SoDu Morning Brief: Vehicles Continue to Draw Property Crimes

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Today’s South Durham Weather Forecast (Nov. 5, 2025)

Lots of sun with a high near 72°F. Southwest winds 9–14 mph, gusts 20–30 mph. Low humidity (30–35%) + gusty wind = elevated fire risk midday/afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear, turning cooler with a low near 48°F. Wind eases to 5–11 mph and shifts NW after midnight (gusts to ~18 mph).

Fire Safety (11 a.m.–6 p.m.)

• Avoid outdoor burning; check local burn permits if you must burn.
• Be extra cautious with anything that can spark (grills, fire pits, yard equipment, cigarettes).
• Secure trailer chains; don’t park on dry grass; have water/extinguisher handy.

What This Means for Your Day

• Commute & errands: Easy weather, but expect leaf tumble and occasional crosswinds on open roads/bridges.
• Yard & leaves: Hold off on burning or using fire pits; bag or mulch instead.
• Outdoor sports/recess: Great visibility and temps; windy at times - ball flight will carry. Hydrate and use lip balm/moisturizer if you’re sensitive to dry air.
• Allergies/air: Breezy, dry air can kick up leaf dust/mold - sunglasses and a rinse after yardwork help.

Quick Checklist

Water bottle • lip balm • hat/sunglasses • secure lightweight décor/trash bins • no open flames

🛑 South Durham Crime Snapshot: Oct. 26–Nov. 1, 2025

Vehicle crime led the week again with 31 incidents (including 19 motor-vehicle burglaries and 12 vehicle thefts) concentrated around apartment complexes, hotel lots, and the Southpoint retail district.

Violent crime totaled 16 incidents: 8 simple assaults, 2 aggravated assaults, 3 robberies (Burke St., Fayetteville Rd./Southpoint, Fayetteville St./gov’t building), 2 sexual assaults (Martha St., Tattersall Dr.), and 1 sexual offense reported online.

Property crime accounted for 28 incidents: 6 commercial burglaries (Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., NC-55, Westgate Dr., University Dr.), 11 thefts, 10 vandalism cases, and 1 arson (Shannon Rd.).

Other reports (12 total) included fraud/forgery (6), harassment/intimidation (4), and runaways (2).

Hot Spots:

• Fayetteville Rd. (Southpoint area): weekend cluster — 2 vehicle burglaries + 1 robbery + assaults and vandalism.
• Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.: multiple commercial burglaries plus a hotel lot break-in.
• University Dr.: grocery burglary plus a separate vandalism case.
• Hotel/apartment corridors: Meridian Pkwy, Residence Inn Blvd., NC-54E/1800, Page Rd., Watkins Rd., Windlestraw Dr.
• Neighborhood clusters: Pilot St. (series of assaults + vandalism), South Roxboro St. (assault, MV burglary, MV theft).

📍 Street & Corridor Highlights

📊 Quick Counts

• Violent: 16 (8 simple assault, 2 aggravated, 3 robbery, 2 sexual assault, 1 sexual offense)
• Vehicle-related: 31 (19 MV burglaries, 12 MV thefts)
• Property: 28 (6 commercial burglary, 11 theft, 10 vandalism, 1 arson)
• Other: 12 (6 fraud, 4 harassment, 2 runaways)

☑️ Reader Safety Notes

• Lock up and clear vehicles, especially in apartment/hotel lots and Southpoint-area parking.
• Be alert in retail corridors at night (Fayetteville Rd., D-CH Blvd., University Dr.).
• Report porch/driveway activity and check home cams after overnight clusters.

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

City Council Update - Nov. 3, 2025

The Durham City Council met Monday night. Many items were kept on the consent agenda and approved without discussion, but a couple of agenda topics were pulled, including a proposal to approve a contract to pave Durham's remaining gravel and dirt roads.

A resident from the Lakewood area asked that his gravel street be excluded, arguing that gravel provides a sort of traffic calming, discouraging speeding cars, and offers pedestrian safety in an area short on sidewalks.

Council members ultimately voted 6-1, but only after some spirited discussion. David Bradway captured some of that action in his reel for SeeGov:

Durham Municipal Election 2025: Williams Prevails as Mayor; Middleton Falls to Burris

Durham's incumbent Mayor Leonardo Williams appeared to hold on to that title Tuesday night by a decisive margin against challenger Anjanee Bell, according to the unofficial election results.

But the outcome didn't go so well for Ward 2 representative and Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton, who trailed far behind his challenger, Shanetta Burris.

Ward 3's incumbent representative Chelsea Cook held a commanding lead over their opponent, Diana Medoff.

The closest race proved to be the showdown between Ward 1 incumbent DeDreana Freeman and challenger Matt Kopac. During the October primary, Kopac finished with a margin of about 450 votes. He extended that lead to about 2,000 after all precincts had been counted on Tuesday.

Durham Student Volunteers to Be Honored This Weekend

The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center on Saturday will recognize more than 100 Durham-area student volunteers at a drop-in awards celebration outside Frontier RTP.

Honorees earned the Mayor's Award (at least 40 hours of summer service), the Commissioners' Award (at least 40 hours during the school year), or both - reflecting hundreds of projects that supported tutoring, food security, environmental efforts, and health initiatives across the Triangle. For the 2025-2026 school year, students will need 60 hours of service for eligibility.

Read more in Southpoint Access...

🍽️ 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.

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💬 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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