Same dark location as all the other muggings. Get lights out there, please! We're all going to be hiding in our homes afraid to go out at night, advised by the police to avoid dark areas. What kind of vibrant neighborhood does that make?

And it seems to be a pattern. It continues to happen at Court and Olive. I'm going to move soon.

I walk/ride past this intersection 4x's a day, and now sometimes at night because of the winter hours. I am not highly aware of my surroundings, and scared of anyone who is walking around the area. This makes me sad that I am scared in my own neighborhood, but its true.
Something that might help is to visually clean up Court Street. There are massive bushes, large concrete flower "pots", and overgrown shrubs that drastically cut down visual links through that street. people can easily hide, or stay in the shadows in that area. Just adding more lights wont do much if there are tons of things blocking the lights. If everyone used porch lights and cleaned up it could feel much safer. The broken window theory doesnt have to be an actual broken window... it could be a large over grown bush that does it.

or the economy....

yes, this happened around 6:15, not 8:15 - on the walk home from work.
The problem is not the pedestrianized block of Court street at all: it is the gray housing building on Court Street between the bridge and Olive, across from the smoothie building. This is where the muggers *wait* for their victims in the stairway. The only way to avoid being mugged on that block anytime after dark (or in the day!) is to walk on the other side of the block (by the smoothie building) or just come down Chapel to Olive.
Basically there needs to be a police car on that corner after dark or this will happen on a nightly basis.

Wow, it really looks like this section from Chapel to Court has become a world of trouble.

Officer Sweeny, is there any way someone, perhaps a plainclothes officer can check this out?

And i hate to inject this, but LIGHTING LIGHTING LIGHTING. I generally give the city the benefit of the doubt on issues and some latitude that they are working on this, but considering that this thoroughfare has become a haven for armed robbery, I kind of think that we're beyond looking at this as a budget or dollars and cents issue, and should really look at this as a community safety issue.

Michael (Smart), if you get this, it would be great if you could help bring some pressure on this. I have many friends who have to walk down this street due to the Grand Avenue bridge still not complete, it would horrify me if one of them got mugged or worse because the city can't get it's act together.

Should residents organize a walking or biking beat until this problem is addressed?

People, its time to take back wooster square. Join with me at sunset in the park and honor the spirit of the revolutionary hero for whom it was named by making this a safe neighborhood. We will form a human chain that will sweep the our fair neighborhood and trap the mugging scumbags in its path.

its time to take matters into your own hands. NH police aren't going to help. Man up! Arm yourself! Fight Back!

We had another mugging tonight on Court Street between Olive and Artizan. The victim was attached by 2 men and slammed to the ground. His wallet and cell phone were taken and the perpetrators got away. The police responded quickly, but we need this issue FIXED!!!!!

There is a nightly group that hangs in the parking lot of the Law Office on Olive and Court at the blue picnic table. They are there right now and are there everyday after rushhour is over. We need brighter lights on Olive Street and increased police presence.

This is crazy. I've never heard of so many muggings in one location in New Haven.

Wooster SQ watch, do you have a time when it occurred?
Has anybody reached out to Smoothie Building about providing lighting for the side of the building?

The city could probably use federal facade grant money to encourage lighting from side of the Smoothie building.

May

Do I have any volunteers for a neighborhood watch? We can work in pairs.

You know, I think we are also forgetting two more areas where we could hang some lights and/or improve the safety of the area- the housing development itself and the law firm on the corner.

Since the city owns the housing project on Court, couldn't it hang a bunch of lights on it, and make sure that the hallways are well-lit?

Secondly, it might be worth contacting the law firm - The Offices of Gregory Lattanzi ( 203-772-3000) by phone and inform them that their parking lot has become a regular drug dealing spot. They hopefully will be receptive to working with us to improve that.

Two things I can think of right off the bat is lighting (again) and also opening up the fence in a few sections to permit pass through. Right now it's sealed up tight except for when the cars come in, so it makes it "safe" for people to loiter on the other side of the fence, since it's difficult for a police officer to actually get to them without either jumping the fence or driving their cruiser around to the entrance.

Kari or Janna, do one of you want to take that on? As residents of Court Street, they might be more receptive to listening to you.

As for the lighting issue on the housing project..what sa you city?

Pedro-

These are great ideas. The lot is a New Haven Parking Authority Lot that the law firm uses during the day. I don't know what kind of deal they have with NHPA. I know this because I pay to park in this lot and have contacted them before about out lights and other problems.

We also looked into the group of men that congregate around 6:30. I now believe they are not dealing drugs but I cannot be certain. The law firm has rented out part of their building to "Families in Crisis." (http://www.familiesincrisis.org/office-locations). They have meetings at night. I believe the men in the lot are there for male/fatherhood meetings. I am not certain but have never found them to be troublesome as yet. We should inquire and I know Karri called over but never heard back.

There are many stakeholders who should care about these blocks: the law firm, the city, the housing complex (is it owned by the city?), Smoothie, residents. Who controls the large building on the south corner of Court and Olive and expands to Smoothie? It looks like a power plant or something connected to UI. Could we all meet? Perhaps the city could convene something? Alderman Smart can you make this happen? If not, I will call everyone I know at City Hall and harass them until we get action. We all should do this too.

I am happy to take the lead or do whatever needs to be done. I feel unsafe and it is causing a great deal of stress and anxiety.

I would come over and be on a watch until you get enough people from the neighborhood.

My office is right on the corner of State and Chapel.

Sick this week, but would help out next week.

Unfortunately, drug dealing, mugging, and receiving social services are not always mutually exclusive activities. At the very least, the social service people should be made aware that a serious problem has developed on the block they have moved into, so that they can warn clients away from it.

To add more ammunition to the discussion, I am aware of 2 other incidents of attempted muggings that the individuals were able to maneuver out of the situation. One incident occurred around 5:45 pm on a Thursday, the occurred around 7:00 pm on a Saturday.

Also, I have received word from the police that they are planning on closing the case of this mugging. Hopefully all of are calls will keep the cases open until they do something about this area of court street.

Michael,

This is helpful info. I have been in contact with our Lt. today who told me that they have several leads on the case from last night. If they are closing the case of the original mugging at the top here, that is different. They are definitely not closing the case on muggings on Court St. If anything they are further stepping things up.

I volunteer for a neighborhood 'patrol' if needed

Are you on the Wooster Sq Block Watch email list?

Yes. Steve

From issue 11211: "woostersqwatch wrote about 1 hour ago
We had a terrific response from the NHPD. We have installed a camera and lights are coming on the Court Street Bridge. Also, the law office and the Smoothie Building got their parking lot lights on which has helped tremendously. We have not had an incident since Christmas Eve."