Community watch programs work
In 2007, a decrease in the reports of property crime helped Cumberland County post a lower overall crime rate than at any other time this decade.
While the county remains well above the state average, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine sees the decrease as a success.
Bergamine said the decrease was fueled by a growing network of community watch groups.
"When we get the areas cleaned and there's a strong community watch group in the area, we have very little problems," he said.
The county is too large to put cops in every neighborhood, Bergamine said. "To combat that we need a team effort."
One of the better watch groups in the city can be found in the Kornbow community off Pamalee Drive.
The group reduced the amount of break-ins in its neighborhood from 63 in November 2006 to five in November 2007.
Coordinator James Popp said the turnaround is the result of neighbors getting involved.
Out of 263 homes, 82 homes include at least one participant. And the neighborhood has cut down on crime without time-intensive patrols.
Instead, neighbors are simply being more observant.
"If I saw something suspicious, I would immediately call 911," Popp said. "Then I'd call someone who lives where the suspect is heading and they would watch and do the same thing."
The biggest hurdle to cleaning up the neighborhood was to convince the aging homeowners that it was OK to call 911 if they weren't in danger.
"We had to convince them it wasn't just for calling the ambulance," Popp said.
Now, the neighborhood is praised for its use of 911.
"The residents are great about calling police," said Fayetteville police Crime Prevention Specialist Kathleen Ruppert, who helps coordinate the city's community watch groups.
Thieves take the path of least resistance, Popp said. Perhaps that's why a recent crime map shows a number of home break-ins and other crimes surrounding the neighborhood, but none within the boundaries of the community watch group.
"The thieves are tearing up all around us," he said. "But I guess they got tired of dealing with us."
Follow these steps to start your own community watch program:
Find a location for a meeting: a neighbor's home or yard, a recreation center, a school or church.
Call the Fayetteville Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at 433-1033. They'll send you an application packet.
Decide when you'll meet. A crime prevention specialist needs to attend the first meeting.
Tell your neighbors about the meeting.
At the first meeting, an officer will bring crime statistics for your neighborhood and explain the guidelines for the group.
Decide what your group's priorities are.