South Durham in Five: 52 Thefts From Vehicles, DPS Gains, and a 270-Foot Tower
Police reports show another rough week for parked cars, Durham’s reservoirs remain at 46%, and eligible Fayetteville Street businesses can seek up to $10,000. Which story stands out to you?
Wes Platt
Good morning, neighbors.
This week ended on a date that still stops many of us.
Friday marked 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks. I wrote about where I was when the world changed, the silence that followed, and the U2 concert that later reminded me what it means to carry one another forward.
Read: The days that divide a lifetime
Now, let’s look at five other stories that shaped the week in Durham.
1. Why was it another rough week for parked cars?
Vehicle-related theft dominated the latest SoDu Crime Watch.
Southpoint Access identified 116 police reports at 88 address blocks from Sept. 4 through Sept. 10. That’s 29 more reports than the previous period, even though the latest report covers one fewer day.
The new reports included:
- 52 thefts from vehicles
- 10 motor vehicle thefts
- Three thefts of vehicle parts or accessories
- 19 shoplifting reports
- 13 vandalism reports
- Six burglaries
- Six thefts from buildings
- Five fraud or financial crime reports
- Two other larceny reports
The 52 thefts from vehicles were nearly double the 28 reported during the previous period.
That doesn’t mean crime across South Durham increased by the same amount. Durham’s Police-to-Citizen portal provides a snapshot of selected public reports, not a complete measure of crime. Reports can be added or reclassified later, and a report reflects an allegation or reported event, not a finding that a crime occurred or that someone is guilty.
Still, it’s another practical reminder to lock vehicles and avoid leaving bags, electronics, firearms, keys, and other valuables inside.
See where the incidents were reported
2. What did DPS celebrate, and what still needs work?
Durham Public Schools recorded its highest proficiency rate since 2014 during the 2025-26 school year. For the first time since 2014, no DPS school received an F performance grade.
That’s the encouraging part.
The Sept. 10 Board of Education work session also highlighted some stubborn challenges. More than one-third of DPS students were chronically absent last year, and raising wages for the district’s lowest-paid employees could require an investment of more than $5 million.
The board didn’t vote on the academic, attendance, or pay presentations. Staff members are expected to return with more information about classified employee wages, while district leaders plan to review attendance data monthly.
Read what stood out from the DPS work session
3. How much water does Durham have?
Durham’s reservoirs were about 46% full this week, and Stage 2 water restrictions remained in effect.
The city reported an estimated 103 days of readily accessible reservoir water. When additional reserves are included, Durham’s projected supply increases to about 170 days.
That gives the city more breathing room than the reservoir percentage alone might suggest, but it doesn’t mean the shortage is over. Conservation remains important while Durham waits for sustained rainfall and continues managing its available supplies.
Read the latest Durham water-supply update
4. Could $10,000 help a Fayetteville Street business?
Durham has revived its Fayetteville Street Corridor Bounce Back Program, offering qualifying businesses up to $10,000 for operational or facility improvements.
The yearlong program also includes:
- One-on-one business assistance
- Help with branding, operations, regulatory compliance, and financial management
- Workshops and training
- Peer learning and networking opportunities
- Promotion through an online business directory
Eligible businesses generally must be located along Fayetteville Street between N.C. 147 and East Cornwallis Road, near Beechwood Cemetery, or immediately next to that section of the corridor.
Applications will remain open while funding is available. The city hasn’t announced a firm deadline, so business owners who think they might qualify shouldn’t wait too long.
Find out how the Bounce Back Program works
5. What could a 270-foot tower mean near Scott King Road?
Duke Energy wants to build a skyscraper-height communications tower at its Parkwood Tie substation west of Lyons Farm Elementary School.
The proposed structure would include a 260-foot lattice tower topped by a 10-foot lightning rod. Duke says it needs the tower to modernize communications used during daily operations, power outages, and other emergencies. The structure also could carry equipment for as many as four wireless providers.
The site is in a Residential Rural zoning district, where freestanding communications towers ordinarily are limited to 120 feet and required to use a monopole design.
Duke is seeking three variances and a minor special-use permit. The Durham Board of Adjustment will begin considering the applications at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Questions for nearby residents include:
- How visible would the tower be from surrounding homes and roads?
- What lighting would be required?
- Would existing trees provide an adequate buffer?
- Could the tower affect nearby property values?
- Has Duke demonstrated the hardship required for the requested variances?
- What benefits could the tower provide for utility communications or wireless service?
See the proposal and what the Board of Adjustment will consider
Have an opinion about the tower? Share it in the SoDu Town Square. You don’t need to provide your exact address, but it helps to tell us roughly where you live in relation to the site.
Around the neighborhood
Walmart takes the grocery-price lead
Walmart moved into first place in this week’s SoDu Shopping Basket, even as the average cost of our 17-item grocery list increased.
The average across nine stores rose from $66.40 to $67.41, an increase of $1.01, or about 1.5%. Walmart’s basket dropped $2.85 to $50.63, followed by Aldi at $52.31 and Food Lion at $52.84.
Compare this week’s South Durham grocery prices
Hope Valley Elementary aims for $40,000
Hope Valley Elementary launched an eight-day campaign to raise $40,000 for recess equipment, gymnasium-stage improvements, classroom snacks, teacher grants, 5th-grade yearbooks, school beautification, and other needs.
If the campaign reaches its goal, the school also plans to add a gaga ball pit. An administrator will celebrate by wearing a costume and getting sprayed with Silly String.
Six checks for Baby Safety Month
September offers parents and caregivers a reason to inspect infant sleep spaces, car seats, secondhand baby gear, furniture anchors, and the everyday places where hazards can hide.
The guide also includes information about a federal warning involving CooCooBaby baby loungers that don’t meet federal standards for infant sleep products.
What’s happening Saturday?
Looking for something to do?
- Ruby Bridges Literary Day: 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Book Harvest Family Space, 2501 University Drive.
- Fall Plant Sale and Festival: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Briggs Avenue Community Garden.
- Glass Jug Oktoberfest: Noon to 9 p.m. at Glass Jug Beer Lab RTP on N.C. 55.
- Coach grand opening: 1 to 6 p.m. at The Streets at Southpoint, with sweet treats and complimentary artist customization with a purchase.
Explore the full weekend roundup
Get the details about Coach’s Southpoint grand opening
Take a breather
Need a break from crime reports, school statistics, water shortages, and development hearings?
Jeff Stanford revisits a monster movie featuring a giant crocodile, a delightfully foul-mouthed Betty White, and a cast that understood exactly what kind of nonsense it was making.
Read Nerdspresso: “Lake Placid: A Croc Pot of Crap Movie Magic”
Meanwhile, Preston Wilson explores how Chianti earned its sometimes-mundane American reputation and why the wine deserves another look.
Read The Gourmand Next Door: “Chianti, What a Fiasco!”
And I spent part of Tuesday at AMC Southpoint watching “Space Seed” and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Star Trek turns 60 this month. So do I. That got me thinking about age, possibility, and the next frontier for Southpoint Access.
Read: Still exploring, six decades into the adventure
Thanks for spending part of your weekend with Southpoint Access.
Which of this week’s stories mattered most to you? What should I keep following? Reply to this newsletter or join the conversation in the SoDu Town Square.
See you around the neighborhood.
Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy
Get Connected
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Wes Platt
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