We’ve fielded our share of bogus email forwards decrying the declining state of NorthPark Center, most notably a string of them in February referring to “gangs.” While we couldn’t corroborate those rumors, the latest viral email appears to be somewhat legitimate.

The email alleges that a gang beat up a Dallas Academy student near NorthPark last week, and that the manager of Macy’s refused to provide help when the bloodied teen’s friends brought him to the store to clean him up.

Here’s what we know:

• There was an assault on Jan. 2. According to Dallas police, “20 to 40″ people beat up a 17-year-old boy and two others in a parking lot in the 9100 block of North Central Expressway.
• The 17-year-old boy is a student at Dallas Academy, a school spokeswoman confirmed, and “a great kid.”
• NorthPark issued a statement through Androvett Media acknowledging the incident, but defending the actions of Macy’s employees. “Macy’s staff responded professionally and compassionately in assisting this young man by calling 911 and contacting the Dallas Police Department.”

We’ve tried to reach out to the 17-year-old’s parents. Look for more details in this week’s paper.

This is normally the time of year where I’d put in some holly jolly post, telling you to be of good cheer and such. But December has been an unusually violent month in the otherwise sleepy Preston Hollow.

In addition to two gunpoint robberies, there have been eleven home burglaries, three of which occurred during the day while the owners were home.

Most commonly, the robbers rang the doorbell repeatedly with no answer before entering a home, presumably (and incorrectly) thinking the owners were away. But on Dec. 6 there was a home invasion at 11:30 a.m., where armed robbers forced their way into a home in the 7100 block of Brookshire Circle and stole $5,000 worth of jewelry.

For comparison, there were only four home burglaries in Dec. 1 through 20 in 2010, and none of them occurred while the owners were present.

My holiday message to you, faithful PHP readers, is to lock your doors, set the alarm, get a dog, and have a very merry— and safe— Christmas.

At 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 14, an 84-year-old Preston Hollow resident was robbed at gunpoint in the 4300 block of Woodfin Drive, near Midway Road. The robber threatened to shoot the woman before stealing nearly $500 worth of property including a $200 pair of reading glasses and a $50 Saks purse.

According to police, the robber fled in a gray two-door vehicle.  The woman, who lives on Thackery Street, was not harmed.

The only explanation Dan and I could come up with for the double-thievery of  $50 worth of flash drives, is that the culprit placed the items in his Mercedes after pilfering them from a Mazda.

Then, the universe fought back.

Between 5 and 6 p.m. Oct. 20, a burglar broke into a gray 2010 Mazda at NorthPark Center and stole a $3,000 laptop, a $500 Tory Burch bag, two iPods valued at $400, a $200 black IBM laptop, a $100 Sony phone, an $80 black backpack, a $60 Packard Bell hard drive, five flash drives valued at $50, and a $25 Spanish passport.

And the very next day…

Between 1 and 1:40 p.m., a burglar broke into a black 2011 Mercedes at NorthPark Center and stole a $3,000 laptop, a $500 Tory Burch bag, two iPods valued at $400, and five flash drives valued at $50.

For more zany crimes, pick up a copy of the Oct. 28 edition of Preston Hollow People

This house in Oak Cliff has spared no expense trying to scare trick-or-treaters. Staff Photo: Chris McGathey

If the thought of sending your child out into the streets to ask strangers for candy sends shivers up your spine, then consider the following alternative. Hillcrest High School is holding an indoor trick-or-treating experience Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. And the event is titled “Safe Trick-or-Treating,” so you know it’ll be on the up and up.

Two of the items in this week’s police blotter are probably going to haunt my dreams. Since I’d hate to think of being the only one waking up in a cold sweat, here they are for your reading displeasure.

At 12:40 a.m. on Sunday, a woman in the 10400 block of Barrywood Drive reported being harassed by phone and in-person. In addition to texting and calling the woman more than 200 times, the harasser arrived at her home, knocked on the window, and smashed a light bulb that was illuminating the backyard.

Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, a burglar broke into a home in the 6500 block of Park Lane by cutting the window screen, and stole a $10 pair of women’s panties.

Six burglaries in six days is pretty unusual for a neighborhood in Preston Hollow. Even more so, all the crimes occurred during the week. The criminals targeted the area around the Hockaday School, including Alta Vista Lane and Hallmark and Hockaday drives. Read More…

I was surprised to find a police report detailing a 9/11/11 arrest of a “suspicious person” seen lurking near the Daria Place home of former president George W. Bush. According to the report, police learned of the man from a 911 call and later detained him in the 5700 block of Meaders Lane. He was arrested on two warrants for unpaid traffic tickets.

Ever wonder what those signs are for in front of the under-construction home at the corner of Park Lane and Preston Road? I stopped by earlier today, and saw that the homeowner applied for a variance with the Dallas Board of Adjustments for “Fence Height and Visability.”

After I got back to the office I gave the BoA a shout to find out if a public hearing has been held, or a decision made. No on both questions, but there will probably be a hearing in September, a BoA staffer told me.

So, if you’re worried about fence height along Park Lane, check back in a few weeks; we’ll post the final hearing date then.