DEARBORN — On Wednesday, April 30, the Dearborn Police Department held a Community Awareness Meeting at the Dearborn Public Schools Administration Building on the city’s west side to inform residents of crime trends that typically arise in the spring and summer seasons.

Hosted by Sergeant David Marshall and Corporal Dan Bartok, the police department announced that Part A crimes, which include home invasions, burglaries, car thefts, larceny and narcotic offenses, are down 15 percent in the first quarter of 2014, compared to the same time period last year. 

The department attributes part of the decline to severe cold and snow hitting the region this winter, but it also added that new technologies that have increased community awareness may also be a contributing factor. 

The department divides the city into eight beats. Four beats are located east of Southfield Freeway and identified as the city’s “east side,” and four beats are located west of Southfield Freeway, identified as the “west side.” 

While six of the beats in the city experienced sharp declines in Part A crime, two beats on the east end of town experienced increases. Beat 2, which includes a major business district, experienced an 8% increase in crime, mostly due to shoplifting. 

Beat 4, in the city’s South End, experienced the biggest increase in crime, a 26 percent jump. Despite this, it is still the safest section of the city with the least amount of reported crimes. 

Beat 6, which consists of the area around Fairlane Town Center, experienced a 17 percent decline in reported Part A crimes. 

Police also warned residents of spring and summer crime trends that include home repair scams that tend to target senior citizens.  Also, homes are more prone to invasions due to doors and windows being left open more frequently. 

The department urged residents who are planning to take a vacation to sign up for its Vacation House Check Program, where police officers will randomly patrol around the house and look out  for suspicious activity.

Residents were also urged to sign up and participate in the Neighborhood Association Program, which functions to address concerns and affairs in a particular neighborhood. Landlords renting homes and neglecting maintenance is a common problem that the association addresses. The association also keeps residents in the loop with the police department.

Local residents can learn more about the Neighborhood Association by calling John A. Cascardo at 313.943.2216.

The department’s Nixle program, a text message emergency alert system, has gathered close to 8,000 subscribers. Residents can sign up for the program from their cell phone by texting 48126 to the number 888-777.