West View Police to Appear on Channel 11 Thursday

West View Police Lt. Matt Holland will be featured on Channel 11, WPXI, on Thursday at 5:45 p.m., he announced at the West View Crime Watch meeting Monday. 

Holland was interviewed by news staff about why the , like many other departments, has not yet issued any citations for texting while driving. A state law enacted in March makes texting while driving a primary offence, meaning police can pull over anyone seen doing it. 

He said he'll talk about the difficulties of citing someone for such a specific activity. 

The West View Crime Watch met for its last meeting before the summer months. It will pick up again in the fall.  

Jason Tarap of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office was the keynote speaker. He thanked the roughly two dozen residents who turned out for the meeting.

"I see the backbone of West View," he said. 

He offered the following tips for the upcoming summer months, as many in the Borough take vacations: 

* Give your house a lived in look, leaving lights on and a radio or TV.

* Notify the West View Police Department to do a vacation check. (They still do them! You can fill out a quick form at the municipal building on Perry Highway.)

* Stop mail and newspaper subscriptions while you're gone.

* Be sure to lock the garage door before you leave.

At the meeting, a West View resident reported that two young men, claiming to be working for Equitable Gas, knocked on her door recently and asked to see her gas bill. They said they could help her find discounts, she said. No one else reported a similar experience. 

Police advised using caution in such instances because gas bills contain personal information that can be used in identity theft. They advised anyone who runs into a similar situation to call 911 and have the Borough Police come out and check to see that the men are who they say they are.

The following summary of April and early May incidents was provided: 

April 1

A DUI arrest was made after a traffic stop at Perry and Bellevue. 

April 3

Officers recovered a stolen credit card and an empty stamp bag of heroin after servign a search warrant on a vehicle. 

April 4

A DUI arrest was made after a traffic stop in the 400 block of Perry Highway. 

April 5

A driver was arrested after a stolen vehicle was recovered at a traffic stop. 

April 6

Narcotics were seized and one arrest made after a traffic stop in the 200 block of William Street. 

April 9

Police responded to a report that someone tried to enter through the back door of a home in the 300 block of Cornell Avenue, but the back door could not be accessed because of a chain lock. 

April 11

A DUI arrest was made after a traffic stop in the 300 block of Perry Highway.

April 14

A man was arrested near for going through cars. 

April 16

Four juveniles were arrested after atempting to steal a BB gun from Kmart.

April 19

A DUI arrest was made after a traffic stop in the 300 block of Perry Highway

April 20

Several lug nuts were reported loosened on a vehicle overnight in the 100 block of Oakwood Avenue.

April 21

West View Police assisted Ross Police in recovering stolen property; one arrest was made for the possession of the property by a West View detective.

Police interrupted a possible theft in progress while on patrol in the 100 block of Perry Highway. The man fled from police and was later arrested.

April 23

A man was arrested for public intoxication in the 400 block of Perry Highway.

April 25

A DUI arrest was made after a traffic stop in the 400 block of Perry Highway.

April 28

Two people were arrested for fighting in the 100 block of Princeton Avenue.

April 29

A smoke bomb was reportedly placed in a mailbox in the 40 block of Richland Avenue.

May 5

A home was reportedly egged overnight in the 60 block of Tomoka Avenue. Police are following all leads.