Crime worries spark community meeting in the Willows Crime worries spark community meeting in the Willows (September 22, 2004)

Worries about rising levels of crime in Menlo Park have sparked plans for a Willows neighborhood community meeting on Wednesday, September 22.

Willows residents and business people are invited to the meeting, which Police Chief Chris Boyd decided to hold after hearing a number of concerns from the area, Cmdr. Terri Molakides said.

People have been disturbed by some recent high-profile crimes, including an August armed robbery at the La Hacienda Market on Menalto Avenue, Cmdr. Molakides said. In addition, there have been three homicides in the city this year. Before 2004, the last reported Menlo Park homicide had occurred in 1999.

"Regionally, it appears that crime is on the rise, and people do become concerned about that," Cmdr. Molakides said. Officials in other cities such as San Francisco and San Mateo have been noting higher levels of crime as well, she said.

Residents have also complained about increased traffic in the Willows, which is likely to also be discussed at the meeting, she said.

The meeting is set for 7 to 9 p.m. at Sunset Magazine at 80 Willow Road. It will be an open forum, with Menlo Park police detectives and code enforcement officers on hand to answer questions.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.