Bridesburg private police leave neighborhood
Star reported in September that at a Bridesburg community meeting that month, residents were handed brochures for the Pennsylvania Private Police, LLC, a private security company that for a monthly fee, could bring a patrol car and armed guards to the neighborhood.
Neighbors agreed that crime in the 15th Police District, which includes Bridesburg, was out of hand — city police also ramped up presence in the district, they said, after neighborhood complaints — but disagreed over whether private police was a viable option.
Residents paid the private security company $20 per household per month, but the security team suspended its patrols after only 22 days, NBC reports.
Frank Kruzinski of the Bridesburg Neighborhood Watch told NBC he heard claims that the private police were overstepping their bounds, and Philadelphia Police found a private officer patrolling in a personal, unregistered car.
Pennsylvania Private Police officials called the situation a “big misunderstanding,” according to NBC’s report. Officials also plan to refund the residents. ••
Port Richmond business left customers’ info in dumpster
A Streets Department sanitation employee discovered that critical personal information about customers at Rent-a-Center at Aramingo Avenue and East Ontario Street in Port Richmond was being left in a dumpster, ABC reported.
Officer Brian Chavis, of Sanitation Enforcement, told ABC that he found several folders full of filled-out credit applications, which included individuals’ social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, names and birthdates.
After Chavis called police, a Rent-A-Center employee came and moved the sensitive documents from the open trash dumpster to a secure locked recycling bin, ABC reported.
Chavis estimated that 100 personal files were in the trash, ABC said.
Rent-A-Center told ABC they are investigating the matter. ••
Two women stabbed in Kensington
On the night of Friday, Nov. 1, police responded to reports that two women were stabbed multiple times in Kensington, CBS reported.
The double-stabbing incident occurred at 10:15 p.m. on the 1900 block of East Albert Street.
One victim, a 30-year-old woman, was stabbed once in the arm and six times in the stomach. She was brought to Temple University Hospital and was listed in critical condition.
The other victim, a 38-year-old woman, was stabbed four times in the stomach. She was brought to Temple University Hospital and was listed in stable condition, CBS reported.
Police are investigating, according to CBS.
Anyone with information about a crime is asked to call the Philadelphia Police at 215–686-TIPS (8477), or text a tip to PPD TIP (773847). ••
Man shot twice in Kensington
On Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., a 20-year-old man was shot twice in Kensington, Metro reported.
The shooting reportedly occurred on the 3000 block of Ella Street. The man was shot once in the torso and once in the right bicep. The victim was brought to Temple University Hospital, Metro reported.
Police are investigating.
Anyone with information about a crime is asked to call the Philadelphia Police at 215–686-TIPS (8477), or text a tip to PPD TIP (773847). ••
— Compiled by Mikala Jamison and Sam Newhouse
