Police officials provided updates at last week’s meeting of the Fox Chase Homeowners Association.
Capt. Marc Metellus and community relations officer Mark Mroz represented the 2nd Police District, which leads the city in carjackings. At the time of the meeting, there were 231 carjackings this year in Philadelphia, including 33 in the 2nd district. In a recent two-week period in the district, there were 24 stolen Kias and 30 stolen Hyundais. Metellus and Mroz recommend buying The Club. Another option is an AirTag to track a stolen car. An AirTag helped find a car on the 9200 block of Blue Grass Road that had been stolen on the 400 block of Cottman Ave. Three juveniles were arrested.
In the 7th Police District, community relations officer Joe Staszak said an arrest was made of a man at the CVS at 1301 Rhawn St. who was high on drugs and aggressive. Staszak also mentioned there have been some fights at George Washington High School. And, he encouraged residents to take in their neighbors’ delivered packages to stop porch pirates from stealing them.
Over in Rockledge, Police Chief John Gallagher said things are a little calmer, telling the crowd that the biggest complaint was loud music from a Mister Softee truck.
“We will get that sonofa—–,” Gallagher joked.
Gallagher said he has increased foot patrols and traffic enforcement. There have been just three burglaries in the 8½ months he’s been on the job.
Gallagher also mentioned the first St. Cecilia School Legacy Run/Walk on Saturday, April 29, at 8 a.m. Proceeds will go to a scholarship fund that benefits children who have a parent who graduated from St. Cecilia. Go to https://stceciliafc.org/.
In other news from the April 12 meeting:
• Fox Chase Homeowners Association is seeking to become incorporated. However, there is an incorporated group named Foxchase Homeowners Association in Washington County, in western Pennsylvania. Thus, the local group plans to change its name to Fox Chase Civic Association. The change will be made at the next meeting, as long as it’s approved by two-thirds of the membership.
• Caring for Friends managing director Steve Schiavone asked for volunteers and donations for the organization. Schiavone said it’s fulfilling for volunteers who make meal deliveries to homebound people. He thanked City Councilman Brian O’Neill for a Philadelphia Activities Fund grant. For more information, call 215-464-2224 or visit CaringForFriends.org.
• Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold an e-cycling event on May 20 and a shredding event on June 3. More details will be available at the next Fox Chase meeting.
• Fox Chase Homeowners Association will meet again on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Loudenslager Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave. ••
