Citizens Efforts Lead to Junk Man Arrest

From Shannon Taylor, the Forest Hill Neighborhood Watch Captain;

Please see the message below from Sgt. Jernigan, relating how observant neighbors called the police to report a suspicious “Junk Man,” which led to his arrest. Great work everyone!!

There are several “junk men” out there so if you see someone you don’t recognize and your “spidey sense” tingles, just call the police and let them check it out. Maybe it’s nothing and maybe it’s a criminal. We’ll never know unless you call police!

From Sgt. Chris Jernigan of the RPD;

The Junk Man we were looking for in the red truck was positively identified when someone called on him as he drove through the alley in the 4600 block of Devonshire last week. It is through the diligence of our neighbors looking out for each other that we were able to put our hands on him. When we got him, he had over $1200 in receipts dated in the last 3 weeks from different metal recyclers in the city on him along with a lawnmower that looked too good to be thrown away – it had gas in it and was functional! He could not provide us with a location were he got it other than, “back a few blocks.” These items were logged into Property.

Yesterday I saw a guy walk down my block and go up to the porch of a vacant rental house and sit down. I went over to speak with him and found out, after some checking that he was hired to do some work there and was waiting on the owner. Seemingly harmless, but only after I knew for certain who he was and what he was doing there. He completely understood and said that he had been stopped in the area before. He added that he too would call if he sees anyone lurking around. Today, I was in my alley and saw another junk man roll through. I called out to him and was able to do a field interview report on him and got his picture. He did not have any suspicious material in his possession. I am in the process of putting a notebook together of these guys. We have ID’ed two more in the area as well.

Please put out to the neighbors that anytime they see someone in the area that looks suspicious or that they just don’t know who they are or what they are doing to call us immediately!! It doesn’t matter to us what they are doing, just call us when they see them. When they call, please ask them to leave a number we can call them at if we have any questions. We will not walk up and knock on their door, unless they want us to. Also add that they are not bothering us at all when they call, it’s our job.

I know that street and alley lighting is a key crime deterrent. The City has made it easy for people to report them being out or malfunctioning through the City website. However, we can get these repaired faster if they would email either me (Christopher.Jernigan@Richmondgov.com) or Officer Kuper, the 3rd Precinct’s Environmental Officer at Ward.Kuper@Richmondgov.com.