See Something Suspicious? Edgewood Police Chief Tells Residents to Call 911

urged residents Monday to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity after earlier that morning.

“The last break-in we knew happened at 5:55 a.m.,” Payne said. “That’s unusual because people are up at that time walking their dogs. I have a hard time believing no one heard or saw something suspicious related to these crimes.”

Payne wants people to know that they shouldn’t be reluctant to dial 911 because that’s the way all emergency calls are dispatched to local officers. If someone leaves the chief a voice mail on his office number, it could be a day or more by the time he receives it if the call is made over the weekend.

Payne discussed the recent rash of break-ins at Edgewood Council’s agenda meeting Monday night. Cars parked along Linden Avenue, Elm Street and near Maple Avenue had rear windows broken out overnight.

In some cases, only loose change was taken while expensive GPS units remained securely fastened in the vehicles after damage was done.

“So many times I come in on Monday and have voice mails about suspicious activity,” Payne said. “If they would call 911, we could flood the area with officers and find them.”

Payne said the recent break-ins were out of place for the neighborhood and odd because of the fact that so little actual property was stolen from the cars.

“This is out of the ordinary for our area,” he said.

Wilkinsburg also had similar cases at the same time, with about six reports of vandalism to vehicles as well.

Council President Patricia Schaefer echoed Payne’s sentiments.

“Everyone assumes 911 is the emergency number and they do prioritize the call,” she said. “That shouldn’t be off putting. They communicate promptly when you call in suspicious activity.”

Payne said if the community would come together and report anything they see that is out of the ordinary, the local police force could do an even better job at preventing future crimes.

“We have a lot of local people seeing things,” he said. “I know we do a good job, but we could do a better job if we had the eyes and ears of the community.”

Payne also commended local officers from , Wilkinsburg, and Edgewood for collaborating on recent crimes, including a robbery at Cogo’s in Braddock Hills that occurred Sunday night on Brinton Road. One arrest was made and the money and a mask were recovered.

Police from area forces also collaborated in arresting two people after a high speed chase ended with a crash into a tree on Elm Street last week.