Property crimes in Rockridge were down significantly last month compared with January 2009, and violent crimes remained flat, reported one neighborhood resident who keeps a close eye on the numbers.

Vivek Bhatia, who runs www.rockridgeresidents.org, spoke to the Rockridge Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council on Thursday night, February 11,  at the group's monthly meeting. Bhatia lives in the neighborhood and is a member of the group.

Oakland has about 30 neighborhood councils, which correspond to police beats. The councils, which are community run, are a way for neighbors to communicate about local issues. Police officers attend the meetings to hear residents' concerns, share crime alerts and offer safety advice.

The Rockridge council covers two police beats, 12Y and 13X, which spans the Rockridge neighborhood up to Alcatraz Avenue and stretches east into the Oakland hills. About a dozen local residents attended the meeting.

Bhatia presents crime statistics monthly to the group. He said 28 property crimes were reported in January, down from 44 in 2009 and 73 in 2008. Some of the thefts appeared clustered in time and proximity, and he urged neighbors to report anyone suspicious, peering into cars or trying door handles, to stop a potential spree.

"January shows a nice drop from last year, but the rain may have had something to do with this," Bhatia said.

Violent crimes in January remained steady, with just a handful reported in 2009 and 2010.

Temescal wasn't so lucky, with just six crimes against persons in January 2009 jumping to 29 this year.

Oakland Police officer Patrick Gerrans spoke to the group next, agreeing with Bhatia that the rain may have put a damper on crimes of opportunity, such as auto burglaries and other thefts.

He addressed the group's concerns from an earlier meeting, which included frustrations about speeding along Keith Avenue and that someone might be selling cars illegally at the intersection of Miles Avenue and Cavour Street.

Members of the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council set priorities for their beats to share with police, who make efforts to watch out for these issues when they're on patrol.

Gerrans told the group that the best way to stay safe is to be alert and take careful note when spotting anyone suspicious.

"With robberies, for example, give us detailed physical descriptions and the specific words they say when they demand your stuff. If they have a car, get the color and the license plate," he said.

Captain Anthony Toribio, who's in charge of Oakland police operations in Area 1 (West, North and downtown Oakland) closed the meeting by reminding residents to "take personal safety to heart and live it."

Toribio added that 775 sworn officers are working for the police department, of 803 positions approved by the City. Four to five officers leave through attrition on a monthly basis, he said. The department is trying to work out details for a police academy later this year to fill the ranks.

Oakland police officers will soon shift to a different schedule, he said. They currently work three or four days of 12-hour shifts, then have three or four days free, depending on the schedule. The new shift will run four 10-hour days.

A "watch change," coming on March 20, he said, means neighbors likely will see some new faces as officers from other beats return to Area 1, and some familiar officers shift to other parts of the city.

Toribio also mentioned a staff shortage of 14 dispatchers in the 911 call center, which fielded 650,000 calls in 2009. Sergeants who supervise at the center, he added, will return to patrol as the police department works to "civilianize" the office.

The captain mentioned an effort he hopes to spearhead later this year to get Oaklanders to shop local the day after Thanksgiving. When he learned that some local businesses started the Plaid Friday movement in 2009 to do just that, his interest was piqued.

"I really want to put a positive spin on the city of Oakland," he said. "I want to project all the good things are going on. We need to work on enhancing our image. That's how we're going to get out of this rut."

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About Emilie Raguso

Emilie Raguso is a multimedia reporter in Oakland who focuses on issues of criminal justice, food and Oakland culture. She is passionate about social media, documentary photography and sustainable living. Her work has appeared on Salon and NPR, as well as in The Modesto Bee, Greater Good magazine and the East Bay Express. Write her at eraguso@gmail.com, follow her on Twitter (@emraguso) and see more of her work at http://raguso.us.