SoDu Morning Brief: Vehicle-Related Crimes Remain Prevalent

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Today’s South Durham Weather Forecast (Oct. 29, 2025)

Cloudy, cool, and increasingly wet. A few showers may dodge SoDu early, then rain becomes likely after 2pm. High near 58°F with a light NE breeze ~9 mph. Rain chance: 60% with <0.10" expected during the day.

Wednesday night: Widespread showers move in and stick around. Low near 54°F. NE wind 7–9 mph. Rain chance: 100% with 0.25–0.50" of overnight rain.

What this means for your day

• School & commute: Dry-ish morning window; pack umbrellas for pickup and the ride home.
• Evening plans: Expect steady rain - good night to keep it indoors.
• Yard & pets: Bring in cushions and plan for a soggy last walk.

Quick checklist

Umbrella ☔ • waterproof layer • closed-toe shoes • extra time for the PM commute

🛑 South Durham Crime Snapshot: Oct. 19–25, 2025

Trend: A busy week with vehicle crimes, assaults, and multiple burglaries, with repeated activity around key corridors and residential communities.

🔴 Violent Crimes

Aggravated Assaults – 7

• Fayetteville St. (multiple locations, including transit terminal & parking areas)
• NC-54 West (parking lot)
• NC-751 (gas station + parking lot)
• Glen Falls Ln. (rest area)
• Pekoe Ave. (home)

Simple Assaults – 13+
Locations include:

• Atlantic St., Bedford St., MLK Pkwy, Nixon St., South Roxboro, Shannon Rd., Tower Blvd., Stillwell Dr., Stratford Lakes, Moline St.

Note: Several incidents occurred in homes or multi-family residences — domestic or neighbor-dispute indicators.

Robberies – 2

• Fayetteville St. (wooded area)
• Longitude Dr. (residence)

Pattern:
Mix of public-space violence (roads, parks, transit areas) and residential/domestic-type incidents.

🚗 Vehicle-Related Crime

Motor Vehicle Burglaries – ~20
Hot spots:

• Southpoint retail area & NC 55 corridor
• University Dr./Witherspoon Blvd.
• Apartment & hotel lots (Meridian Pkwy, Page Rd, South Miami Blvd, Residence Inn Blvd)
• Smaller clusters in subdivisions (Caverstone Ln, Snowcrest Trl, Chimney Ridge Pl, others)

Motor Vehicle Thefts – 12

• Repeated in Old Chapel Hill Rd, Larchmont Rd, Shannon Rd, Witherspoon Blvd, Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy
• Frequent in multi-family parking areas

Pattern:
Consistent trend: cars targeted in apartments, hotel lots, shopping areas - especially near I-40/NC 55 corridors and Southpoint district.

🏠 Burglaries & Property Crime

Residential Burglaries – 3

• East Pilot St.
• Emerald Forest Dr.
• Nixon St.

Commercial Burglaries – 4

• NC Highway 54 West convenience store
• Sedwick Rd. specialty store
• Page Rd. restaurant
• South Miami Blvd. convenience store

Thefts – 10+
Areas include East Pilot St., MLK Pkwy, Witherspoon Blvd., Manchester Dr., Hope Valley Rd., New Hope Commons Dr.

Vandalism – 4

• East Weaver, NC-55, Univ. Dr., and Larchmont corridor

💳 Fraud & Harassment

Fraud/Forgery – 10

• Banks, convenience stores, cyberspace, homes
• High-traffic retail corridors: Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Renaissance Pkwy, Kilkenny Ct.

Harassment/Intimidation – 4

• Mt. Sinai Rd. school
• East Weaver St.
• Windlestraw Dr.
• Amhurst Rd.

📍 Street / Area Hot Spots

📊 Key Takeaways

• 🚗 Vehicle crimes dominate again, especially in apartment complexes, hotel lots, and retail centers near major roads.
• 🔴 Assaults surged, including 7 aggravated assaults - many in or near public transit, gas stations, and wooded trails.
• 🏬 Commercial burglaries hit Southpoint-adjacent areas and commuter corridors.
• 🏘️ Residential neighborhoods saw burglary & theft activity - particularly around Emerald Forest, East Pilot, and Nixon St.
• 💳 Fraud levels remain elevated, both cyber and in-person.

Hot spot of the week: NC Highway 55 / Southpoint zone & RTP hotel corridor remain the most active zones.

✅ Suggested Safety Notes for Readers

• Lock vehicles & remove valuables — apartment & hotel lots are high-risk zones
• Be aware in gas stations, transit stops, and wooded trail access points
• Report suspicious behavior around porch/driveway thefts

Southpoint Access monitors weekly crime patterns to help neighbors stay informed about trends across South Durham.

🍽️ Durham Public School Cafeteria Menu Today

All student meals are free. Menus include choice of milk, fresh fruit, and 100% juice. Items subject to change. Get the full week of menus here.

🗓️ What’s Happening in Durham – Wednesday, Oct. 29

🎟️ Durham Community Day
🕒 All Day. | Museum of Life and Science (433 W. Murray Ave., Durham)
Durham residents get free admission. All adults in party must bring proof of residency. Each adult can bring up to five children.

🎮 Switch It Up!
🕕 4–5 p.m. | Durham County Library – Southwest Regional Library (3605 Shannon Rd., Durham)
Do you enjoy playing video games? Have you never played a video game but always wanted to try one? Every last Wednesday of the month, youths ages 7-12 years and their caregivers are welcome to join Ms. Natalie for some in-library gaming on the Nintendo Switch! We will provide games and a Nintendo Switch at the program. Snacks will be provided, too. Registration is appreciated, but it is not required.

Get more ideas for activities from the Southpoint Access events calendar. Want to submit an event? Use this form!

💬 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

What issues around your neighborhood in South Durham should get more attention? Reply to this newsletter and let me know. Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

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