` Oct. 26, 2006 Senator Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg has called on the police commissioner to release details of what many are describing as a rash of burglaries in the Northside and Frenchmen's Bay.
Rumors about an apparent crime wave have run rampant and Donastorg asked that the Police Commissioner inform the public about the true nature of what has taken place.
"People need information," Donastorg said. "We need to know exactly what is taking place."
Donastorg said he was compelled to take his concerns public as he had not received a response from the Police Commissioner more than two weeks after forwarding him a letter on this issue.
"This has been going on for a couple of months and the leadership of the Police Department should have come forward long ago," the Senator said.
In his letter to the Police Commissioner Elton Lewis dated October 6, Donastorg asks that Lewis immediately hold a press conference or issue a public statement in order to provide residents with the facts.
"This information should include the statistics as to where, when and how many homes have been burglarized is there truly a crime wave taking place? If so, what is the modus operandi of the perpetrators? Further the leadership of the Police Department must speak to whether there are, indeed, suspects and descriptions of those allegedly committing these crimes," Donastorg wrote.
"We can not allow our people to live in fear of leaving their homes unattended. It is unfair, unwise and unsafe to keep the public in the dark if a rash of burglaries is, indeed, taking place. Our best chance of exposing the criminals and preventing further break-ins would be to take whatever information the department has to the public. People need to know what kind of suspicious activities they should be aware of and exactly how these individuals are finding their way into our homes."
Donastorg said that without information from official sources, rumors will run rampant and people will become even more fearful.
"It is up to the Office of the Police Commissioner to inform the community about exactly what is taking place, what they can do, and the Police Department's plans to address these matters," Donastorg concluded. "The citizens of this Territory deserve better information."
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