign an officer to patrol the area temporarily. The discussion ended on a brighter note, as Baltimore City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke said that she and Councilman Nick Mosby, who represent the area, might be able to get funding for a patrol officer. "I think Councilman Mosby and I can help," Clarke said, saying it would make Hampden safer for visitors from around the area. "This is a valuable resource for all of north Baltimore," she said.

Burrus, who is relatively new as commander, came to the meeting to introduce herself to the merchants, update them on crime in the neighborhood and answer questions. "I don't take it personally," she said of the criticism. "You can beat me up. You're passionate about your community. I understand." Crime has been rising noticeably in Hampden in recent months.

Burrus' predecessor, Sabrina Tapp-Harper, reported to the merchants' group in June that crime was down districtwide, but up in Hampden specifically, especially in property crime categories, as well as aggravated assaults, many of them stemming from domestic disputes. Merchants at the June meeting said there had been a rash of burglaries, including at the coffee shop Spro, the eatery Luigi's, the bar Zissimo's and the shop Bryan's Finds and Designs. By Larry Perl lperltribune.com Short of banging her fist on a table, merchant Denise Whiting couldn't have been more emphatic about the need for more police presence in and around The Avenue, at a time when property crime in Hampden is rising. "We have to have a foot patrol officer," Whiting, owner of Cafe Hon and HONtown, told the Northern District's police commander, Maj Kimberly Burrus, at a meeting of the Hampden Village Merchants Association on Sept. 11.

"We need one desperately," Whiting said. Burrus was just as emphatic in her response. 2 p.m. Sept. 13.

Two bikes stolen from shed. East Melrose Avenue Unit block at 6 a.m. Sept. 10. Someone tried to steal chain saw from garage, but fled when confronted by home owner.

Miles Avenue 2700 block at 7:13 p.m. Sept. 12. Drugs and packaging stolen during police raid. Newbury Street 5700 block at 5:07 p.m.

Sept. 12. Bag, wallet, iPod stolen from vehicle. Normandy Place 5500 block, between 6 p.m. Sept.

10 and 9:15 a.m. Sept. 11. Copper downspouts stolen. Oakenshaw Place 3400 block at 9:30 p.m.

Sept. 8. Someone entered house through front screen door but fled when home owner came downstairs. West Old Cold Spring Lane 1300 block, between 8:30 p.m. Sept.

9 and 10:40 a.m. Sept. 10. Pioneer stereo system, amplifier stolen from vehicle. Overhill Road Unit block, between 8 a.m.

and 6 p.m. Sept. 10. Bicycle stolen from garage. Pinehurst Road 6000 block, between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Sept. 8. Purse stolen from vehicle. Evesham Avenue 400 block, between midnight and 2 a.m. Sept.

14. Backpack, MacBook Pro, wallet stolen during house party. 500 block at 2:20 p.m. Sept. 14.

Woman returned home to find gun on her sofa. Firearm was reported stolen from Lancaster, in March 2012. Greenmount Avenue 3200 block at 12:20 a.m. Sept. 12.

Black iPhone, white iPhone stolen from counter of Mobile store. East Highf ield Road 200 bloc, between 7:28 and 10 a.m. Sept. 10. iPad and iPad 2, Acer and Compaq laptops, iPhone, Kindle tablets stolen from residence.

Entry gained through kitchen window. Keswick Road 3900 block, between 6:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Sept. 14.

Green, 1995 Dodge Dakota with Maryland tags 2BA2695 stolen. 3700 block, between 8 p.m. Sept. 13 and noon Sept. 14.

Cash, check, iPod, three pairs of sunglasses, paperwork stolen from vehicle. West Lake Avenue Unit block, between 9 p.m. Sept. 8 and 6 a.m. Sept.

9. Bicycle stolen from rear yard. 100 block, between 5 p.m. Sept. 8 and 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 12. Copper downspout stolen from outside of house. Lombardy Place 5500 block, between 3 p.m. Sept.

8 and Roland Avenue 5100 block at 7 p.m. Sept. 9. ATM card, handbag, ID stolen from vehicle. 3600 block, between 9:18 and 9:35 a.m.

Sept. 12. Clothes, bag stolen from vehicle. Springlake Way 5500 block, between 1:30 p.m. Sept.

9 and 8:15 a.m. Sept. 10. Copper gutter stolen from outside of house. St.

Dunstans Road 100 block, between 10 and 11 a.m. Sept. 12. Copper downspout stolen. Tunbridge Road 500 block at 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 9. Victim stabbed during argument taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in stable condition. Wendover Road 4300 block, between 7:25 a.m. and 6:10 p.m.

47-inch TV, DVD player, iPad with keyboard, gold necklace stolen from residence. Entry through side window. 100 block, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sept.

9. Baume Mercier and Jaeger-LeCoultre watches stolen from residence while workers were there. West 36th Street 1000 block, between 12:33 and 1:30 a.m. Sept. 14.

Wallet with ID, cash, debit card, papers stolen. Victim though he lost his wallet, but thensaw charges on card. West 41st Street 1000 block at 8:10 p.m. Sept. 12.Dunkin Donuts robbed at knifepoint.

CRIME LOG The following is compiled from police reports. It is the Baltimore Messenger's policy to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Baltimore City Police Department's Northern District at 410-396-2455. Barclay Street 3100 block, between 8nand 10 p.m. Sept.

11. 1998 GMC Savana van with Maryland tags 2BE5286 stolen. North Calvert Street 3500 block, between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sept.

10. Books, DVDs stolen from package left on front porch of residence. North Charles Street 4200 block at 11 a.m. Sept. 9.

Wallet, with ID, credit cards, personal papers stolen from purse in residence. Entry gained through front door. Churchwardens Road 100 block at 12:45 p.m. Sept. 8.

Copper downspouts stolen. Clipper Park Road 2000 block at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Garmin GPS stolen from vehicle.

Enfield Road 100 block, between 7 a.m. Sept. 13 and 1 p.m. Sept. 14.

Copper downspouts stolen. 6 Baltimore Messenger September 19, 2013 baltimoremessenger.com.