After last month’s incidents of a Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority impersonator trying to gain access to private homes, The Northside Public Safety Council would like to remind Northsiders to know their neighbors and not let strangers past their doorstep.

“Know your neighbors, and know who is knocking at your door,” said Public Safety Council President David Stacy, who explained that homes with lights on are less likely to be robbed.

In January, a man calling himself a water department worker tried to enter the home of an elderly woman in Lawrenceville, prompting a city-wide warning that the Safety Council wants Northsiders to be aware of.

In December, approximately 449 incidents were reported throughout the Northside, which led to approximately 123 arrests.

The Northside Public Safety Council is a nonprofit corporation composed of community leaders, businesses, government officials, the Housing Authority, property owners and the Zone 1 Pittsburgh Police.

The Northside Public Safety Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. on the mezzanine level of The Northside Leadership Conference’s offices at 4 Allegheny Center. All are welcome.

A useful resource for the community is the Zone 1 website at communitysafety.pittsburghpa.gov.

For questions or concerns regarding crime or police presence, contact the Zone 1 Community Relations Officer, Forrest Hodges at forrest.hodges@pittsburghpa.gov.