Still Safest
Pocket Has Problems, But Vigilance Keeps Crime Down
By R.E. Graswich
February 2019
The security camera video shows a Pocket nightmare. A woman runs toward her house, screaming that a man with a gun has commandeered her vehicle.
“He’s in my car!” she shouts as she reaches her front gate.
Seconds later, the woman’s white Mercedes CLA 250, tires spinning and engine screaming, lurches into the street and roars away. The victim slowly opens the gate and jogs down her driveway. She watches the car disappear into the wintery night.
The video, shot from a neighbor’s roofline camera, presents a scene of fear and helplessness. This could happen to anyone. But the crime suggests a deeper story.
Police statistics prove Pocket and Greenhaven are the safest communities in Sacramento. They have been for decades. The collective sense of security in the bubble between the Sacramento River and Interstate 5 is tangible for residents.
But even the most secure neighborhoods require vigilance and awareness among the citizenry. Neighbors can’t let their guard down.
“We always want people to be aware of their surroundings,” says Capt. Alisa Buckley, who leads the South Command for Sacramento Police and oversees city law enforcement from Broadway to Valley Hi. “Vigilance is critical no matter where you live.”
Complacency can be a problem in safe communities. Pulling off the freeway and heading west on Florin Road invites a sense of security. And while police camera pods and license plate readers note every vehicle that enters Pocket and Greenhaven, criminals are habitually drawn to places they perceive as soft targets.
“We have caught guys following UPS trucks around Pocket and picking up packages on doorsteps,” Buckley says. “So have your packages sent to a collection center. It’s a little inconvenient, but worth it. Don’t leave your laptop and purse visible in your car. It’s like a beacon.”
Public safety is engrained in Pocket’s political leadership. For 20 years, two retired cops—Robbie Waters and Darrell Fong—represented the community on the City Council. Rick Jennings, the current councilmember, has never been a police officer, but he applies a detective’s determination as he monitors crime and solutions. Attention from City Hall makes a big difference.
Jennings meets regularly with Buckley and her staff. The councilmember pushed to establish Pocket and Greenhaven as the first communities in Sacramento to deploy cameras and plate readers at every street entrance and exit.
Statistically, vigilance pays off. Burglaries were down about 26 percent for 2018 in Council District 7, which includes Pocket and Greenhaven. Robberies were up 24 percent, from 58 to 72, but robbers used their fists more than guns. Robberies by gun dropped 13 percent.
Theft of personal property remains by far the most common crime in District 7, with 705 larceny cases reported from January to December 2018, an increase of 27 percent over 2017.
Pocket benefits from alert, resourceful neighbors. Homes bristle with security cameras—a good thing, says Buckley. Criminals don’t like being photographed.
On the downside, security videos posted online can give the false impression of a community running amok. The best response is to keep watch and stay calm.
R.E. Graswich can be reached at reg@graswich.com.
